Yesterday, the newspapers noted the 30th anniversary of Jonestown and the terrible mass suicide. What I did not see in the paper, was a mention of the numerous Air Force Rescue & Recovery Squadron fixed wing and helicopter pilots, pararescue, and airmen (55th ARRS-Ft Walton Beach, Fl.), or a mention of the many Special Operations personnel from Ft Bragg, N.C., who were part of the massive effort to search for potential survivors in the jungle, protect the troops on the ground, clean up (sanitize) the site, and pack up and return the bodies back to the United States mainland.
I can tell you, that when our squadron members returned from Jonestown, they were changed in a way that only compassionate, caring and loving people can be changed. The terrible incident in Jonestown affected our lives through Thanksgiving and Christmas as our personnel dealt with the memories of the traumatic and dramatic loss of life, especially innocent children. For reasons I won’t explain here, candy canes or anything mint was verboten.
From now on, when you read of Jonestown, please remember the unspoken heroes who performed a job for their county that was far beyond their call of duty.
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As footage of the horrific aftermath was being aired on television yesterday, Keith and I were thinking about David's and the family's role in the tragedy. I don't even know what to say because there's no way we'll never truly understand what the crews in charge of damage control felt encountering what they did at Jonestown, and how their families dealt with the tragedy back at home. What I do know is that the U.S. is a better place for having men and women of such strength and caliber who performed such heroic acts in Jonestown, as well as at home, protecting, serving, and gracing the homes of our country. I'm grateful.
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