MCB Camp Pendleton

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Stone monument dedicated to fallen aircrew

29 Mar 2007 | Lance Cpl. Christopher Mann Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Family and friends arrived in the early morning of March 23 at the memorial dedication ceremony at the Marine Aircraft Group 39 area to pay respects to fallen comrades who died while in the line of duty.

A monument was unveiled that contained the names of 88 fallen aircrew who belonged to MAG-39 and the MAG-46 detachment from 1980 until the present.

“Those families of those fallen truly know the cost of freedom,” said Col. Patrick J. Gough, commanding officer, MAG-39. “We dedicate ourselves to the continuing of excellence and mission accomplishment to honor those fallen.”

Gough gave his remarks and expressed his condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones from the aircraft group.

Next, a squadron roll call was sounded and identification tags of the fallen were placed on the pistol grips of M-16A2 service rifles. Each rifle represented a single squadron who had suffered casualties.

A casualty evacuation bell was rung once for each squadron that had lost aircrew in combat. The bell signals to Marines that a casualty response is required to save an injured service member’s life. The bell used in the ceremony has deployed twice to combat areas.

Family and friends remained silent while a rifle volley was rendered by the Marine Corps Base Honor Guard.

Then helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 and Marine Light Attack Training Squad-ron 303 paid honors to the MAG-39 service members during a fly-by over the area.

Finally a black cloth was pulled away to reveal a stone monument with several names engraved upon it. The names engraved represented those who had given everything for their squadron and country.

“This was heartbreaking, but I’m really proud of my husband,” said Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Pfister, maintenance administration clerk, Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron 39. “It is nice to have something to come back to every year and remember him.”

Sgt. Travis D. Pfister was a crew chief for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, who lost his life in Iraq Feb. 7, 2007, while aboard a CH-46E Sea Knight. Travis was a 27-year-old who had been in the Marine Corps five-and-a-half years.

“Travis re-enlisted in the Marine Corps so he could continue with his job and deploy again to Iraq,” Jessica said.

United Memorial Products donated the stone with names engraved on the monument. The monument replaced the older one, which needed repairs.

Grieving families stopped by the monument after the ceremony to take time to find the names and pay respects of their lost family members.

“It puts us at ease, that Jennifer will never be forgotten,” said Anthony J. Macoine, uncle of Capt. Jennifer J. Harris, aircrew, HMM-364. “Her last decision was to be on a casualty evacuation flight so she could help other Marines.”

Stone monument dedicated to fallen aircrew

29 Mar 2007 | Lance Cpl. Christopher Mann Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Family and friends arrived in the early morning of March 23 at the memorial dedication ceremony at the Marine Aircraft Group 39 area to pay respects to fallen comrades who died while in the line of duty.

A monument was unveiled that contained the names of 88 fallen aircrew who belonged to MAG-39 and the MAG-46 detachment from 1980 until the present.

“Those families of those fallen truly know the cost of freedom,” said Col. Patrick J. Gough, commanding officer, MAG-39. “We dedicate ourselves to the continuing of excellence and mission accomplishment to honor those fallen.”

Gough gave his remarks and expressed his condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones from the aircraft group.

Next, a squadron roll call was sounded and identification tags of the fallen were placed on the pistol grips of M-16A2 service rifles. Each rifle represented a single squadron who had suffered casualties.

A casualty evacuation bell was rung once for each squadron that had lost aircrew in combat. The bell signals to Marines that a casualty response is required to save an injured service member’s life. The bell used in the ceremony has deployed twice to combat areas.

Family and friends remained silent while a rifle volley was rendered by the Marine Corps Base Honor Guard.

Then helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 and Marine Light Attack Training Squad-ron 303 paid honors to the MAG-39 service members during a fly-by over the area.

Finally a black cloth was pulled away to reveal a stone monument with several names engraved upon it. The names engraved represented those who had given everything for their squadron and country.

“This was heartbreaking, but I’m really proud of my husband,” said Staff Sgt. Jessica M. Pfister, maintenance administration clerk, Marine Aircraft Logistics Squadron 39. “It is nice to have something to come back to every year and remember him.”

Sgt. Travis D. Pfister was a crew chief for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, who lost his life in Iraq Feb. 7, 2007, while aboard a CH-46E Sea Knight. Travis was a 27-year-old who had been in the Marine Corps five-and-a-half years.

“Travis re-enlisted in the Marine Corps so he could continue with his job and deploy again to Iraq,” Jessica said.

United Memorial Products donated the stone with names engraved on the monument. The monument replaced the older one, which needed repairs.

Grieving families stopped by the monument after the ceremony to take time to find the names and pay respects of their lost family members.

“It puts us at ease, that Jennifer will never be forgotten,” said Anthony J. Macoine, uncle of Capt. Jennifer J. Harris, aircrew, HMM-364. “Her last decision was to be on a casualty evacuation flight so she could help other Marines.”