From the Navy Times
Remains of missing Gulf War pilot found
By David Brown - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Aug 2, 2009 8:19:00 EDT
The remains of Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, the F/A-18 Hornet pilot who was shot down over Iraq at the start of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, have been found, according to a Navy spokesman.
The remains were found by Marines stationed in Anbar province, who received a tip from an Iraqi citizen in early July, said Rear Adm. Frank Thorp, the Navy’s top spokesman.
Remains of missing Gulf War pilot found
By David Brown - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Aug 2, 2009 8:19:00 EDT
The remains of Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, the F/A-18 Hornet pilot who was shot down over Iraq at the start of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, have been found, according to a Navy spokesman.
The remains were found by Marines stationed in Anbar province, who received a tip from an Iraqi citizen in early July, said Rear Adm. Frank Thorp, the Navy’s top spokesman.
Sincere condolences to his widow Joanne, his daughter Meghan, his son Michael and all his family and friends..Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead said: “Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us.”
Recently the last two missing remains of Australians who fought in Vietnam were found. Also airmen, two of them, Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver. In this case too locals were very helpful.
Thank goodness..... I am so happy his body has been found, and that the evidence points toward death upon impact rather than torture. Although sad, this must be comforting for his family. Welcome home, Capt. Speicher. It's about damn time.
Spent a year at COB SPEICHER and as the only Navy unit stationed there, his memory was dear to us sandcrabs.
r/
Chris
Missing Man inbound...
Most, if not all, the regular contributors to this blog understand the differences in Service rank designations. Some of us are even aware of the capitalization protocols ("COL" for the Army O-6 vs. "Col" for his/her USAF counterpart, LTC for the Army vs. LtCol for the Marines, etc.).
I could be wrong, but I believe Spike was promoted to Captain (USN O-6) in absentia. Maybe you can correct me.
Thanks for reading,
Attila, Col, USAF, Ret.
Aside from providing a sound understanding of basic human nature when dealing with offenses that don't rise to the level of jail, one other good reason for taking that approach in this case is that you don't look like a buffoon when you're simply wrong in your details.
Cheers,
The Armorer
Blog Owner
Major, USA, Ret.
In cases like this, where a servicemember's status was changed from KIA to MIA, and that person was promoted in absentia based on that change in status which now appears to have been wrong as it seems that Speicher was indeed killed when he was shot down in 1991, will his rank revert to that which he held at the time of his death?
Just imagine the blowback from doing something like that...albeit there are bean counters who've tried.
I put up this post & unlike the Armorer, I *don't* appreciate your zeal.
I think before you go off halfcocked, you should do a little research. Just because you see a pic of CAPT Speicher at a particular rank doesn't mean that was all he ever attained.
CAPT Speicher was a LCDR when he was shot down. He was subsequently promoted to CDR then CAPT in absentia.
Think before you type.