Sunday, August 2, 2009

CPT Speicher



CPT Scott Speicher


CPT Speicher was stationed in Jacksonville. I was running the news coverage of Desert Storm for The Florida Times-Union the night he was shot down. Mark was stationed at Camp Speicher on his first tour to Iraq.

By PAULINE JELINEK
The Associated Press
Sunday, August 2, 2009; 9:27 AM

WASHINGTON -- The remains of the first American lost in the Persian Gulf War have been found in Iraq, the military said Sunday, after struggling for nearly two decades with the question of whether he was dead or alive.

The Pentagon said the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology on Saturday had positively identified the remains of Navy Capt. Michael "Scott" Speicher, whose disappearance has bedeviled investigators since his fighter jet was shot down over the Iraq desert on the first night of the 1991 war.

The top Navy officer said the discovery illustrates the military's commitment to bring its troops home.

"Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be," said Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations.

The rest of the story can be found here.

2 comments:

ABNPOPPA said...

'Dad,

I caught that on FOX news about 0800 hours this morning. I didn't know whether to cry or jump for joy. It's been nearly 20 years. His kids are at least in high school, perhaps college. How many people close to him have passed on with a heavy heart not knowing about their loved one. I guess the best thing is now he can come home and have a decent burial. God rest his soul.

Pops

Airborne dad said...

Agreed, Pops. I know the attorney who has been helping the family pro bono. The last chapter in CPT Speicher's life has not been written yet.