{"id":37007,"date":"2019-05-27T02:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-27T02:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/27\/remembering-the-fallen-12-former-service-members-to-honor-this-memorial-day\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:51:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:51:38","slug":"remembering-the-fallen-12-former-service-members-to-honor-this-memorial-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2019\/05\/27\/remembering-the-fallen-12-former-service-members-to-honor-this-memorial-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering the fallen: 12 former service members to honor this Memorial Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In honor of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2017\/05\/28\/to-many-americans-memorial-day-has-lost-its-meaning\/\" target=_blank>Memorial Day<\/a>, Military Times asked several lawmakers and administration officials to talk about who they will be r<a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/opinion\/commentary\/2019\/03\/05\/3-things-gold-star-families-want-you-to-know-this-memorial-day\/\" target=_blank>emembering on the holiday<\/a>. Here are their reflections: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, a Navy Reserve and Air Force Reserve veteran<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn Memorial Day we often forget Americans who gave the last full measure offering a helping hand to those whose own world had disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn panel 1W Line 121 of the Vietnam Wall is the name of just such a man: Master Sgt. Denning Cicero Johnson. He was 36, a husband, father, medic. He was one of the last Americans to fall in Vietnam, on April 4, 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was rescuing orphans whose lives were in danger as the North Vietnamese approached Saigon. Operation Baby Lift rescued 2,000 children on the orders of President Gerald Ford. While Johnson was tending to the children in his care, the C-5 he was on crashed into a rice paddy outside of Saigon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSeventy eight children died that day. Fifty Americans perished. A father and friend was lost that day but his life was testament to the American spirit. Ronald Reagan said it best \u2014 Heroes come when they are needed, great men step forward when courage seems in short supply. Denning Johnson was both a hero and a great man.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., an Army veteran and ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are many incredible men and women that come to mind when I think of our fallen servicemembers, but this Memorial Day I want to especially recognize the life and service of 1st Sgt Thomas E. Thayer from Louisville, Ky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSgt Thayer was a tremendous man that I knew growing up in the Boy Scouts. He was my scoutmaster and taught me so much about leadership and responsibility. Sgt. Thayer died while serving with the Army\u2019s 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. He received a Silver Star in 1965. I will never forget his courage and bravery. Rest in peace, scoutmaster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2019\/03\/05\/3-things-gold-star-families-want-you-to-know-this-memorial-day\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/14305130794_f9a3a75cdc_k.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">3 things Gold Star families want you to know this Memorial Day<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Memorial Day\u2019s intended purpose is too often overshadowed by activities that celebrate the first long weekend of summer, says the author.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who served with the Army National Guard in Iraq<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEvery Memorial Day, I think about Brian Slavenas who was a first lieutenant in the Illinois National Guard and flew helicopters out of the unit based in Peoria, Ill. Brian and I were young officers who served at the same time. He and his crew were killed when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down in 2003 near Fallujah, Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor me, Memorial Day is about honoring the fallen and the guys from the Illinois National Guard like Brian who never made it home. It\u2019s about honoring the people who continue to serve time and again, giving everything in defense of our country. And it\u2019s about honoring the families who continue to send their sons and daughters to stand up for this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who served with the Army in Afghanistan <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen I hear the slow hum of Taps and the crack of the 21-gun salute this Memorial Day, I will think of many friends \u2014 warrior brothers like Army Sgt. 1st Class Lance Vogeler, who was killed Oct. 1, 2010, just a few weeks after he worked to save my life when I was injured. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLance was killed on his 12th deployment. He left behind his wife and three children whom he loved more than anything in this world and spoke about all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** VA Chief of Staff Pamela Powers, Air Force veteran<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn this and every memorial day I honor my brothers and sisters in arms who have paid the ultimate price for freedom and reflect on the grieving families and friends they left behind. In particular, I remember my Air Force Academy classmate and friend, Marine Lt. Col. Kevin Shea, who was killed in action near Falluja, Iraq on Sept. 14, 2004. Kevin cross-commissioned into the Marines after graduation and was assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment Division when he died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKevin was a gentle-giant, a humble leader, a great Marine and just a great guy. He left behind a spouse, two children, parents, siblings, and friends, all who feel his loss greatly. Hershel \u2018Woody\u2019 Williams once said that \u2018So many times in our history . . . we have paid great tribute to veterans who serve, which certainly is appropriate, but for whatever reason, we forget the families who lost that loved one.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo on this memorial day I remember and honor Lt. Col. Shea and all of those family and friends that he left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2019\/05\/15\/5-ways-to-support-families-of-the-fallen-on-memorial-day\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/34812846262_627263bc23_k.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">5 ways to support families of the fallen on Memorial Day<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">This Memorial Day is a great time to start anew and make it more meaningful for the tens of thousands of surviving military family members, this author says. Here&#039;s how.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., ranking member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs we honor the fallen this Memorial Day, I am keeping one particular veteran in my thoughts \u2014 Cmdr. John Scott Hannon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAfter serving 23 years in the Navy as a member of the SEALs, Scott Hannon retired to his home state of Montana where he received treatment for his invisible wounds of war while helping other veterans find their own paths to recovery. Like too many of our veterans, Scott eventually succumbed to those wounds and died by suicide on Feb. 25, 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOne veteran life lost to suicide is one too many. This Memorial Day, we should redouble our efforts to provide more veterans with life-saving mental health care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who served in the Army National Guard in Kuwait and Iraq<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs a combat veteran, Memorial Day is always personal for me. It\u2019s a solemn reminder of the courageous sacrifices made by our fallen brothers and sisters in uniform. We honor all those from Iowa and across the country who answered the call to protect and defend our great nation, and especially those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSpecifically, I think of Army Spc. James C. Kearney III of Emerson, Iowa, who was a member of the Iowa Army National Guard and was killed in the line-of-duty in Afghanistan. I also think about Army Sgt. James Lyn Skalberg, who also called Emerson home and paid the ultimate price for freedom serving his country on active duty in Afghanistan.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., who served in the Air Force<\/b> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ll be thinking of my grandfather, Capt. Jack McDonald. He was born in South Dakota and attended school in a one-room schoolhouse at the base of Mount Rushmore. He graduated from UC Berkeley under the GI bill. In the Navy, he was a P-2 and P-3 pilot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe fought in the Korean War and went on to serve our nation for 30+ years. My grandfather raised seven children and was a very proud grandfather and great-grandfather. For me, he modelled how to live your best life in service, how service can change one and one\u2019s country for the better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe and my grandmother, Edwina, his wife of more than 50 years, are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery. We have a tradition of leaving a state quarter on their graves whenever any of our now very large family visits their graves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2017\/05\/28\/to-many-americans-memorial-day-has-lost-its-meaning\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ap17147759609536.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">To many Americans, Memorial Day has lost its meaning<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Allison Jaslow heard it more than once as the long holiday weekend approached \u2014 a cheerful &quot;Happy Memorial Day!&quot; from oblivious well-wishers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., Air National Guard veteran and chairman of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSeveral very special service members remain always in my heart. My college buddy, Jackson Elliott Cox III of Waynesboro, Ga., died a proud Marine in Vietnam. And Noah Harris of Ellijay, Ga., who joined the U.S. Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks while he was a student at the University of Georgia, made a difference in my life and in the lives of many others before he was killed in an IED attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJack and Noah are just a couple of examples of the service members who inspire me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>** Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., an Army veteran and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile I remember all service members on Memorial Day, I am especially keeping Johnny Marler of Jenks, Oklahoma, in my thoughts. Johnny left school at 19 to serve his country in Vietnam. While serving as an Army medic, his unit encountered an overwhelming enemy force. Johnny immediately went to the aid of a wounded soldier and saved his life. He was written up for a commendation medal, but the award letter was never delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI met Johnny earlier this year when I was honored to present him with the Army Commendation Medal with \u2018V\u2019 device for his actions on that day 50 years ago. Johnny passed away in April, but I\u2019ll never forget his patriotism and humility that spoke to a lifetime of service, even after he retired from the Army.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Military Times asked several lawmakers and administration officials to share who they will be remembering this holiday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":68749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":21,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,16,26,65,21],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3328],"class_list":["post-37007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress","category-veterans"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"RXKSZMCA3ZE3RF6GLQFWXG64VU","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2019\/05\/27\/remembering-the-fallen-12-former-service-members-to-honor-this-memorial-day\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Remembering the fallen: 12 former service members to honor this Memorial Day - Air Force TImes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Military Times asked several lawmakers and administration officials to share who they will be remembering this holiday\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Remembering the fallen: 12 former service members to honor this Memorial Day\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Military Times asked several lawmakers and administration officials to share who they will be remembering this holiday\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2019\/05\/27\/remembering-the-fallen-12-former-service-members-to-honor-this-memorial-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Air Force TImes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-05-27T02:00:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T06:51:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Leo Shane III\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Leo Shane III\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": 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