Beale pays tribute to fallen Airmen

by Staff Sgt. Robert M. Trujillo
9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs

4/30/2014 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Beale honored four Airmen including two Beale Airmen who died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during a memorial service at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., April 25.

Capt. Reid K. Nishizuka, Capt. Brandon L. Cyr, Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson and Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin were killed nearly a year ago when their MC-12 Liberty crashed during a combat mission in Afghanistan.

"We remember the fallen, and we honor them for paying the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation's freedom," said, Lt. Col. Robb Rigtrup, 306th Intelligence Squadron commander. "As brothers and sisters in arms, it's in our nature to band together and remain strong."

Fellow service members, family and friends paid their respects by sharing stories of the fallen during the memorial service, which included a luncheon.

"We are here to break bread as a community in remembrance and to honor them with a roll call in our own way that is traditional to the combat aviation community," said Lt. Col. David Berg, 427th Reconnaissance Squadron commander. "We are a family in the Air Force. We go into combat together, and that feeling of family is reflected on a day like today where we come together to pay tribute, grieve together, remember together and laugh together."

The 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron commander at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan during the crash also spoke to the more than 300 people in attendance.

"These were ordinary people, fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands, who responded in an extraordinary way during an extreme situation," said Lt. Col. John Polkowski, who is now the 9th Operations Group deputy commander at Beale. "Their sacrifice follows in the footsteps of some of the America's finest."

In addition to the memorial service, Beale held a 5k and 8k run to honor the crew of Independence 08. Participants were also able to purchase tribute shirts with proceeds funding a permanent memorial on Beale.

"Nearly $6,000 was raised to keep Indy 08's memory alive," said 1st Lt. Jeremy, 306th IS, officer in charge of training operations. "It was amazing to see everyone come out and support."

At the conclusion of the memorial run, family members, including Becky Pratt, mother of Staff Sgt. Richard A. Dickson thanked Team Beale for keeping the memory of her son and the Independence 08 crew alive. Dickson's home of record was nearby Rancho Cordova, Calif.

"On behalf of my family, we are very grateful for being involved in your run and remembrance, and we are excited to have a permanent memorial being made," said Erron Pool, Staff Sgt. Dickson's sister. "Thank you for your service to our country and your kindness to us."