Memorial honors three fallen Fairchild Airmen

by Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

5/5/2014 - FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash -- Service members, community leaders, friends and family gathered May 3, 2014, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., to commemorate the year anniversary of an aircraft crash where three Team Fairchild Airmen lost their lives.

Capt. Mark "Tyler" Voss, Capt. Victoria "Tory" Pinckney and Tech. Sgt. Herman "Tre" Mackey III lost their lives May 3, 2013 in a KC-135 Stratotanker crash in Kyrgyzstan.

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Glass opened the ceremony with a prayer, saying the wounds of last year's crash are slowly starting to heal, but the scars will remain forever. Col. Brian Newberry, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, then spoke about the crew who perished in the tragic accident.

"Today we stand together to remember 3 May, 2013, a day many of us will never forget, a day we forever lost three Fairchild Airmen serving the cause of freedom," he said. "I did certainly acknowledge this windy morning that those wounds can never completely heal, but we can in time become stronger by remembering and emulation Shell 77's crew's strength."

During the ceremony a 5-foot engraved monument was unveiled in Fairchild Memorial Grove Park, signifying the crew contributions. Surrounding the monument stand three benches, each one engraved with one of the Airmen's names to recognize their individual accomplishments.

"Fairchild lost three mighty warriors and America lost three noble and powerful patriots," Newberry said. "We can never fill in the hole left in the American tapestry by their loss, but today we stand together to vow as a community to never forget them."

Newberry recollected memories of each one of the Airmen. He said Tyler was a pilot's pilot who really knew how to fly and was a leader. He said Tori was smart and skilled, fighting for simulator time during her pregnancy to stay the best of the best. Tre spoke to him of the love of flight and the love of his family, he said meeting Tre reminded him of why he loves flying and why he loves this great base.

"With their ultimate sacrifice they reinforced a lesson history teaches us daily, freedom isn't free. They gave their tomorrows so we could have our todays," Newberry concluded. "This monument ensures that we will always remember our happy few, Shell 77 we will never forget you."