By AWCS (Ret.) Dave "Devo" DeVarney

Schedule checked

Another all-nighter, dawn patrol

Last beer drunk, hit the rack

Waken, first day of spring

Crew rest, waken again

Grab bag, boots tied

Last pat on the head

Last embrace

Lips touch

Love you, see 'ya in the morning

Main gate, ID card flashed

Attend brief, get tapes

Check books, read MAFs

APU started, preflight begins

Buoys loaded, plane fueled

Last geedunk run

Last smoke

Planeside brief, props turning

Chocks pulled

Thumbs up

Taxi

Approach end

Brakes released

REFUSAL, ROTATE, airborne

Left turn, intersect

Woodside VOR

SET 2, break out the cards

Dinners cooking

Check in, WE GOT IT

On stay

Spit buoys, BUOYS SWEET

Patience, gain contact

Track, BELOW 1000

Continue tracking

Relief checks in

TACAN lock, got visual

Swapping altitude

Closing…closing

Cold…..dark

Silent

Wreckage floats, slicks shimmer

No survivors

TAFOYA ¨ CAVUOTO ¨ SMITH

DYER ¨ HEIKKINEN ¨ MCNERNEY

HOGUE ¨ DABBS ¨ CERINO

OWENS ¨ SPOSATO ¨ TISDALE

NEMECEK ¨ CARMODY ¨ HAMILTON

METCALF ¨ REDMOND ¨ WILLIAMSON

CHAIKIN ¨ COX ¨ SHIELDS

BECKNER ¨ GERMEAU ¨ FARQUAHAR

DAVIS ¨ HALL ¨ RICE

Husbands and daddies…..lost

Sons and loved ones….….lost

Friends and shipmates…..lost

Gone…………..…….Forever

Chaplains visit

Friends console…hug…support

Services, present colors

Reddened eyes

Tears spilt

Sobs choked

Hands held

Backs rubbed

Eulogies and epitaphs

Folded flags

Bowed heads

Supreme sacrifice

Grateful nation

TAPS, guns and bells echo

Flags wave, tears stream

Searching for answers

Wondering, wondering

Empty beds

Days turn to weeks

Weeks turn to months

Months turn to years

Years pass on

The first decade has arrived

Tears still wet

Memories not faded

Friendships not forgotten

Love never lost

Still on the flight schedule

Still flying, still on-station

Still wearing their Wings of Gold