March 25, 2015 - VFW Post 8904 and Ladies Auxiliary Members are (from left) Les Gill and his dog "Little T", Quartermaster Larry Hume, Aux Chaplain Mary Fausett, Aux Sr. Vice Sandy Risinger, Aux. President Becky Yates, Post JA Charles Kreisel, Aux. member Becky Maidic, post member Bill Gray and USMC Veteran Paul Risinger.
On Tuesday, March 24th, 2015 Veterans and citizens gathered at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the historic Shelby County Courthouse to remember those who served in the humanitarian effort in Kosovo in 1999. A wreath was laid and Taps sounded for those who served and have since passed.
Sixteen years ago on March 24, 1999 NATO launched an air campaign called “Operation Allied Force” to halt the humanitarian devastation that was then unfolding in Kosovo. The decision to intervene followed more than a year of fighting within the province and the failure of international efforts to resolve the conflict by diplomatic means. NATO announced the suspension of the air campaign on 10 June, 1999 once it had concluded a military technical agreement with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
NATO casualties were light and the alliance suffered no fatalities as a result of combat operations. Two American army helicopter pilots, CWO David Gibbs and Kevin l. Reichert died when their AH-64 helicopter crashed in the early hours of May 5, 1999. The crash was not due to enemy fire but two of America’s finest died that day serving their country.
