Military

Vietnam forward air controllers hold final reunion at Hurlburt Field

Vietnam-era forward air controllers gathered at Hurlburt Field, Florida, for their final reunion, returning to where they trained nearly 70 years ago before deploying to Southeast Asia.

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Members of the Forward Air Controller Association (FACA) convened at Hurlburt Field’s Memorial Air Park on Oct. 26 for their final reunion, marking the end of an era that began when they trained at the same location before serving in Vietnam.

The event featured a memorial ceremony where retired Capt. Evan Quiros presented a “Ghost Pilot” bronze statue to Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander. The life-sized bust features a helmeted pilot with a polished visor creating a ghost-like appearance.

“This will be a very fitting end, both a good and sad one, as we hold our last reunion where it all started,” said retired Lt. Col. Claude Newland, FACA reunion coordinator. “Our time has come as we are aging and eventually every ‘last-man standing’ organization must fold its tent.”

Base leadership, Forward Air Controller Association members and family gather at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park for the final FACA reunion at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 26, 2024. Established in 1999, the FACA is a non-profit organization with a purpose of preserving the history of the personnel who supported and flew the forward air controller mission during the war in Southeast Asia. It also serves as a forum for members to share their stories and continue their legacy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Flower)

Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Oliver, 1st Special Operations Wing command chief, welcomed the veterans. “We’re excited to welcome you back and pay homage to the legacy you have set for every Air Commando following you,” Oliver said. “Thank you for your service and thank you for lighting the way.”

Retired Capt. Evan Quiros presents a “Ghost Pilot” statue he crafted to U.S Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, Air Force Special Operations Command commander, during the final Forward Air Controller Association reunion at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 26, 2024. Engraved at the base of the statue is a poem by John Gillespie McGee, “For the pilots who ‘slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silver wings’ but never returned.” (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Flower)

The statue’s creator, Quiros, explained how personal tragedy influenced the sculpture’s evolution.

“I lost my daughter, her husband and my two grandkids in a plane crash in Colorado,” Quiros said. “After mourning them and those I lost during the war, the sculpture evolved and my hope was for it to force people to reflect on the people in their own lives.”

The sculpture bears an engraved poem by John Gillespie McGee, commemorating pilots who “slipped the surly bonds of Earth and danced the skies on laughter-silver wings but never returned.”

Retired Col. Zot Barazzotto described the statue’s emotional impact: “It stirred emotions and feelings like nothing in my 80 years, I think the Ghost Pilot helped thaw my frozen feelings.”

A flyover is conducted during the final Forward Air Controller Association reunion at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Oct. 26, 2024. Established in 1999, the FACA is a non-profit organization with a purpose of preserving the history of the personnel who supported and flew the forward air controller mission during the war in Southeast Asia. It also serves as a forum for members to share their stories and continue their legacy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Amanda Flower)

FACA, established in 1999, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of forward air controller personnel who served in Southeast Asia. The members spent the remainder of their final reunion sharing service memories and visiting the local area.

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