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Any AWs here lose Friends/Relatives on 9/11?

Shpion1

Member
Contributor
LT Jonas Panik was my intel officer in VP-46 for my first deployment in 99-00, still the best intel officer I've seen through my tours. Lost in the Pentagon crash wile prepping the morning briefs.

Edge, if you were on the SLAM crew(s) during that period that did the FIT training then I was the 30 intel guy...prob the best morale in a VP squadron I saw during my time with the WTU, and not saying that because we drank beer during strike planning training. ;-) really tight squadron with a good skipper and you're right, Jonas was one of a kind. He never did acquire an appreciation for "Tiny" even years later. Next AI you got, sorry about that, the Intel detailers never did learn that some 1630s best fit in a JIC/JIOC, others best fit in a squadron.
 

ltedge46

Lost in the machine
None
Edge, if you were on the SLAM crew(s) during that period that did the FIT training then I was the 30 intel guy...prob the best morale in a VP squadron I saw during my time with the WTU, and not saying that because we drank beer during strike planning training. ;-) really tight squadron with a good skipper and you're right, Jonas was one of a kind. He never did acquire an appreciation for "Tiny" even years later. Next AI you got, sorry about that, the Intel detailers never did learn that some 1630s best fit in a JIC/JIOC, others best fit in a squadron.

I checked in right before deployment so didn't go through SLAM until later, but after some of the AI's I've had I realized I took him for granted. AI's can bring so much to the table when mission planning and preparing for flights. Our next deployment as an MC I might as well have had no Intel support at all. He would have done a lot more for us throughout his career if he hadn't died that day.
 

707guy

"You can't make this shit up..."
Just want to say a quick thank you to all of you for sharing these stories. Very meaningful to read all that has been written here.
 

BusyBee604

St. Francis/Hugh Hefner Combo!
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
My good friend & former Boss CAPT John D. Yamnicky, Sr. (Ret.) 1930-2011, fallen on AA Flight 77 at the Pentagon. Big John aka "Mr. Yams" was our (VA-146) OpsO in '65-'66 at which time I was AsstOps /TrainingO. John was a pleasure to work for & a superb aviator to boot (TPS Grad.). Never saw him without a huge grin on his face.
View attachment 11368
An integral part of our fine All-USNA 'front office', John was Class of '52, later was CO of the VA-172 "Blue Bolts" (A-4s), then Director, Naval Test Pilot School (TPS), prior to his retirement. Mr. Yams had been selected for 'CAG', but turned it down, desiring to spend more time with his family while his children were still in their formative years, thus sacrificing his further career potential, which was very bright.
View attachment 11369
*John with his new "scrambled eggs" cap at his O-5 (& my O-4) wetting down @ Kalyaan O Club 09/66

At the time of the 09/11 tragedy, Big John was employed as a A/A missile consultant for a DOD Contractor in DC. On that fateful morning, John was heading to NWS China Lake, CA for A/A missile discussions. He boarded AA #77 Dulles-LA, and the rest is part of the sad history of 09/11/01. John was the last of the 9/11 victims to be laid to rest at Arlington in April 2oo2. RIP Rocket "BusyBee 3" Mr. Yams!:(
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*Arlington National Cemetary
BzB
Thread resurrected for a 12- year Anniversary Tribute to all those lost on 9/11/01.
BzB
 

jmcquate

Well-Known Member
Contributor
I haven't been to the Pentagon Memorial yet ..........shame on me. I think I'll go this weekend.
 

PhrogLoop

Adulting is hard
pilot
Classmate & friend (and fellow Computer Science Major), LT Darin Pontell. He was an intelligence officer stationed at the Pentagon, and had arrived early that morning to prepare a brief.

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His family has sacrificed more than any one family should for this country....


Darin decided to go the Naval Academy because of his brother...
Darin was also a damn fine coxswain on our Crew team. RIP, brother.
 

ltedge46

Lost in the machine
None
I haven't been to the Pentagon Memorial yet ..........shame on me. I think I'll go this weekend.

I just did my promotion last week at the Pentagon memorial, been working in the building for over a year and hadn't made it out there. It's definately worth the visit but before you go, read up on all the symbolisim that they built into it, certainly added to the experience.
 
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