Tragic day for our GIs

[jarnon]

What should have been a glorious day for the U.S. military, with the President congratulating graduating Air Force Academy cadets, turned tragic. A truck from Fort Hood overturned in a flooded creek; nine soldiers died. Then a Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 crashed in Tennessee; the pilot, Marine Captain Jeff Kuss, died.

It could have been worse. One of the Air Force Thunderbird F-16s that had flown over the Colorado Springs graduation crash landed in a field. The pilot, combat veteran Major Alex Turner, ejected safely. Pres. Obama thanked Major Turner for his service before he flew home.

[Bob Juch]

What should have been a glorious day for the U.S. military, with the President congratulating graduating Air Force Academy cadets, turned tragic. A truck from Fort Hood overturned in a flooded creek; three soldiers died and six are still missing. Then a Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 pilot crashed and died in Tennessee.

It could have been worse. One of the Air Force Thunderbird F-16s that had flown over the Colorado Springs graduation crash landed in a field. The pilot, combat veteran Major Alex Turner, ejected safely. Pres. Obama thanked Major Turner for his service before he flew home.

It appears that Major Turner guided his plane to a safe landing before ejecting.

[Ritterskoop]

The pilot who died is from Sprots' hometown.

[BackInTex]

R.I.P. Captain Kruss

Captain Jeff Kuss is a native of Durango, Colorado, and graduated from Durango High School in 2002. He attended Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 2006. Jeff was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps through the Officer Candidate Course in 2006 and reported to The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, to complete training.

Jeff reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for aviation indoctrination in July 2007. He completed primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and completed advanced training in the T-45A Goshawk at NAS Kingsville, Texas. He received his wings of gold in November 2009.

Jeff then reported to Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), the “Rough Raiders,” at NAS Lemoore, California, for initial training in the F/A-18 Hornet. He reported to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 (VMFA-312), the “Checkerboards,” at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, in February 2011, where he served as Squadron Mess Officer, Naval Air Training and Operation Procedures Standardization Officer (NATOPS), Powerline Division Officer, and Pilot Training Officer. Jeff reported to U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), NAS Fallon, Nevada, in July 2012 and graduated in September 2012. While assigned to VMFA-312, Jeff deployed with Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. VMFA-312 earned the 2013 Robert M. Hanson Award as the Marine Corps Association’s Fighter Attack Squadron of the Year.

Jeff joined the Blue Angels in September 2014. He has accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and 175 carrier-arrested landings. His decorations include the Strike Flight Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and unit awards.

[SportsFan68]

The pilot who died is from Sprots' hometown.

Yes, it was wrenching. I wasn't acquainted with Jeff at all, but still felt the loss of the community -- we were so proud of him.

I have a passing acquaintanceship with his grandfather, who taught my older brother how to play tennis.

I was sorry to miss the motorcade in his honor, but we were camping up in the hills. We heard the flyover of the "missing flyer" formation three times but never could see it. I guess we just didn't know where to look.

I expect an entry in the Independence Day parade in his honor.