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433rd Airlift Wing remembers BRAVO-12 on 30-year anniversary

Tech. Sgt. Joe Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp service supervisor, John P. Perez, and Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, lay a wreath at the BRAVO-12 memorial Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Tech. Sgt. Joe Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp service supervisor, John P. Perez, and Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, lay a wreath at the BRAVO-12 memorial Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Both Joe and John Perez are sons of Tech. Sgt. Daniel G. Perez, an aircrew member who perished in the BRAVO-12 mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iram Carmona)

Lt. Col. Douglas P. Schoenenberger, 68th Airlift Squadron commander and ceremony narrator, speaks during the remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for the 30th anniversary of the BRAVO-12 mission held Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Lt. Col. Douglas P. Schoenenberger, 68th Airlift Squadron commander and ceremony narrator, speaks during the remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for the 30th anniversary of the BRAVO-12 mission held Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The ceremony was to remember the service members the perished in the BRAVO-12 mission shortly after take-off from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iram Carmona)

Retired Col. Jimmie Brooks speaks at the BRAVO-12 remembrance and wreath laying ceremony Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Retired Col. Jimmie Brooks speaks at the BRAVO-12 remembrance and wreath laying ceremony Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Brooks recalled his time at the 433rd Military Airlift Wing and knowing members of the BRAVO-12 aircrew that perished in the crash Aug. 29.1990. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iram Carmona)

Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, makes opening remarks during a remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for mission BRAVO-12 Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, makes opening remarks during a remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for mission BRAVO-12 Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The ceremony attendance was limited due to coronavirus social distancing. It was made available for viewing to other families, friends and colleagues who couldn’t be in attendance via Facebook live. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iram Carmona)

Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, makes opening remarks during a remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for mission BRAVO-12 Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, makes opening remarks during a remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for mission BRAVO-12 Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The ceremony was in observance of the 30-year anniversary of the BRAVO-12 crash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iram Carmona)

John P. Perez and brother, Tech. Sgt. Joe Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp service supervisor, pause for a moment after laying a wreath on the BRAVO-12 memorial during a remembrance ceremony Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

John P. Perez and brother, Tech. Sgt. Joe Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp service supervisor, pause for a moment after laying a wreath on the BRAVO-12 memorial during a remembrance ceremony Aug. 28, 2020 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Joe Perez stated that his father’s passing was the reason why he wanted to be part of the 433rd Airlift Wing here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Iram Carmona)

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --

The 433rd Airlift Wing held a remembrance and wreath laying ceremony for the 30th anniversary of the BRAVO-12 aircrew Aug. 28 here.

Nine members of the 433rd Mobility Airlift Wing along with four additional personnel were killed when their C-5A Galaxy crashed shortly after takeoff from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in the early morning Aug. 29, 1990. Out of 17 personnel on board, only four survived.

The aircrew’s mission that day was to fly to the Persian Gulf to deliver food, medical supplies and maintenance equipment to U.S. troops leading a multinational force in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD, a response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

Lt. Col. Douglas P. Schoenenberger, 68th Airlift Squadron commander narrated the ceremony. Col. Terry W. McClain, 433rd AW commander, made the opening remarks.

“We can never repay these selfless heroes, but we can say thank you to their immediate family members and honor and respect them for their service,” McClain said about the BRAVO-12 crew and their families during his speech.

The guest speaker was Retired Col. Jimmie “Pat” Brooks who spoke about interactions with some of the crew while he was a new lieutenant here at the time of the BRAVO-12 mishap.

“BRAVO-12 was a great tragedy for 13 reservists who volunteered to defend their country and died for the cause of freedom,” said Brooks. “It is incumbent for those of us who have served, and continue to serve, to never forget the sacrifices that those who came before us have made on behalf of ourselves and the citizens of this great country! It was my honor to represent the 68th Airlift Squadron in paying tribute to these great Airmen.”

“The 68th simply wanted all of the families to know that they will always be a part of us,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Jones, 68th Airlift Squadron, director of staff and project officer for the ceremony. “Although it’s been 30 years since the tragic event, it was important and sincere to reconnect with the many families members.”

Only a handful of family members were able to attend due to the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and precautions. Among the family members that were able to attend were John P. Perez and Tech. Sgt. Joe Perez, 26th Aerial Port Squadron ramp service supervisor. Both were sons of Tech. Sgt. Daniel G. Perez, a member of the 433rd MAW and loadmaster on the BRAVO-12 mission. Other family members, friends and relatives watched the memorial ceremony through Facebook live.

“There are mixed emotions about this, like sadness, but also pride about the ceremony because even after 30 years, they still remember and it makes me and my family really appreciate it,” said Joe Perez. “With this being my brother’s first time attending a ceremony like this, he was very impressed and grateful to witness this event. That it made him feel special and he was very thankful.”

The anniversary memorial ceremony ended with the laying of a wreath at the BRAVO-12 memorial. Each of the fallen service members was remembered with a wreath with his name on it.

The service members of the 433rd Military Airlift Wing aircrew killed in the BRAVO-12 incident are:

  • Maj. John M. Gordon
  • Maj. Richard W. Chase
  • Maj. Richard M. Price
  • Senior Master Sgt. Carpio Villareal Jr.
  • Master Sgt. Rosendo Herrera
  • Tech. Sgt. Daniel G. Perez
  • Tech. Sgt. Lonty A. Knutson
  • Staff Sgt. Daniel Garza
  • Staff Sgt. Edward E. Sheffield

The four other service members that perished in the crash were:

  • Capt. Bradley R. Schuldt, 7th Air Division at Ramstein AB, Germany
  • Master Sgt. Samuel M. Gardner Jr., 31st Weather Squadron at Hahn AB, Germany
  • Staff Sgt. Marc H. Cleyman, 31st Weather Squadron At Hahn AB, Germany
  • Staff Sgt. Rande J. Hulec,  31st Weather Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany

Four passengers aboard the aircraft survived. They are:

  • Lt. Col. Frederick K. Arzt Jr., 62nd MAW at McChord AFB, Washington
  • Lt. Cynthia A. Borecky, 3rd Weather Squadron at England AFB, Louisiana
  • Master Sgt. Dwight A. Pettit Jr.,  62nd MAW at McChord AFB, Washington
  • Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Galvan Jr., 433rd MAW at Kelly AFB, Texas