I wasn't the only one to cry Friday...
My niece Laura was born January 22, 1981, to my sister Lillian and her loving husband, Gene. On January 18, 2003, in a full Naval ceremony at the North Island Naval Base on Coronado Island off San Diego, she happily married Jeff Mankey.
She was always a joy to be around, and I know of no one whom met her that wasn't positively affected.
I last spoke with Laura during the family Christmas Eve gathering at my sister Maria's home. Unable to make the event myself because a friend needed my car for his job, Laura was happy to hear my voice on the phone and went away from the noisy activities so she could have a quality conversation with me. She spoke not only of how she would soon be deployed as a helicopter pilot off Kuwait for rescue missions, but of her excitement in both soon being together again with her submarine-based husband, Lt. Jeff Mankey, and the possibility she had to become an astronaut as well.
She was excited when I commented she could be continuing a family aerospace tradition begun when my father had helped develop the SR-71 Blackbird, which many consider the first actual spaceship (it secretly flew higher than the news-making orbiter flights of its days). When I asked her to please be careful because we all loved her so much, she assured me she knew what she was doing and fully appreciated the love she knew was there for her. She also promised that she and Jeff would take up my offer to visit my mountain home where she might be able to relax above clouds.
Two Fridays ago, on the forth day after her 26th birthday, the USS Bonhomme Richard, to which she had been assigned, received an unexpected single quick "May Day" from her helicopter. Then it was suddenly gone into the water. The sole survivor found sadly died upon reaching the ship. Laura and the two other crew members have not been found. After an extensive search, the U.S. Navy classified all as deceased because of the unlikelihood they could survive in the cold water for so many days.
It is now speculated that Laura and her two missing mates are strapped to their seats 3600 feet under water near San Clemente Island.
Stunned by this loss, which involved a new MH60S version of the otherwise familiar Night Hawk helicopter, the ship's Captain (and other Naval officers) have assured me they want to bring Laura and the helicopter up. An investigation is under way to determine what caused this first crash of a new MH60S Night Hawk.
Our family was very touched to see, hear and feel the love and respect that Laura had from those who knew her in the Navy. It was also easy to see why she loved being a part of the Navy family.
Your posts in the previous entry have also comforted us during the shock and distress we felt. We truly thank you for having opened your hearts.
Click the link below for more.
The flags were at half mast as we approached Laura's ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard. This is the third ship to have this name, with the first having been under the heroic command of Captain John Paul Jones, who said upon it during the furious Battle of Flamborough Head, "I have not yet begun to fight!" In another twist of fate, Jim Morrison's father had once commanded the second ship to be honored with this name.
With Jeff, Laura's much loved husband, standing upright, his parents, Earle and Geri Mankey, along with Laura's parents, Lillian and Gene Berwager, were among those escorted to the front row for the services.
There were at least 700 seats for family and friends of the four lost crew members, as well as 1200 ship mates, 500 squadron members, and others who came to give their love and respects.
Ens. Brandy Cropper, who met Laura in college (where she served under Laura in ROTC) and was Laura's room mate on the USS BONHOMME RICHARD, followed tributes from commanding officers and husband Lt. Jeff Mankey with personal reflections that were very touching.
Jeff was moved to tears as Brandy spoke of how much Laura would light up when she'd share her anticipated joy over her and Jeff finally living together on the Coronado Island base. That would have happened just three weeks after the accident.
One of Laura's commanding officers took this picture of my mother, myself, and sister Rosemary, between Laura's framed photo and her friend Ens. Brandy Cropper before the service. We will later receive a DVD of the services, and a link to a webpage they want to put up as well.
In addition to a 21 gun salute, four squadron helicopters slowly flew by in honor of their lost members towards the conclusion of the services.
As they flew by the ship, one steered off over the ocean as the other three flew in a "missing man" formation towards the bridge to Coronado Island.
I couldn't help but openly cry several times over the loss of my wonderful niece and her young crew members.
Laura's sisters, whom are equally wonderful women, Jennifer, Gina and Donna, were also among the many whom cried for this loss.
Bless you all.
I have over a hundred pictures, and more to say, of this past Friday and may later put up a family website honoring Laura. A link will be provided.
Thank you all for the love you have shared. It has meant a lot to us.