Soldier with
A soldier
with
No amount of
training could prepare U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeff Staha for this mission – detailing
the death of one his finest men to those who loved him most.
"Juan
was killed in the line of duty," Maj. Staha said, "supporting Operation Enduring
Freedom in the
It happened
on Feb. 22, when 29-year-old staff sergeant Juan Ridout and nine others were on a training
mission helping the Philipino armed forces fight terrorism.
"They
had just finished their primary mission," Maj. Staha said. "After about eight
hours of flying, they had a catastrophic crash
The crash is
still under investigation, but the deadly consequences are more than enough to Juan's
sister to bear.
"He just
made everything better," Jessica Ridout said. "I'll miss him for the rest of my
life."
Jessica has
no body to bury – only a tape of her brother's military memorial service and a a
handful of momentos.
Each item was
painstakingly put together by Juan's squadron and hand-delivered by Maj. Staha – his
commander and friend.
"He was
a guy who when the commander had a hard day," Maj. Staha said. "He'd get a smile
on my face when I needed it."
But above
all, Juan lived to save others. And few could do it better.
Like the time
the pararescue jumper saved a colleague several years ago.
"He was
a Hammer F-14 that was shot down over Kosovo in 1999," Jessica read. "Juan was
on a mission to get him out. Surrounded by enemy troops, your brother fought his way in
and pulled me out of harm's way. I'll always be grateful"
The letter
addressed to her, was written by a man who's alive today because of her brother.
"He was
truly a hero in every sense of the word," Maj. Staha said. "A man who might die
so others can live"
That's the
one side of the military Maj. Staha wishes this family did not have to see.