When your friends die, the mission continues. The story of May 2, 2005, with Ret. Marine LtCol Ben ”Big Gay” Buerke

On May 2nd, 2005, 2 F/A-18 Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, the “Death Rattlers”, collided over central Iraq. After two successful ejections, both pilots were tragically dragged to death in their parachutes after reaching the ground. The event rocked the families, the squadron, and the air wing. With us today is retired Marine LtCol Ben “Big Gay” Buerke, a MAWTS 1 IP, former Commanding Officer, and was a Captain with VMFA-323 on that deployment. We talk about his background, the culture of the Death Rattlers, and his personal account of that tragic day. But most importantly, we talk about how the squadron reacted, the leadership lessons learned, and how the Ready Room, the families, and the Marines took a devastating event and used it to galvanize them closer together. 

In memoriam. 

LtCol John "Dukes" Spahr USMC                                                           

Capt Kelly "Trash" Hinz USMC