(Remembrances – Dave Showalter, Josh's dad)

Joshua Brent Showalter, known to me as "Bud", died August 10, 2004 in the crash of a Navy S3B Viking into the volcanic island of Kita Iwo Jima in the Sea of Japan. Born on March 18, 1980 in Whittier, California. Josh was the 3rd of four children (Erica, Matthew, Josh and Jared), we would have. We would also raise my niece, Darby, who became like a little sister.

Josh was always full of energy and curious about how everything worked. Every bike or scooter we ever brought home, he would disassemble. He loved to play in the backyard when he was very young, with his Springer Spaniel named Teddy. Of course, we always knew when he was in the backyard, because Teddy would go running by with Josh's diaper in his mouth and Josh in pursuit, bear naked. It was great fun to watch.

As Josh grew older he loved to ride his skateboard. One time he put on his sister's white headband, like a ninja. He barreled down the sidewalk and ran smack into a brick wall. Thus the scare on his head that showed so prominently in his Navy photo.

Josh always was willing to do whatever his sister and cousins talked him into, one time even eating dog biscuits with his cousin Dana. He also proved adapt at training his grandfather's dog to use the doggie door, demonstrating by going in and out of it until the dog caught on.

He also loved getting up before everyone in the house on the weekends. His adventures with cooking breakfast took on a whole new meaning, when he set the kitchen cabinets on fire trying to make Pop Tarts. Never one to panic, he calmly walked down the hall to our bedroom and announced in a quiet voice that the kitchen was on fire.

When Josh started playing sports he was probably the hardest working player I ever coached. Never one to give less than everything he had. He loved playing soccer and baseball. I think soccer was his love and he only tolerated baseball to please me. His other love of sport involved Trap Shooting with his Grandpa John. He stayed with this sport well into his teen years and was the California State Juniors Champion in 1997.

Josh also loved to go to Lockheed aircraft plant where Grandpa worked, so he could see the airplanes. He always wanted to fly. He talked about joining the service when he graduated from high school, but only if he got a job with planes.

During Josh's senior year in high school, I was changing careers from accounting to teaching. I was home most of the time and it was great to sit every morning and afternoon with him in our family room, just talking and playing on the computer. They were some of my best times ever with him.

He graduated from Fontana High School in 1998 with a silver certificate in Engineering. After a few months, he decided that he was going to enlist in the Navy. They had offered him the opportunity to work in the Aviation field. He would get his chance to work with planes. He attended boot camp in Great Lakes, IL. The same place his Grandpa Showalter had gone in the early 1940's. Ricka and I attended his graduation in February of 1999. After that, he was off to Pensacola, Florida for aviation electronics training. You could see just how happy he was.

Upon completion, he was stationed at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego. His first squadron was the Shamrocks.

It was during this time that he met his future wife Jennifer. He was growing into a strong young man. On October 28, 2000, Jennifer and Josh welcomed into this world a daughter, Mikayla Marie Showalter. You could see just how proud he was to be a father. He took on a whole new responsibility in being a dad. Whenever he was out to sea, he now had something pulling him back. He missed his wife and daughter so much. I would email him pictures of our visits to San Diego and he was always so happy to receive those pictures.

Josh eventually was transferred to the VS35 Blue Wolves. He deployed for 9 months aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the beginning of the Iraq War. It was a tough time for Josh, not only because of his job. At home, many hard times befell the family. His mother developed breast cancer and had to have surgery and his Grandpa John passed away two weeks later. This followed deaths of grandparents from his wife's side and an aunt from his mother's side. The Navy sent him home early because of all the distractions.

Josh arrived home unannounced on March 29, 2003. Josh and his wife had not told us he was on his way, so as to surprise us. I was home when they arrived unannounced at our house on that afternoon. It was so good to have him home. His mother was not home, so they hid their car down the street. When she drove up, they hid in the bedroom. She walked in the door and I told her she was about to receive the best birthday present ever. Yes, it was her birthday. Josh comes springing down the hall and says, "I'm home!" She screamed so loud, I'm sure it contributed to my hearing loss. It was a great day in the Showalter household.

When he reported back to North Island, he was there when the Blue Wolves flew off the aircraft carrier to North Island to prepare to take President Bush to the USS Abraham Lincoln. He was a great Navy man. He would not even tell his dad what was going on. When I asked him about it when it was over, he just shrugged his shoulders and said it was just part of his job. Just part of his job! Five years after graduating from high school and he's involved in flying the President of the United States to an aircraft carrier. Sure sounds better than my job of working Toys For Tots in the Marine Corp.

In June of 2003, he calls and asks if I would like to go out on the USS John C Stennis for a day. I jump at the chance and have a great day with my son. I meet Cmdr Skip Lussier who had flown the plane with President Bush on it. I recognized him from the newscast. He is Josh's Commanding Officer. Later that day we go to his squadron headquarters and he takes me in the back to see Navy 1. I get a few pictures of Josh, not realizing they would be treasured more than I ever thought a little more than a year later.

During the next year, Josh enjoyed his time at home. Babysitting Mikayla during the day, they enjoyed lots of Daddy/Baby naptime. He also loved to come up and spend time with his sister, Erica and brother, Jared. Going to lunch and a movie with Erica or to a Drop Kick Murphy concert with Jared, he was the big brother to the max. The three musketeers were together again. On his last visit, he went to Disneyland with his mother and Erica, after we picked up a new puppy named Gus. He was leaving on deployment this time aboard the USS John C Stennis. Jennifer was pregnant with their second child.

We always worry about him going out, but I exchange emails with him regularly and that helps. He leaves in May and we know Jennifer is having some troubles with the pregnancy but hope for the best. Josh is sent home the end of June because of the pregnancy and it is a difficult time. He tells me it is a boy, but that the troubles are serious. We can only pray for the best. When he arrives back at the Stennis he starts emailing me again and I try to cheer him up with pictures and support.

On August 10, he boards a flight with Lt Cmdr Scott Zellum, Lt Patrick Myrick and Lt James Pupplo. Josh's last email to me was sent just before they left. He is upbeat and talking about things we will do when he gets home. I know he is with his brother Matthew, Grandpa John, my parents and all our loved ones who have passed. They are all helping Josh take care of his son, Jonathan, who followed his dad on September 30, 2004. They will take care of my "Bud", until we all meet again.

Josh touched many lives and everyone misses him terribly.

To the Crew of Blue Wolves 704, you are all of our heroes. Your families are in our prayers constantly.

God Bless everyone who has helped our families in this great time of loss.