LCDR Michael Scott Speicher, a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot. LCDR Speicher was the first registered casualty of Operation Desert Storm, having been lost in the sky over the Western Iraq Desert on January 17, 1991, during the opening minutes of the air phase of the war. He was promoted twice after his disappearance, first to commander and then to captain. The wreckage of his aircraft was located in 1994 and visited by US officials in 1995. Speicher's remains were positively identified in August 2009. News reports indicate that he was buried near his crash site by Bedouins.
Captain Michael Speicher was a highly decorated Naval Officer with the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross with combat 'V,' Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star, Navy 'E' Ribbon, Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.
Captain Michael Speicher was a highly decorated Naval Officer with the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross with combat 'V,' Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star, Navy 'E' Ribbon, Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.
LCDR Michael Scott Speicher, a United States Navy F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot. LCDR Speicher was the first registered casualty of Operation Desert Storm, having been lost in the sky over the Western Iraq Desert on January 17, 1991, during the opening minutes of the air phase of the war. He was promoted twice after his disappearance, first to commander and then to captain. The wreckage of his aircraft was located in 1994 and visited by US officials in 1995. Speicher's remains were positively identified in August 2009. News reports indicate that he was buried near his crash site by Bedouins.
Captain Michael Speicher was a highly decorated Naval Officer with the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross with combat 'V,' Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star, Navy 'E' Ribbon, Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.
Captain Michael Speicher was a highly decorated Naval Officer with the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross with combat 'V,' Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star, Navy 'E' Ribbon, Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.
Gravesite Details
Cenotaph -- this cenotaph has been removed, Arlington Cemetery policy states that if remains are recovered, the memorial marker will be removed and interred with the coffin. Burial : Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, FL.
