Stars and Stripes reports on a memorial service in Atsugi, Japan, for the USS Kitty Hawk's pilot lost over Iraq.
Lt. j.g. Mike Odom stood before 1,000 people in the flight hangar at Atsugi Naval Air Facility on Thursday and quietly spoke of the selfless devotion of his colleague and friend, Lt. Nathan D. White. White died April 2, after ejecting from his F/A-18 Hornet over Iraq. He is the first member of Atsugi's close-knit community - and from the USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group - to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Lieutenant Nathan White selflessly sacrificed himself above and beyond the call of duty," said Odom, who is officer in charge of the beach detachment of Carrier Air Wing FIVE, of which White's squadron was a part.
Posted by Alan at April 21, 2003 11:30 AM