Florence - Just as they have since 2001, members of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing group gathered for an informal rededication ceremony Friday at the Leo S. Boston War Memorial Park in the Fremont County Airport. At the opening of the ceremony, Sherif Lepi, of Albuquerque, N.M., who served with the 12th Tactical Field Maintenance Squadron from 1966 to 1967, welcomed members and guests. "We traveled here this week from all around the country, and we're enjoying this wonderful weather," he said. "We've organized this annual informal ceremony to honor those who gave their lives while assigned to the Air Force 12th Tactical Fighter Wing." Following the opening remarks, Everett Sherwood gave the invocation and Claude "Skip" Blanchard performed "To the Colors" on his bugle. "Lord, we are once again gathered at this memorial to honor those who served in the 12th wing and made the ultimate sacrifice," he prayed. "We bless the families of our lost ... and honor those who paid the high price .. (whose names are) also on our wall." During the short ceremony, Lepi gave the history of the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing. Activated in April 1962 at McDill Air Force Base, it was first equipped with the F-84 aircraft and made an important alert commitment during the Cuban missile confrontation with the Soviet Union. "The 12th was chosen to be the first Air Force combat wing to convert to the new F-4 Phantom II and the wing was soon involved in firepower demonstrations, exercises and ultimately the Paris Air Show," Lepi said. "The conflict in Southeast Asia was escalating and throughout 1965, the wing supported operations by rotating squadrons quarterly to Naha Air Base in Japan." The 12th wing began permanent deployment to Vietnam at an airfield at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in November 1965. "From this location, the wing carried out close air support, interdiction and combat air patrol missions over North and South Vietnam and Laos, in addition to augmenting U.S. forces in Korea after the capture of the USS Pueblo," Lepi said. From there, the wing relocated to Phu Cat Air Base in Vietnam in March 1970 to continue combat operations until it was inactivated in November 1971. Through the years, thousands of airmen and officers operated the aircraft and support operations in a variety of jobs ranging from maintaining equipment and facilities to treating patients in the 12th hospital. "During its operations, the wing suffered significant losses," Lepi said. "Prior to arrival at Cam Ranh Bay, the wing lost three aircraft and five crew members. During subsequent operations in Vietnam, the wing suffered more than 100 personnel." After the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing members took turns reading the names of airmen who gave their lives while serving in the group, Claude "Skip" Blanchard played "Taps," who performed "To The Colors" at the beginning of the ceremony. The 12th TFW History Project, Inc., began in 1996 after several men spent years searching for an F-4 Phantom fighter jet as the center of a memorial for the unit. Arvada resident Gene Rust was driving past the Fremont County Airport when he saw the F-4 jet on display and contacted former county commissioners Jim Schauer and Keith McNew, as well as other community members, who agreed to give the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing a panel on the wall. It was also a tribute to late Cañon City resident Ron Packard, who died in Vietnam while serving with the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing. Since the first dedication Sept. 16, 2001, members of the group have gathered to rededicate the memorial annually. The wing also paid special tribute to Col. Leo S. Boston, who had been classified as missing in action from 1966 until 2011 when his remains were identified.
