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AHOSKIE – David Sammons is like many brave soldiers who managed to survive the horrors of war and return home.

And like his comrades, he bears painful and often emotional reminders of his brothers and sisters in arms who made the ultimate sacrifice, dying while protecting the freedom we still enjoy today as citizens of the United States.

Sammons, U.S. Air Force Colonel (Ret) now residing in Roanoke Rapids, served as the featured speaker at Monday’s Memorial Day service hosted by Ahoskie American Legion Post 102. He currently serves as the American Legion Department North Carolina Vice Commander with oversight responsibilities for Division One.

Sammons – who spent 28 years in the Air Force and is a member of the Air Commando Hall of Fame (inducted in 2019) – shared his inner feelings on what Memorial Day means to him.

He started with the USAF’s Special Operations Squadron in 1981.

“Twenty years later I ended up being the 15^th Special Operations Commander shortly after 9-11,” he recalled. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to lead that Squadron into the initial combat operations in Afghanistan.”

It was on Oct. 19, 2001 – a little over one month after the four coordinated terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States – Sammons recalled that President Bush and the Secretary of Defense were on TV, saying “today we have stuck back at the Taliban.”

“They showed video footage of four C-130s dropping 199 [Army] Rangers….that was me, I led that Squadron,” Sammons said. “It was a raid as we were looking for Osama bin Laden. He wasn’t there, but it was a successful mission.”

Sammons – who would later earn the Bronze Star Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross – shared that he and his Squadron remained in Afghanistan.

“We dropped four, 2,000 pound bombs, trying to support the warlords to spur them into action to overthrow al-Qaeda,” Sammons said. “We dropped leaflets, we dropped wanted posters, offering a bounty for Osama bin Laden. We would land in the middle of the night in the middle of the desert to deliver ‘little bird’ helicopters that were used to blow up fuel depots.”

In June 2002, Sammons and his Squadron were carrying out an assignment when disaster struck.

“It was a normal mission. We flew in, landed, uploaded a Special Forces team and equipment and took off,” he recalled. “It was very hot, the air was thin, and the aircraft is overweight. The plane started climbing, but the terrain climbed faster. The pilot was hailed as a hero for performing a controlled crash. Everyone in front of the bulkhead survived. Those behind perished in the crash.”

Tech Sgt. Sean Corlew, Staff Sgt. Anissa Shero and one other tragically lost their lives.

“I went to Arlington [National Cemetery] to bury them,” Sammons said, wiping a tear from his eye. “Anissa was the second female U.S. solider to be killed while serving in Afghanistan.”

Sammons added that during the memorial service for Sgt. Corlew, a buddy of his came to him and said Corlew loved to fly.

“He died doing what he loved,” Sammons shared. “And Staff Sgt. Bobby McGuire told me that he wanted to go out the same way.”

Little did either man realize at that moment that McGuire’s wish would later come true. McGuire, a loadmaster with the 16th Special Operations Squadron, was among 10 servicemen killed on Aug. 7, 2002 when a MC-130H Combat Talon II crashed during a training mission south of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sammons personally knew three of those who lost their lives that day.

“This is what Memorial Day is all about, it’s personal for me,” he said. “There are over one million Americans who died in service while defending our country. This is the first time I’ve talked about my friends.”

Sammons then shared a touching poem – “I am a Veteran” – written by Andrea C. Brett. A portion of that poem follows:

“I served on the battle front, I served on the base.

I bound up the wounded and begged for God’s grace,

I gave orders to fire,

I followed commands,

I marched into conflict in far distant lands.

In the jungle, the desert, on mountains and shores,

In bunkers, in tents, on dank earthen floors.

While I fought on the ground, in the air, on the sea,

My family and friends were home praying for me.

For the land of the free and the home of the brave,

I faced my demons in foxholes and caves.

Then one dreaded day, without drummer or fife,

I lost an arm, my buddy lost his life.

There are thousands like me,

Thousands more who are gone,

But their legacy lives as time marches on.

White crosses in rows,

And names carved in queue,

Remind us of what these brave souls had to do.”

Sammons closed with scripture from Romans, Chapter 13, verse 7:” Give to all what is due to them. Tribute to those who deserve tribute; respect to those who deserve respect; and honor to those who deserve honor.”

“On this day we remember, on this day we honor, and on this Memorial Day we respect,” he closed.

Legion Post 102 Commander Joe Perfetto presided over Monday’s event and led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Hertford County Junior ROTC Color Guard, under the direction of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer III Randy Cherry, posted and retrieved the Colors followed by the playing of “Taps.”

Other Post 102 members taking part in the ceremony were Rev. William Reid and former Post Commander James Hutchinson. Reid offered opening and closing prayer while Hutchinson led the audience in the singing of the National Anthem. He also sang “Go Rest High on that Mountain.”