Shaun,
My name is LT Andre Gomez. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing your brother since flight school in Pensacola. We deployed together on the USNS MERCY and were set to deploy together again next month. We had been flying together quite a bit recently preparing for our upcoming deployment. He was an outstanding pilot and an even better friend and I will miss him immensely. He was always there when you needed him. I remember on Sunday LT Dehner and I were preparing an extensive brief for our flight the next night. Christian was flying with us but not required to help with the brief. He came in anyway to help for several hours AFTER helping LT Kiffer fix his car, then left work to support a beach clean up with Ruth. This is the type of person he was.
I have included a picture of Det 2 pilots and taxi drivers in Subic Bay, Philippines.
God Bless,
Andre
1 comment:
Shaun,
My name is Tim Metcalf. I had the great pleasure of meeting Christian at USD. I was also a prior Aircew/Rescue Swimmer and in the same commissioning program. We had many wonderful times together. I started out as a Computer Science major like him and I swear I would not have made it through that semester without his help. We taught the midshipmen of the ROTC unit swimming classes and spent a few weekend mornings in the pool together. I remember the day after a Saturday pool session, he took me to meet this girl working at Starbucks. He was so funny about it, like a young boy. Little did I realize he would end up marrying this amazing woman. After graduation and preliminary flight training, Ruth and Christian went off to Corpus, we meet up again in Pensacola for Helo training. We once again became close, and spent many great evenings laughing and joking as they would come out to Milton for BBQ's. My wife and I even pawned off a kitten on them one evening. But the funniest memory I have of Christian, is him setting off fireworks one fourth of July. He must have spent hundreds of dollars, and with Ruth in the backgound (and worried) he tried to light ALL them off. We had to hide many of them or it would have lasted for days. He was always ready to have fun and help out. When my family and I moved into Military housing, he was there, with his truck, without hesitation. He helped when no one else could. That was the way he was, always there for anyone.
Everyone who had the fortune of knowing him, has lost a truely amazing person. I have lost a friend I loved as a brother. Ruth and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I am SO SO SORRY for your loss!
Post a Comment