Iraq chopper crash victim had survived Mogadishu battle

01-10-2004, 08:22 AM

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ws/7666466.htm

01-10-2004, 08:23 AM

Iraq chopper crash victim had survived Mogadishu battle, cancer
MITCH STACY
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Army helicopter pilot Aaron Weaver, a recent survivor of testicular cancer, could have stayed put at Fort Bragg, N.C., when his unit shipped out to Iraq last year. But that wasn't like him.

Weaver, a Citrus County native, was among nine soldiers killed Thursday when a Black Hawk medivac helicopter crashed near Fallujah.

He had worked hard to get himself back into shape after cancer surgery in 2002, and had to get a special medical clearance to fly his OH-58 observer helicopter in Iraq, his father, Mike Weaver, said Friday.

"He wanted to go to Iraq," his father said. "When you're in a group like that, you don't want your friends to leave you behind. He had been an Army Ranger. There is a very cohesive group mentality. No man left behind."

Aaron Weaver, a 32-year-old chief warrant officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, was a passenger on the Black Hawk medivac chopper when it went down. The aircraft, marked with a red cross, was hit by an Iraqi rocket, a witness said. Weaver was flying to Baghdad for a post-cancer checkup with other soldiers in need of medical attention.

"It shouldn't happen that way," sister Shannon Felicetta told WFTS-TV in Tampa. "If it should happen, he wanted to be fighting to go down."

Her brother was a popular track athlete at Citrus High School in Inverness, about 65 miles north of Tampa. He joined the Army after high school, and as a Ranger, he survived the October 1993 battle of Mogadishu in Somalia that was recounted in the book and feature film, "Black Hawk Down." He helped save a buddy's life and is featured in a documentary on the battle.

His older brothers, Steve, 39, and Ryan, 34, are also Army helicopter pilots, his father said. His younger sister, Regina, 21, is in the Air Force. Brother Ryan is flying a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq, while Steve flies OH-58s in Hawaii and was preparing to transfer to Afghanistan.

Mike Weaver, an assistant production manager at the Citrus County Chronicle newspaper, was working Friday with the government and the Red Cross to get all his children home so the family can be together. Army officials came to tell him of Aaron's death Thursday night. Aaron's mother, Kelly, lives in Tarpon Springs, just north of the Tampa Bay area.

"I'm proud of all my boys," Mike Weaver said. "It takes a lot of guts to stand up for your country. I was proud of him as a human being, too. He was very good people - honest, trustworthy, the whole Boy Scout creed thing."

Father and son last talked about a week ago, chatting about when he would fly next, his baby daughter and "general family stuff."

Aaron Weaver left the Army at one point, came home and earned a two-year degree from Central Florida Community College, his father said. He needed the degree to get into flight school after rejoining the Army.

"He always wanted to fly," his father said.

Home on leave a few years ago, Aaron was introduced to his future wife, Nancy, who worked with his father at the newspaper. He had a 13-month-old daughter, Savannah, and a stepson, Austin. The family lived at Fort Bragg.

Becoming a father changed Aaron's life, Mike Weaver said.

"I think at about five months of age (Savannah) had him totally wrapped around her little finger," Mike Weaver said. "He was just wild. We have a close family anyway, and he was always dragging his younger sisters around. When he had one of his own, he just fell right in. It was a perfect match. He couldn't have been happier."

Tim Hess, director of operations at the Chronicle, said many people at the newspaper knew Aaron through his father and are mourning with the Weavers.

"It's kind of like a big family here," Hess said Friday. "We're a pretty tight group, especially when something like this happens. It's a pretty somber mood around here today."

Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

As of Thursday, the Iraq conflict has cost the lives of 494 American service members.

01-10-2004, 08:22 AM	#1
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	Iraq chopper crash victim had survived Mogadishu battle http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...ws/7666466.htm

01-10-2004, 08:23 AM	#2
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	Iraq chopper crash victim had survived Mogadishu battle, cancer MITCH STACY Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. - Army helicopter pilot Aaron Weaver, a recent survivor of testicular cancer, could have stayed put at Fort Bragg, N.C., when his unit shipped out to Iraq last year. But that wasn't like him. Weaver, a Citrus County native, was among nine soldiers killed Thursday when a Black Hawk medivac helicopter crashed near Fallujah. He had worked hard to get himself back into shape after cancer surgery in 2002, and had to get a special medical clearance to fly his OH-58 observer helicopter in Iraq, his father, Mike Weaver, said Friday. "He wanted to go to Iraq," his father said. "When you're in a group like that, you don't want your friends to leave you behind. He had been an Army Ranger. There is a very cohesive group mentality. No man left behind." Aaron Weaver, a 32-year-old chief warrant officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, was a passenger on the Black Hawk medivac chopper when it went down. The aircraft, marked with a red cross, was hit by an Iraqi rocket, a witness said. Weaver was flying to Baghdad for a post-cancer checkup with other soldiers in need of medical attention. "It shouldn't happen that way," sister Shannon Felicetta told WFTS-TV in Tampa. "If it should happen, he wanted to be fighting to go down." Her brother was a popular track athlete at Citrus High School in Inverness, about 65 miles north of Tampa. He joined the Army after high school, and as a Ranger, he survived the October 1993 battle of Mogadishu in Somalia that was recounted in the book and feature film, "Black Hawk Down." He helped save a buddy's life and is featured in a documentary on the battle. His older brothers, Steve, 39, and Ryan, 34, are also Army helicopter pilots, his father said. His younger sister, Regina, 21, is in the Air Force. Brother Ryan is flying a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq, while Steve flies OH-58s in Hawaii and was preparing to transfer to Afghanistan. Mike Weaver, an assistant production manager at the Citrus County Chronicle newspaper, was working Friday with the government and the Red Cross to get all his children home so the family can be together. Army officials came to tell him of Aaron's death Thursday night. Aaron's mother, Kelly, lives in Tarpon Springs, just north of the Tampa Bay area. "I'm proud of all my boys," Mike Weaver said. "It takes a lot of guts to stand up for your country. I was proud of him as a human being, too. He was very good people - honest, trustworthy, the whole Boy Scout creed thing." Father and son last talked about a week ago, chatting about when he would fly next, his baby daughter and "general family stuff." Aaron Weaver left the Army at one point, came home and earned a two-year degree from Central Florida Community College, his father said. He needed the degree to get into flight school after rejoining the Army. "He always wanted to fly," his father said. Home on leave a few years ago, Aaron was introduced to his future wife, Nancy, who worked with his father at the newspaper. He had a 13-month-old daughter, Savannah, and a stepson, Austin. The family lived at Fort Bragg. Becoming a father changed Aaron's life, Mike Weaver said. "I think at about five months of age (Savannah) had him totally wrapped around her little finger," Mike Weaver said. "He was just wild. We have a close family anyway, and he was always dragging his younger sisters around. When he had one of his own, he just fell right in. It was a perfect match. He couldn't have been happier." Tim Hess, director of operations at the Chronicle, said many people at the newspaper knew Aaron through his father and are mourning with the Weavers. "It's kind of like a big family here," Hess said Friday. "We're a pretty tight group, especially when something like this happens. It's a pretty somber mood around here today." Funeral arrangements were incomplete. As of Thursday, the Iraq conflict has cost the lives of 494 American service members.