Lt John Alley

I haven't written anything on the blog in a while. I have struggled this week on what would be appropriate and right considering the circumstances that have been this past week. This time last week, I received a call from a friend from our squadron that one of the pilot training students, Lt. John Alley, was missing. The police found his car on Saturday morning, but no sign of him. We spent Sunday hanging fliers and speaking with people about John and getting his information out. On Monday, we went to a Memorial Day Celebration in Milton and passed out fliers, and then headed to their church for another canvasing. While there and preparing to headed to our assigned locations, a call came in. John had been found. A 16 year old fishing along the Escambia Bay found his body in the water. It has been a difficult week for all of us in the squadron.

After helping the family with whatever was asked, I have come to know a little about them. I have met John's beautiful wife, Emily, who found out on Friday that they are having a boy and I have met both John and Emily's families. It makes my heart ache even more for them and this time that they are having to go through. They had a beautiful memorial service for him on Saturday morning. After the ceremony, we went out to see the missing man formation with T-34's. They are having the funeral and burial in the Salt Lake City area (where they are both from) this week. There are questions that may never be answered, but I pray that the family can find peace and comfort as time goes on.