Chief Warrant Officer 3 Taylor Galvin in Baghdad, Iraq, died earlier this year as a result of injuries sustained when his helicopter crashed in Sinjar, in Iraq’s Nineveh Province. Galvin’s helicopter crashed while conducting a partnered counterterrorism mission in support of the Operation Inherent Resolve coalition to defeat the Islamic State, according to a U.S. Central Command statement.
The 34-year-old from Spokane, Washington, was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment — known as the Night Stalkers — out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
In 2015, he was assigned to the elite 160th SOAR, where Galvin flew as an MH-60M Black Hawk pilot. Galvin was a combat veteran with nine deployments — two in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, three in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and four in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
“Taylor was an everyday Hero,” his wife says. He “shook hands with the homeless and sat by their side offering friendship and much needed supplies (such as sleeping bags). When Taylor was a teenager, he volunteered and raised money to fulfill the last wishes of terminally ill children.
“In Taylor’s final letter he wrote: ‘If I die at work, I want you to know that I died doing what I believe in and what I believe is right.’ “
Galvin’s awards and decorations include one Air Medal with C device and three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Service Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Unit Award, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, the Combat Action Badge and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.
Major Henry E. Schwarz
A decorated Vietnam veteran died earlier this year while piloting his personal helicopter. Schwarz was a commercial pilot, who had a love of flying.
Henry E. Schwarz was the president of the Virginia Helicopter Association prior to his passing. In his earlier years Schwarz was a U.S. Army helicopter pilot who served in the Vietnam War. He led more than 100 combat air assaults and received 29 medals for performance and service to the country. He was also a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society and a member of the Wilbur Wright Chapter, National Capital Region.
Major Schwarz distinguished himself while serving as the aircraft commander of a UH-1D helicopter and flight leader of an airmobile assault force lifting reinforcements to support an ambushed Vietnamese convoy. On approach into the landing zone, intense enemy fire was received. Despite the continued enemy fire, Major Schwarz hovered his aircraft in the landing zone area for several minutes in order to direct succeeding ships into safe landing points. Upon completion of the mission, he volunteered to remain in the objectives area as a command and control ship for the ground commander. Major Schwarz's courage and devotion to duty contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission. His actions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Schwarz’s legacy will live on thru the Virginia Helicopter Association and the lives he has touched during his military career, and also the young adults he mentored at his hometown airport.