Fallen soldier laid to rest
Ceremony held for long-missing airmanBy JOHN GOODALL / Tribune Chronicle
Article Photos
Fact Box
At the Capt. James E. Cross memorial ceremonies:
-- Preceding the hearse along the route from Roberts-Clark Funeral Home in Warren to Crown Hill Burial Park in Vienna were a contingent of riders from the Vietnam Veterans and Second Brigade motorcycle clubs of Warren.
-- Along the route, a sprinkling of onlookers paid their respects. A woman waved a flag. A man placed his hat over his heart. Police offers saluted.
n At the cemetery, 10 members of Girl Scout Troop 827 waited. They stood quietly at a distance holding a large flag and a banner colored in red, white and blue.
-- Artist Ray Simon of Youngstown presented the family with a painting he had done on behalf of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle club. Entitled, ''Heroes of Vietnam,'' it included a likeness of Cross.
-- Standing at the outskirts of the crowd was Mark Fox of Masury. A retiree of the Air Force, he had worn his old uniform for the occasion.
-- Also in uniform were Blue Star Mothers representatives, Pat Beatty of Warren Township and Sue Rusbacky of Masury. Dressed in the older version of the outfit was Beatty, the organization's vice president. Rusbacky wore the new uniform.
VIENNA - It was a big deal.
By the time he looked out over the throng of people spilling over the rolling green at Crown Hill Burial Park to say goodbye to Air Force Capt. James E. Cross, his brother, Bill Cross, had come to that realization.
Not that his family ever underestimated the airman's final sacrifice for his country. They just thought that too many years had passed for most people to notice, Bill Cross said.
A small, private memorial service probably would suffice, they thought.
They couldn't have been more mistaken.
From the instant the news broke that the remains of the captain, shot down over Laos on a Vietnam War mission April 24, 1970, had been found and would be returned to the U.S., the family was overwhelmed. From across the nation, telephone calls, e-mails and letters flooded in from those who had served with him, been classmates or simply had known him.
''We were obviously wrong,'' Bill Cross admitted to the large crowd that showed up Friday.
The Crosses were forced to quickly shift gears. They made room for others to share in welcoming a long-lost son back to the country he loved.
''You know what? It is a big deal,'' Bill Cross said. ''It's a big deal for our family to finally have him home.''
It was a big deal to other veterans and it was a big deal for the five joint U.S./Laos teams that searched for him over the past 20 years, he noted.
His voice trembling with emotion, another brother, John Cross, struggled to express the family's gratitude to the mourners. He said he had lain awake at night wondering what he would say to them.
But the eloquence of their presence drowned him out, he knew.
''Nothing I could say could mean as much as all of you being here,'' he said.
A dark green hearse arrived at the cemetery soon after brilliant sunlight had burned off the morning fog. As the somber Air Force honor guard from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base unloaded the flag-draped wooden coffin, a woman's sobs broke the stillness.
In the background, a C-130 cargo carrier from the Youngstown Air Reserve Station hung against the blue sky.
''In 38 years, I think this is the most significant funeral I've been involved with in terms of historical importance,'' funeral director Rick Clark of Roberts-Clark Memorial Home, said.
Lyle ''Al'' Sproul of Round Rock, Texas, traveled from that state to say goodbye. He had served with Cross during his first tour of duty in Vietnam, both piloting AC-47 gunships with the 4th Special Operations Squadron. Sproul began his journey Thursday morning and expected to be home by midnight Friday.
''He was a friend,'' Sproul said of his reason for coming. ''He was just a good friend.''
His comrade said he never thought Cross' remains would be found. That area of Laos was remote jungle where many aircraft had been downed by war's end, he said.
Another friend from the captain's days at Ohio University, Larry Warren of Poland, said he had thought about Cross nearly every day of the 38 years he had been gone.
This spring, Warren and his wife had traveled to Vietnam. As they flew near Laos, Warren realized it was in the vicinity of where Cross' plane had crashed. He recalled thinking that that would be as close as he'd ever get to him again.
''How things change,'' Warren marveled.
Dennis Crouch, a retired Air Force colonel and president of the Forward Air Controllers Association, said the occasion was somber but also joyous for his organization. A FAC brother is home, he noted.
Crouch explained Cross' role as a Forward Air Controller for the Air Force elite Raven unit.
''FACs were the eyes and ears of the ground troops,'' the president said. ''There's no doubt in my mind that Capt. James E. Cross, although he passed from us, saved many lives.''
Confirming that sentiment was Ed Romero of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group on hand for the ceremonies. Romero had criss-crossed the dangerous Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos in 1970 as a member of the Army's 101st Airborne.
''My family has Capt. Cross to thank for my being here,'' the Patriot Guard representative told the crowd.
The military honor guard fired off a salute.
Taps sounded as a contingent of propeller-driven T-6 trainer planes from Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma buzzed over the cemetery. One of the aircraft broke off symbolically in the Missing Man Formation.
After the honor guard folded the flag from the coffin into a triangle, it was presented to Cross' father, Edward, by Craig W. Duehring, assistant secretary of the Air Force. The 84-year-old father had held strong and dignified throughout the ceremony.
''I'm all cried out from 38 years ago,'' the elderly parent said. ''My wife and I took it real hard.''
The pilot was buried in the Cross family plot next to his mother, Mary Louise, who had died 13 years ago.
|
tickedoffmom
|
|
|---|---|
|
10-11-08 10:48 PM
|
To the Cross Family, I am so sorry for your loss. You should be proud as we all are of your sons/brothers dedication to his country. I am so happy that his father was here to see his son finally come home to be with them where he should be. I too have a son and daughter in the Army, I know how proud I am and I can just imagine how proud you family is today. Once again I am so sorry for your loss.
|
|
asEYEcIT
|
|
|
10-11-08 8:49 PM
|
Fallen hero laid to rest. No matter if they pass in a war or after their tour of duty All of those who served needs to be remember with honor and pride. Remember those who have left us and thank those still with us.
|
|
VoiceOfReason
|
|
|
10-11-08 1:39 PM
|
It is with great respect and deepest appreciation that we say Thank You to the Cross family!
|
|
GuyMaine
|
|
|
10-11-08 1:18 PM
|
Bill, Guy & I just wanted to let you know that we just read the article in the online Tribune re your brother. God Bless you, your family, and friends. May he now rest in peace. guy & jermaine troiano
|
|
Mnich82266
|
|
|
10-11-08 12:36 PM
|
A civilian Salute to Capt. James Emory Cross. I am saddened by the family’s loss but am glad they were able to give him his proper burial. God Bless.
|
|
Parentsto4inall4s
|
|
|
10-11-08 8:15 AM
|
I am so sorry for you loss, but I am so happy that your family has been able to finally lay him to rest. To all of the Military men and woman out there thank you for doing what you do in fighting for our country. For all of the families that have lost a loved one I am so sorry for your loss, but thank you for having such wonderful people in your family that would sacrafice thier life for us. THANK YOU
|
|
Merle24
|
|
|
10-11-08 7:34 AM
|
To Jim's family I would say,"Yes, it is a big deal." Any time we lose a soldier in any conflict it is because that person stood up to fight for the freedoms that we enjoy. In the past some of our vets have been treated like pariahs when they returned home. To any Americans who have served anywhere in the world at any time all I can say is ," THANK YOU." Rest In Peace, Jim.
|
