It was a roller coaster of emotions for the approximately 1,500 people who joined together from across the globe to pay tribute to pararescuemen Master Sgt. William Posch and Staff Sgt. Carl Enis March 27, 2018 in aircraft Hangar 750.<\/p>\n

The pararescuemen assigned to the 308th Rescue Squadron were two of the seven Airmen killed in an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crash in Anbar Province, Iraq, March 15, 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a day in which we should remember the joy, the laughter, the magnanimous life of Bill and Carl and the entire crew of Jolly 51,\u201d said Lt. Col. Timothy Hanks, 308th RQS commander. \u201cToday is another day in our healing process for family, friends, teammates, and the community. It is a day in which we recognize the pain is real and still raw, but it is also the day we celebrate the lives of our fallen heroes.\u201d<\/p>\n

All eyes were on the families of the fallen as their 60-vehicle motorcade of military and civilian police, SWAT teams and veteran motorcyclists arrived at the hangar. The crowd of predominately camouflage uniforms became still at the presentation of the colors followed by a steel-guitar solo performance of the National Anthem by pararescueman retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Disney.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may be asking yourselves why the multicam and field uniforms for this ceremony,\u201d said 1st Lt. Dan Warren, 212th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer and master of ceremonies. \u201cIt\u2019s our way of honoring warriors killed in action. Most of the 308th Rescue Squadron is still deployed to a combat theater on alert every day unable to attend their own teammates\u2019 memorial. They can\u2019t wear blues and Bill\u2019s and Carl\u2019s funerals will be the place where we honor their legacy in dress blues and pushups. This is a celebration of the lives and legacies of these fallen heroes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brotherly love of the Guardian Angel community was at the forefront of the ceremony as fellow PJs and combat rescue officers traveled from as far as England, Alaska, Oregon, Arizona, and Georgia among other locations to show their support for the families. The maroon sea of their maroon berets filling the seats directly behind the family and the entire right side of the hangar was a visual statement of their support. Guardian Angel is comprised of CROs; PJs; survival, evasion, resistance, and escape specialists and uniquely trained support personnel dedicated to the Air Force core function of personnel recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past week I\u2019ve had the honor and the privilege to be with our gold star families and hear their stories how they as wives, mothers, sisters, brothers, family and friends remember Bill and Carl,\u201d Hanks said. \u201cYou have paid the ultimate sacrifice as well. Please know with this loss you\u2019ve also gained 1,000 sons, brothers, uncles, sisters and fathers. You can call anywhere around the world and mention who you are and any of these men amongst you will drop everything to meet your request.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lives deeply touched by the two American heroes was evident as speaker after speaker took to the podium sharing sentimental memories and hilarious tales of embarrassing blunders, adrenaline-fueled adventures and the good times.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known Bill and Carl for an incredibly long time.\u201d said Staff Sgt. Joshua Langley, 308th RQS pararescueman who met Posch through lifeguarding as a teenager and Enis in college at Florida State University. \u201cWe are all better for knowing these two. They taught us so much about life and they have made the world such an entertaining place. We should always celebrate the great times, the rescues, the laughter and the memories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Posch was raised in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, where he spent much of his teenage years lifeguarding for the Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue. In 2000, he enlisted into the Air Force and graduated from the Pararescue Apprentice Course in 2003. After leaving active duty, Posch became a traditional reservist at the 308th RQS. In 2010, he began working full time at the unit. He was a combat veteran who participated in numerous joint special operations missions and tactical deployments. He supported major military operations at home and abroad including Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Joint Task Force Katrina, JTF NASA Space Shuttle launch and recovery, and JTF Harvey, where he and his fellow rescue warriors saved 235 hurricane victims in Texas. In 2013, Posch was named one of the Air Force\u2019s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.<\/p>\n

But of all his accomplishments, each person to take the podium noted that Posch\u2019s proudest moments came with fatherhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I spoke with him, that\u2019s what he talked about \u2013 how much he loved his boys and how much he loved being a father,\u201d said Senior Master Sgt. Ivan Ruiz, 57th Rescue Squadron pararescueman and Posch\u2019s close friend of more than a decade. \u201cHe would always send me pictures. He kept Kai and Jackson at his side as much as possible. He was a great father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enis didn\u2019t pursue his dream of becoming a pararescueman until after graduating from Florida State University in 2008. He graduated from the Pararescue Apprentice Course in 2012 and was assigned to the 308th RQS shortly thereafter. He deployed with the unit multiple times, supporting combat operations throughout the Horn of Africa and most recently in Iraq. In 2013, Sergeant Enis was named 920th Rescue Wing Airman of the Year and Air Force Reserve Command Pararescueman of the Year.<\/p>\n

Within both his civilian and military circles, Enis was known for his passion of the outdoors and his expert hunting, fishing, and diving skills. Several of his best friends and hunting buddies shared tales of adventures around the world from taking down large game and wrestling crocodiles to spear hunting giant fish.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarl and I shared a mutual love for the outdoors and became quick friends,\u201d said Dan Sherraden, Enis\u2019 close friend since college. \u201cHe was the most talented and athletic individual I have ever met in my entire life. He was fearless and he was one hell of a diver and spear fisherman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sherraden spoke to Enis\u2019 natural ability to excel at anything thrown his way as well as his humble nature.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have learned of a lot of his accomplishments from all of you here,\u201d he said, \u201cnot from Carl because he didn\u2019t feel the need to brag about the things that he accomplished because that\u2019s the way that Carl was, and that\u2019s unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the ceremony it was noted that both men were posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal as well as the Commendation Medal with Combat Device.<\/p>\n

The tribute closed with a three-volley gun salute by Guardian Angels with the 38th Rescue Squadron, followed by the playing of Taps by a trumpeter, Amazing Grace by bagpipe and drum ensemble, and the time honored pararescue tradition of each Guardian Angel in attendance pounding the flash from his beret into a commemorative board to be placed on display in the 308th RQS.<\/p>\n