Friday, October 23, 2020
I deployed with BH for years. We were good friends, we worked through some of the most difficult times, in very difficult and challenging operations, that our nation asked of us. As a deployment commander I relied on him daily...sometimes up to 18-20 hours per day. He always gave his best and told me "the way it is" and with his dry sense of humor, kept me on my toes. We were also friends and shared many a meal together in remote places. I valued his devotion to duty, his sense of humor and irony in the face of challenging circumstances, but above all his friendship. No matter how dire our situation (long night missions, landing in pouring rain, physical exhaustion and no end in sight) he always managed to lift crew spirits. While I have not seen BH in several years following my own retirement, I think of him, our 4 years of operations together and enduring friendship, daily. Daily. Please know we are very saddened to learn of your loss. It was a shock, to be honest. I hope, in due time that we'll all be able to reflect on what he lived for, why and the joy he brought, with gratitude and smiles. In due time.
Mark Russell
former 42nd ACCS operations officer
