F/A-18 "Hornet" Pilot

Navy Captain remains ID'd 18 yrs later,

Pilot's remains found in Iraq desert
Updated: Sunday, 02 Aug 2009, 4:02 PM EDT
Published : Sunday, 02 Aug 2009, 2:42 PM EDT
Jason Marks
NORFOLK, Va. - The remains of the first American shot down in the 1991 Persian Gulf War have been uncovered ending an 18 year mystery. Sunday the US Navy declared Captain Scott Speicher dead.
"18 years is a lot time not to know what happened to your father or your husband," said Norfolk's Amy Waters Yarsinske.
For almost two decades, Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher's family never gave up hope that someday he would be found alive. That hope was dashed after the Navy confirmed that bones and skeletal fragments found in Iraq belonged to the missing pilot.
"It's bitter sweet," added Yarsinske. "It really is. You miss him."
Speicher's F/A-18 Hornet was shot down January 17, 1991. It was the first night of the Persian Gulf War. The Navy found the wreckage, but never found his body. Several times over the last 18 years his status changed from "killed in action" to "missing in action" and then to "missing captured".
The Navy says earlier this month an Iraqi citizen gave US Forces new information on where the pilot's remains were buried.
"There are so many unanswered questions," said Yarsinske.
Yarsinske never got the chance to meet Speicher though she feels as if he is a part of her. She spent 8 years investigating the crash, then wrote about. She hopes the Navy will someday release what it believes happened to Speicher.
"I think they need to," added Yarsinske. "I think if they don't, you will never lay this to rest. You will never lay him to rest."
In the years spent searching for Speicher, the US Military changed protocol on how it handles looking for missing servicemen. It's something Yarsinske says is a tribute to Speicher.
"Probably part of the magic of Scott Speicher was what he taught us and what he gave other people," said Yarsinske. "He saved other lives, because of his sacrifice."
Navy Secretary Ray Maybus said this morning in a statement: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher's family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country. I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicer home."