Another Cordilleran who lost his life while serving the country was laid to rest at his residence in Barangay Kias.
Military honors were rendered to honor rescue pilot, Maj. Jessie Miller Jr., who, along with three other Philippine Air Force personnel, perished last Sept. 16 when their Sikorsky S-76A air ambulance rotary aircraft from the 505th Search and Rescue Group crashed in Barangay Upper Manggas in Lantawan, Basilan.
The Sikorsky air ambulance helicopter with tail number 202 departed from Edwin Andrew Air Base in Zamboanga City and was heading to Jolo, Sulu for a medical evacuation mission when it crashed.
Miller’s remains arrived in Baguio City on Sept.19 from the Clark Air Base after it was flown from Mindanao.
Upon arrival at the Loakan Airport, the PAF Tactical Operations Group 1rendered military honors before bringing Miller to his residence in Kias.
Family, friends, and officers and PAF personnel, the Tactical Operations Group 1, the Philippine Military Academy and members of the PMA Masidlak Class of 2010 gathered to pay their final respects and honor the valuable service to the nation of the fallen hero.
Miller who traced his roots from Sagada, Mountain Province, was a member of the PMA Masidlak Class of 2010.
His father, Jessie Miller, Sr., said that he was the one who convinced his son to enter PMA to follow his footsteps in the military service as he served as enlisted personnel.
PAF Capt. Kendrich Pia of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing, reminisced their days at the PMA when they both started as cadets until they graduated and became pilots serving the country as rescue helicopter pilots.
The Sagada municipal government through Mayor James Pooten also offered sympathies to their kailyan. – Redjie M. Cawis
May 4, 2024
