D. MICHAEL HILLEGAS, LTJG, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT(j.g.) D. Michael Hillegas, USN '94 was lost on March 6, 1998 when the helicopter he was aboard crashed in the San Bernardino Mountains, California, while flying from San Diego and Las Vegas. Four others aboard were also killed.

A native of Mission Viejo, California, he graduated from high school in Moorestown, New Jersey. Michael was survived by his parents, sister, and grandparents.

He and the others killed were members of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 47.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/D._MICHAEL_HILLEGAS,_LTJG,_USN

AARON J. BARBOSA, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Aaron "AJ" Barbosa, USN '94 was lost on November 19, 1998 when the CH-46 SeaKnight helicopter he was piloting crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily. An enlisted crewman aboard was also lost. They were engaged in a vertical replenishment of USS Stump (DD 978) from USNS Sirius (T-AFS 8).

From his obituary at USNA '94:

A.J. was born 12 March, 1970, in Detroit, MI and raised in the Phoenix, AZ, area. He spent his youth under the watchful eyes of three sisters and excelled in academics as well as track, football and swimming. He loved to spend his free time expanding his comic book collection or his Star Trek trivia database and dreaming about becoming a pilot. Upon graduation from Phoenix Christian High, A.J. spent two years at Arizona State University while awaiting his acceptance into the Naval Academy so that he may pursue his ultimate goal of becoming a Naval Aviator.

On a typically hot and humid summer day, 3 July 1990, A.J. took his first oath of service to his country and began his career as a Midshipman. Immediately endeared and respected by his plebe classmates for his age and experience, A.J. continued to develop as an inspiration to all he came in contact with. Initially a Systems Engineer, A.J. switched his major to History in order to remain focused on his ultimate goal. This change eventually allowed A.J. the opportunity to engage more leadership responsibility as a senior member of the karate team and as a Deputy Vice Honor Chairman.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, A.J. turned heads at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, as one of the first Ensigns ever to report aboard and proceeded to complete his Masters of Science in Applied Physics in just 18 months. After that brief sidetrack, he was off to Pensacola, FL, again in pursuit of his ultimate goal. On 15 December, 1997, A.J. reached his goal, receiving his "wings of gold" and his orders to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Three (HC-3) in sunny San Diego, CA. After a few months of training in the SeaKnight airframe, A.J. was directed to report to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Eight (HC-8) in Norfolk, VA. Upon arrival onboard the Bay Raiders on 2 October, 1998, he was informed of that his new detachment would be deploying in two weeks. Early Monday morning, 19 October, after an all too brief Homecoming weekend in Annapolis filled with great times and close friends, A.J. got underway with the Sirius, excited to be embarking on his first deployment. A Naval Aviator and proud warrior, A.J. remains at sea in service of his country.

A memorial service was held on 24 November at the Naval Air Station Norfolk Chapel. Many friends and shipmates of both men were in attendance. LT Nick Sherrod, A.J.'s Academy roommate of four years, said the following words: "Words cannot express how we feel today at the loss of our friend, our brother. Aaron, A.J. or Haji as he was reverently known by his closet friends, made life worth living. His optimism and beautiful smile helped me and countless others at the Academy to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He was a guy who embraced life and forced us to live it to the fullest. There were nights at the Academy when I would find myself taking plebes out on a recon, streaking across T-court, or simply jumping over the wall for a cold one to blow off steam, only to find A.J. by my side. He was a guy who put people first, who was willing to sacrifice for friends, family, and country, and that is what he has done for us today. While we were here, enjoying the comforts of home, A.J. was out there in the darkness of night, keeping watch over our freedoms. Although he was away, we were with him in spirit. I am just privileged as we all are to have such a friend as Aaron. God has redeemed him for his own."

A.J. is survived by his daughter, Alexandra Jordan, his parents Robert and Carmen, and his sisters Jamie, Gina and Jackie.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/AARON_J._BARBOSA,_LT,_USN

JOEL A. KORKOWSKI, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Joel Korkowski, USN '94 was lost on October 18, 2002 when his F/A-18F Super Hornet collided with another over the Pacific Ocean near California. The three other crewmen aboard the two aircraft, including Matt Shubzda '98, were also killed.

A native of Houston, Texas, Joel graduated Clear Lake High School in 1990 and attended the Naval Academy for two years prior to resigning. He then attended and graduated from Texas A&M University, graduating in 1994 with a degree in aerospace engineering.

A family friend said of Joel: "He's not like any kid you could ever meet. He made such a positive impression on everyone around him."

His wife, Kristin, survived him. She was seven months pregnant at the time of his death with their daughter, Skylar. He was also survived by his mother and brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JOEL_A._KORKOWSKI,_LT,_USN

KYLAN A. JONES-HUFFMAN, LT, USNR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Kylan Jones-Huffman, USNR, '94 was lost on August 21, 2003 near Hilah, Iraq, when he was shot by an unidentified gunman while riding in an SUV. He was an intelligence officer and the first mobilized naval reservist to be killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Kylan was fluent in Arabic, Farsi, French and German, and earned a master's degree in history from the University of Maryland. He had been accepted into the doctorate program in history at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., but had not started.

He grew up in Aptos, Calif. the oldest of three children. His father was a career Army officer. As a teenager, he attended York School, an independent school in Monterey.

A newspaper article reported:

When his parents sold their home to Dr. Larry deGhetaldi, they moved nearby. DeGhetaldi watched Kylan grow up and was so impressed, he named his first son after him. “We found in him a model for what we wanted our own children to be: poise, kindness, honor, an unquenchable thirst for learning, respect and that immediately recognizable spark that really bright young people have.” DeGhetaldi kept finding abandoned toys buried in the front lawn which he called “little time capsules.” “All of him, from the lost plastic toy soldiers in my front lawn, to the haiku focused on Iraqi children selling bayonets for food, (teach) me, (teach) us all to remember the core and the vital humanity in our soldiers.”

He married Heidi Lynn Jones on January 14, 1995 at the York Chapel. They both took the hyphenated name Jones-Huffman. Kylan was survived by her, his parents, and two younger siblings.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/KYLAN_A._JONES-HUFFMAN,_LT,_USNR

SCOTT T. BRACHER, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Scott Bracher, USN '94 was lost on September 21, 2005 when the S-3B Viking jet he was piloting crashed while on approach to Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Florida. The other crewman aboard was also killed.

An accomplished pilot, he was the "Top Hook" five times during overseas deployments. In 2001 he was the landing signals officer of the year for Sea Control Squadron (VS) 32.

He played baseball throughout his childhood and at the Naval Academy. He also recovered from a difficult back surgery and competed in triathlons. He graduated the academy as a member of the 30th Company.

Scott was survived by his parents and a brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/SCOTT_T._BRACHER,_LCDR,_USN

FRANK C. WITTWER, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Frank Wittwer, USN '94 was lost on January 18, 2006 when his F/A-18C Hornet crashed during a training flight near Naval Air Station El Centro, California.

One longtime friend said, "He was always concerned about other people's problems and wanted to do what he could to help. Frank was a different kind of person ... Forever positive, ever bright, one of the smartest people I know. Everybody he touched he brightened their life, including mine." Another remembered, "He was phenomenal. He was one of those guys who had every quality that you would want."

Frank was survived by his wife, Melinda and their three children Erin, 7, Abigail, 5, and Jack, 3 months.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/FRANK_C._WITTWER,_LCDR,_USN