Fred was a dear friend of mine up until the time of his death. We played and worked together throughout our high school years and after. Fred owned and skippered a shrimp boat during our high school years and I was his crew for the majority of time.
Tragically, Fred was killed in a plane crash on Lime Peak Alaska in March 1981. At the time he was a Captain, United States Army serving as the Company Commander to the Direct Support Detachment, 172d Support Battalion, Fort Wainwright Alaska and was 38 years old. He was a helo pilot for the Army but was flying a civilian ski equipped Super-Cub when the accident occurred. Ironically, he and a friend were searching for a way to gain access to a plane that had crashed some months earlier that had to be removed.
Fred is a friend that has gone, but most certainly has not been forgotten!
Great Post Steve ( nice to have the details) See Below.
I knew Fred was a great competitor and I have vivid memories of Fred running full blast through the line in freshman football. Only problem it was practice, and I was supposed to stop him head on. As a defensive halfback, I weighed about 135 lbs max. Guess what happened? Yep- Fred ran over, on-top, and through me, and only my limbs were sticking out of the turf. At that moment in time, I decided football was not my sport. Understand that Fred was a fellow aviator and had a tragic accident in 1981. (see comment from Steve below)
Steve Smietana
Fred was a dear friend of mine up until the time of his death. We played and worked together throughout our high school years and after. Fred owned and skippered a shrimp boat during our high school years and I was his crew for the majority of time.
Tragically, Fred was killed in a plane crash on Lime Peak Alaska in March 1981. At the time he was a Captain, United States Army serving as the Company Commander to the Direct Support Detachment, 172d Support Battalion, Fort Wainwright Alaska and was 38 years old. He was a helo pilot for the Army but was flying a civilian ski equipped Super-Cub when the accident occurred. Ironically, he and a friend were searching for a way to gain access to a plane that had crashed some months earlier that had to be removed.
Fred is a friend that has gone, but most certainly has not been forgotten!
Steve Smietana
Captain, USN (Ret)
Thomas Twitty
Great Post Steve ( nice to have the details) See Below.
I knew Fred was a great competitor and I have vivid memories of Fred running full blast through the line in freshman football. Only problem it was practice, and I was supposed to stop him head on. As a defensive halfback, I weighed about 135 lbs max. Guess what happened? Yep- Fred ran over, on-top, and through me, and only my limbs were sticking out of the turf. At that moment in time, I decided football was not my sport. Understand that Fred was a fellow aviator and had a tragic accident in 1981. (see comment from Steve below)
RIP Fred