U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren mentioned the whole state “mourns” with the household of a U.S. Air Force member who died in an Osprey crash off the coast of Japan earlier this week.
Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher was killed Wednesday throughout a coaching mission off the southern coast of Japan, in response to the Pittsfield Police Department. Galliher is the one recognized member of the eight-person crew of an Osprey V-22 that crashed into the ocean.
Warren mentioned her “deepest condolences” have been with the household of the Pittsfield native.
“My heart breaks for his wife and two sons, and his family in Lanesborough, Massachusetts. Staff Sgt. Galliher was a brave, smart, and talented young man who served his nation with honor. I am pressing the military for answers about this aircraft’s troubled history and action to keep airmen safe,” Warren mentioned in an announcement.
Pittsfield police mentioned Galliher graduated Taconic High School in 2017. The father of two grew up in Western Massachusetts.
Gov. Maura Healey mentioned she was “heartbroken” to be taught of Galliher’s loss of life.
“My thoughts are with his family, especially his two young sons, and the Berkshire County community as they mourn the loss of one of their best and brightest,” Healey mentioned in an announcement. “Here in Massachusetts, we are deeply grateful for the bravery and selflessness of our servicemembers, and our hearts go out to his colleagues in the Air Force on this devastating loss.”
Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago mentioned the Galliher household is “enduring every service family’s nightmare, and we hold them in our hearts and prayers as they grieve.”
“May his memory serve as a source of solace and strength to his family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. Our Massachusetts military community extends our deepest condolences to his family and will honor his legacy,” Santiago mentioned in an announcement.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who represents Pittsfield, mentioned there may be “no greater pain than the pain of losing a child, and Jacob Galliher was beloved to all.”
“Staff Sgt. Galliher represented our nation’s best, enlisting in the Air Force right out of high school and committing himself to serving his country. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his mother, father, wife, and two sons. The Pittsfield community and a grateful nation mourns the loss of Jacob Galliher,” he mentioned.
The different seven service members have been nonetheless lacking as of Friday and Air Force Special Operations Command mentioned the seek for the plane and crew continued.
“Search and rescue operations consist of a combination of air, surface, and subsurface search of water and coastline in the vicinity of Yakushima, Japan, in order to locate the crewmembers,” the command mentioned in an announcement.
The Pentagon mentioned Thursday that U.S. Ospreys proceed to function in Japan, and Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh mentioned she was not conscious of an official request from Japan to floor them.
“We are concerned about the continuing Osprey flights despite our repeated requests and the absence of a sufficient explanation about their safety” from the U.S. navy, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno mentioned Friday.
Associated Press and former Herald supplies have been used on this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”