Aviator soars in memories, awarded second highest medal

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | During a ceremony, Nov. 11, at the Hemet, Calif., Veteran's Memorial, Brig. Gen. Ricky Rife, right, director of program analysis and evaluation, office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, presents the Distinguished Service Cross to Phoebe, second from left, and G.A. Yoakum, left, parents of Chief Warrant Officer Keith Yoakum, an AH-64D Apache attack helicopter pilot for Company A, 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, who died in combat, Feb. 2. Yoakum was posthumously awarded the DSC – an award second only to the Medal of Honor. Keith's wife, Kelly Yoakum, second from right, also received a DSC on her husband's behalf during the ceremony.  

TAJI, IRAQ

11.21.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins 

1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

By Cpl. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavlary Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Veteran's Day is a time to remember and also recognize those who have served their country.

For some, this day brought back memories of an antiquated picture of their grandfather in uniform. For others it summoned the harsh reality of ultimate sacrifice in an ongoing war on terrorism.

For the family of Hemet, Calif., native Chief Warrant Officer Keith Yoakum, the day was even more special. Their Soldier was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross; the military's second highest award – second only to the Medal of Honor.

Yoakum, who was an AH-64D Apache Attack helicopter pilot for Company A, 1st "Attack" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, made the ultimate sacrifice.

On Feb. 2, he and his co-pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Jason Defrenn, while out on patrol, began taking fire from enemy on the ground. Their wingmen, in another aircraft, were getting hit as well. But instead of heading to safety, Yoakum and Defrenn stayed in the fight to help protect their wingmen.

Yoakum and Defrenn gave their lives for their comrades and, ultimately, for their country on that fateful day.

Now, 10 months later, the city of Hemet and the Army honored Yoakum, along with others who have laid down their lives in the war on terror, in a Veteran's Day ceremony.

"The city of Hemet does honor our fallen Soldiers and their families. We are truly shaken as a community every time we have the news of their loss," said Lori VanArsdale, the vice-mayor of Hemet. "We stand ready to support them and honor their sacrifice."

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Thomasville, Ga., native Capt. Lee Robinson, former commander for Co. A, 1-227th ARB, who had recently returned from his tour in Iraq.

There to present the DSC was Brig. Gen. Ricky Rife, director of program analysis and evaluation, office of the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Las Vegas, native, Lt. Col. Christopher Walach, commander of the 1-227th – who is still deployed to Iraq – said he is proud that his Soldier received such an honor.

"I am very happy that (one of) the nation's highest (awards) for heroism and valor was presented to the family of Yoakum," Walach said. "Both Keith and Jason Defrenn gave their life for their country. Keith and Jason are America's heroes."

Yoakum's wife, Kelly, and his parents, Phoebe and G.A., received the DSC for her late husband while his twin brother, Kevin, stood by for support.

"I am very happy to see Keith recognized. It feels good knowing that people are going to hear how Keith and Jason fought to the end," said Kevin.

Although the tears that the Yoakum's have shed are too many to count, they know that he died doing what he loved to do, he said.

"I know on Feb. 2, 2007, when he took flight in that Apache there is nowhere in the world that he would have rather been," said Kevin. "I guess if you were to look at a list of possible ways to die: fighting for your country, risking your life for your friends and flying would probably be (his) top three choices."

Kevin hopes his brother's life and ultimate sacrifice resound loud enough to be heard for generations to come, he said.

"I hope Soldiers will look at Keith and be inspired to never give up. I know he inspired a lot of guys with his work ethic," said Kevin. "He would always take the time to teach and train anyone that wanted to learn, maybe that caring will live on as well."

• Date Taken: 11.21.2007
• Date Posted: 11.21.2007 09:35
• Story ID: 14082
• Location: TAJI, IQ