Gander Memorial Ceremony honors and remembers 248 Fort Campbell Soldiers

FORT CAMPBELL, KY. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The 101^st Airborne Division (Air Assault), marked the 35^th anniversary of the loss of 248 Screaming Eagle Soldiers who lost their lives in an airline crash on December 12, 1985.

The Arrow Air Flight crashed shortly after take-off in Gander, Newfoundland with Soldiers on board from several different military units at Fort Campbell, all attached to the 3^rd Battalion, 502 Infantry Regiment of the 2^nd Brigade Combat Team “Strike.”

Along with the Soldiers, eight crew members on the aircraft also died. The flight was bringing the Soldiers home from a six-month deployment and peacekeeping mission in the Sinai Peninsula.

Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the event was by invitation only. Over 250 guests, consisting of family members and friends of the Soldiers whose lives were lost, as well as many 101^st Soldiers who were part of Saturday’s Gander Memorial Ceremony.

The new memorial at Fort Campbell, which was dedicated last year, has two monuments and 256 Canadian Sugar Maple Trees. A Soldier with the 2^nd Brigade stood beside each of the trees during the ceremony which included placing of the Gander Wreath, a moment of silence, a ceremonial firing, and playing of taps.

The original memorial was conceived by Mrs. Janice Johnston Nikkel, a then 15-year-old Canadian citizen.  Nikkel pledged money she earned from babysitting to the creation of the original tree park, inspiring others to contribute.

Colonel Michael Kovacevic, Commander of the 2^nd Brigade Combat Team of the 101^st spoke to those gathered at the ceremony, saying this about the tragic event.

“The memories of those we lost on that return flight stays with us all, and the Gander Memorial Ceremony provides us with an opportunity to ensure they are never forgotten,” said Kovacevic.

Amy Gallo lost her husband, Sgt. Richard Nichols in the crash 35 years ago and has played an important role in the ceremony each year until her retirement in 2019.  She said the ceremony this year was different for her.

“This is the first ceremony where I was able to actually listen and hear everything. I was able to sit here as a widow this year, not as a person worrying about something having to be set up. It was beautiful, I missed a lot all these years. It was amazing,” Gallo said.