Technical Sergeant Robert Kevin Hodges, An Airman's Story
Technical Sergeant Robert Kevin Hodges, An Airman's Story
Robert Kevin Hodges was born on December 17, 1962, in Rantoul, Illinois. Following his high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force on August 19, 1981, committing himself to a demanding career in special operations aviation.
Hodges was assigned to the 16th Special Operations Squadron and trained as part of an AC-130 gunship crew. These aircraft flew low and slow, close to combat, providing precision fire support for ground forces under the cover of darkness. During Operation Desert Shield and the Gulf War, Hodges deployed to the Persian Gulf as a member of the crew of Spirit 03.
On January 31, 1991, Spirit 03 was conducting a night mission in support of United States Marine Corps forces engaged near an Iraqi missile site along the Kuwaiti coastline. During the operation, the aircraft was lost and later believed to have been shot down by enemy fire. For weeks, the fate of the crew remained uncertain.
On March 6, 1991, the wreckage of Spirit 03 was located off the coast of Kuwait. The remains of the crew were subsequently recovered and repatriated to the United States.
Technical Sergeant Robert Kevin Hodges was killed in the line of duty while supporting combat operations during the Gulf War. He is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. His service stands as a reminder of the extraordinary risks borne by special operations aircrews who flew into danger so others could advance and survive.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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