Chief Warrant Officer George Richard Swartzendruber, A Soldier's Story
Chief Warrant Officer George Richard Swartzendruber, A Soldier's Story
Chief Warrant Officer George Richard Swartzendruber was born on March 1, 1966, in Newton, Kansas. The son of missionaries, he spent much of his childhood traveling, an experience that shaped both his adaptability and sense of purpose. He attended grade school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later completed high school in Papua New Guinea, gaining early exposure to life far beyond the borders of the United States.
Drawn to aviation, Swartzendruber earned his helicopter pilot’s credentials in San Diego, California. In November 1987, he enlisted in the United States Army and pursued a career as an Army aviator. Trained to fly the UH-60 Black Hawk, he was assigned to the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, where his role placed him at the center of combat operations and battlefield support.
In November 1990, Chief Warrant Officer Swartzendruber deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Army aviation units were critical to coalition success, conducting troop transport, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and combat rescue missions across hostile terrain.
On February 27, 1991, during combat operations near the end of the Gulf War, Swartzendruber was killed when his helicopter was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire. He had been flying a mission to recover a downed U.S. Air Force pilot, a task that exemplified the risk and urgency faced by Army aviators operating behind or near enemy lines.
Chief Warrant Officer George Richard Swartzendruber is buried at East Lawn Cemetery in Zimmerman, Kansas. He is remembered as a skilled pilot who answered the call during a time of war and lost his life while attempting to bring another servicemember home.
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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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