In Memory of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron A. Weaver
Location: Inverness, Florida Date of Passing: January 8, 2004 Mission: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Profile: A resilient spirit, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron Weaver epitomized courage and dedication. Hailing from Inverness, Florida, Weaver, 32, embodied unwavering determination, even in the face of adversity.
Service Details: Unit: C Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division Stationed: Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Narrative: Rebounding from a battle with testicular cancer, Weaver could have opted for respite when his unit deployed to Iraq. However, such a decision was inconceivable for him. After undergoing surgery in 2002 and undergoing a rigorous recovery, Weaver secured a special medical clearance to join his comrades in the skies over Iraq.
“He wanted to go to Iraq,” affirmed his father, Mike Weaver. “When you’re in a group like that, you don’t want your friends to leave you behind.”
Tragically, Weaver's journey was cut short on January 8. While en route to Baghdad aboard a Black Hawk helicopter for a routine checkup, the craft was downed south of Fallujah, claiming the lives of Weaver and eight fellow soldiers.
Legacy: Weaver's valor was not unfamiliar with the trials of combat. As an Army Ranger, he had survived the harrowing Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993, immortalized in the narrative of "Black Hawk Down." His gallantry, highlighted by the rescue of a comrade, remains etched in the annals of military history.