Martin A Tracy
Rank: TSgt
Entered Into Eternal Rest
2002-08-07
Tracy was one of three Combat Controllers who perished on 7 August 2002. The MC-130H aircraft crashed on a mountain side south of San Juan , Puerto Rico while on a low level training flight under IMC weather conditions. Additionally, the seven aircraft crew members perished.
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Age 33, KIT – MC130 crash – Puerto Rico
3 entries.
I had the honor of being in the same USAF BMT Flight with Tracy for the few weeks he was there. Being prior service Tracy graduated BMT early and entered CCT Training at OLH. We quickly became friends when we realized I would join him at OLH. As Doug mentioned, Tracy was extremely determined; we worked to improve swimming together. The word quit was not in his vocabulary! He epitomized what it takes to earn and wear the USAF Red Beret! We lost contact with each other after we left OLH under conditions neither of us wanted. I was thrilled... Read more
I had the honor of being in the same USAF BMT Flight with Tracy for the few weeks he was there. Being prior service Tracy graduated BMT early and entered CCT Training at OLH. We quickly became friends when we realized I would join him at OLH. As Doug mentioned, Tracy was extremely determined; we worked to improve swimming together. The word quit was not in his vocabulary! He epitomized what it takes to earn and wear the USAF Red Beret!
We lost contact with each other after we left OLH under conditions neither of us wanted. I was thrilled to hear he had eventually returned and became a CCT. Being from Kentucky, I was in Louisville. I was in the process of tracking him down in Louisville when we lost him. I am still deeply saddened by his loss! What an awesome person! Hooyah Tracy!... Collapse
We lost contact with each other after we left OLH under conditions neither of us wanted. I was thrilled to hear he had eventually returned and became a CCT. Being from Kentucky, I was in Louisville. I was in the process of tracking him down in Louisville when we lost him. I am still deeply saddened by his loss! What an awesome person! Hooyah Tracy!... Collapse
I took the PAST with him. Till this day I have never seen someone display the no quit attitude that he displayed. We all showed up for the swim and Tracy didn’t tell anyone that he could barely swim. He got in the pool and tried but just kept getting on the wall until the cadre would yell at him at which time he would let go and sink. After a few times the cadre td him to get out. He just kept refusing. He must have drank 5 gallons of pool water that day. He eventually had to listen... Read more
I took the PAST with him. Till this day I have never seen someone display the no quit attitude that he displayed.
We all showed up for the swim and Tracy didn’t tell anyone that he could barely swim. He got in the pool and tried but just kept getting on the wall until the cadre would yell at him at which time he would let go and sink. After a few times the cadre td him to get out. He just kept refusing. He must have drank 5 gallons of pool water that day. He eventually had to listen and got out. Because of his heart and his no quit attitude he was allowed to come in the program as a casual and train until the class started. We all worked with him but is was not to be. He was offered another recycle and stayed around 4 more months. He did learn to swim enough to make it to week 4. However, as many remember, week 4 is when underwater confidence starts and the sharks (cadre) came out to play. He was quickly removed from the course. I lost track of Tracy after the OL-H but i was, and still am, reminded of his never quit spirit. Obviously, he continued to train went back to the INDOC course and graduated a few years later. He never quit on himself. He never said the words.... Collapse
We all showed up for the swim and Tracy didn’t tell anyone that he could barely swim. He got in the pool and tried but just kept getting on the wall until the cadre would yell at him at which time he would let go and sink. After a few times the cadre td him to get out. He just kept refusing. He must have drank 5 gallons of pool water that day. He eventually had to listen and got out. Because of his heart and his no quit attitude he was allowed to come in the program as a casual and train until the class started. We all worked with him but is was not to be. He was offered another recycle and stayed around 4 more months. He did learn to swim enough to make it to week 4. However, as many remember, week 4 is when underwater confidence starts and the sharks (cadre) came out to play. He was quickly removed from the course. I lost track of Tracy after the OL-H but i was, and still am, reminded of his never quit spirit. Obviously, he continued to train went back to the INDOC course and graduated a few years later. He never quit on himself. He never said the words.... Collapse
What a great man and patriot. I was so saddened by Tracy’s loss, but am strengthened by his example. You came up in conversation at the reunion last year, and I know you will NEVER be forgotten. May you Rest In Peace my friend.
What a great man and patriot. I was so saddened by Tracy’s loss, but am strengthened by his example. You came up in conversation at the reunion last year, and I know you will NEVER be forgotten. May you Rest In Peace my friend.... Collapse
