Letter from Susan

John's sister, Susan, asked me to post this letter:


John,

I can't believe it has been 6 months today since you died. Some days I still can't believe it, I wake up every day and have to remind myself that it is real. I miss you, I think of you all the time, I wonder what you would think of things, you always were so black & white with your thoughts, never lacking on opinion that is for sure.

I wonder if you can see the sad things that I see, like the flagpole in Mom & Dad's front yard with the Gold Star flag & Dad going out there every morning & putting it up, your wedding ring hanging from Julie's neck, the pile of Chinook coins & pins in Olivia's room under your picture & the gathering of seashells on your headstone at Arlington with all our names on them.

I also wonder if you can see the happy & funny things too, when I took Keely to New York City & her face when she walked thru Times Square, when Madeline told me she would like to have Dad's 57 Chevy & told me in detail what she would like to do to it, sounded like you two have had that conversation before. When I told Erin that my baby blanket was yours & she smelled it & said she could smell you in there. She will not believe I am your sister... she thinks I am her sister!

Well, I have to tell you that you would be really proud of all of us, Julie is a rock and she carries on as you would have wanted her to, although I can't imagine the pain she carries. The girls are doing great, they are beautiful and full of craziness, truly Quinlans, which I love. Mom and Dad are being strong and they keep every piece of information on you in beautiful books so the girls will have it one day. I feel closer to all of them than ever and we have all grown together to pull ourselves through this.

You are missing so much and there is no way to justify that. There will always be an empty seat at our table. Julie, Mom, Dad & me are your memory keepers, through our stories of you our family will remember, Keely, Madeline, Erin, Olivia & Will will know you. Someone sent me a quote & it said "To live in the hearts of those you love is to never die" and that is why you will never be truly gone.

We are planning to take the kids skiing over Christmas this year, just as you always wanted to. I hope you are smiling on us as we make fools of ourselves all over that mountain.

I love you,

Susan

Words of Thanks

JOHN’S EDITORIAL LETTER - April 8, 2007

How to begin? Our son, CW3 John A. Quinlan, was killed in Afghanistan on February 18, 2007. His helicopter crashed while he was returning Army Rangers from a covert mission in Afghanistan. John was the Pilot-in-Command. Seven soldiers plus John were killed. Fourteen soldiers survived.

We, his parents, are overwhelmed by the support and comfort we have received within our family, the military and civilians in our country. Several hundred letters have been delivered to John’s wife, Julie, our daughter Susan and ourselves. Many included generous donations to John’s children’s education fund.

We want to thank the people who have provided direct support in honoring John. It is very important to us for others to know the tremendous generosity and commitment that exists within our community and country.

Please note that the following list is not an indication of a ranking of an individual’s or organization’s support, but a sincere hope to acknowledge each effort that contributed to honoring John.

The Priest, Father William J. Lago, and Deacon, Mr. Robert Armstrong, offered the memorial Mass on March 11, 2007. Father Bill’s sermon describing John’s attributes was moving and allowed our family to accept and further understand John’s passing. The altar servers performed with kind reverence. Our nephew, Sean Quinlan, carried the cross.

The town of Bradley Beach performed with outstanding grace. Our family received assistance from the Administrative office (Phyllis Quixley) and the Fire (John Zech) and Police (Chief Leonard Guida) Departments. The Fire Department hall was provided for the reception following Mass and the police provided an honor guard at the Mass. The police also provided front door and handicapped parking for the immediate family. We feel honored by your care.

The beautiful singing at the Mass was provided by our niece Barbara Quinlan, a family friend, William Rutledge Varley, and Suzanne Ramsey-Restivo. Taps was played by Karl Cruvup, a friend of Kate’s from Asbury Park Middle School. The organist was Andrew DePrisco. One other individual who was instrumental in forming the liturgy and program for the memorial Mass was Gerry Varley. Many thanks to all of you.

Delicious and plentiful food at the reception was provided by Piancone Restaurant (Rick Piancone) of Bradley Beach in coordination with the town of Bradley Beach. Beautiful table linens were provided by Acme Sanitation Supply of Neptune, NJ. Bradley Fire Department also provided clean up services after the reception. Bradley Liquors provided the beer keg and wine served at the reception. Our family is grateful for your generosity.

The Avon Police Department (Chief Terry Mahon) provided church parking for the family and handicapped members of the family. They also allowed three volleys to be fired in John’s honor at the conclusion of the Mass. Thank you.

The Bagpiper at the Mass and reception was Bob Pfarr. His songs were special and significant in helping to memorialize John’s Irish roots.

A Color and Rifle Guard provided by the American Legion Post No 232 in Barnegat, NJ. Bob and Lillian Padavano of Waretown, NJ made this possible. Thanks to all for this military memorial.

The presence of John’s Battalion Commander (Lt. Col John Evans) from Fort Campbell, KY at the Mass was appreciated along with his remarks about John during the reception. It was nice to hear that John was one his best pilots, and a good friend.

John’s US Marines buddies in attendance at his burial were a source of comfort to our family. “Semper Fi, Marines”.

Our nephew Roger Quinlan Jr. provided the Irish music and sound system at the reception. His and Steven Mocko’s support for me during the Mass eulogy was heart-warming and a true measure of the family’s unity during this event.

Our nephews, David and J.J. Mocko, provided John’s blog (www.johnquinlan.blogspot.com) listing pictures, newspaper articles, TV spots and individual comments. This is a significant source of comfort to our family.

An individual, who is a friend of John’s from Maryland (Brandy Edwards), played a large role in publicizing John’s accident on Maryland TV and in the newspapers. This resulted in significant attendance at John’s burial from his friends in the Baltimore area. We were comforted to greet these friends, some of whom we had not seen in over 20 years.

A very significant honor was provided to our family when we ordered a 20-foot flag pole for John from Kempton Flag of Wall, NJ. The flagpole was installed at our home on March 31, 2007. Upon completion, the flagpole, a U.S. Flag and a U.S. Army Flag were presented to us as gifts in memory of John. We are moved and grateful. Thank you.

Two veteran’s organizations (The Catholic War Veterans of Asbury Park, NJ and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 232 of Neptune, NJ) presented in ceremony Gold Star flags to Kate and me. We are extremely grateful for this honor.

We would also like to thank our extended family for their assistance during this time of grieving. Many nieces and nephews read during the Mass. John and Linda Mocko (my sister) were outstanding in providing display materials, pictures, scrapbook presentations and emotional support.

Fort Monmouth provided outstanding support in the work of the Henry Kearney, Chief, Public Affairs and Major Tom Watiti as the Causality Assistance Officer. They both significantly helped in the administrative and editorial processing during the Memorial, Burial, and Mass.

Taking care of tailoring and pressing my U.S. Army uniform (purchased in 1964 and last worn in 1982) was EZ tailors in Shrewsbury, NJ.

Pictures of John’s burial taken at the Arlington National Cemetery were taken by Michael and Beverly Miller of Avon, NJ. Their picture of John’s coffin under the U.S. Flag was used in our thank you card. They also presented us with an enlarged framed copy of that picture.

Kate’s friend Wanda Smith from Asbury Park Middle School wrote and read at the reception a poem dedicated to John. She also provided us framed copies. We thank her for this special effort.

A video of the Memorial Mass was taken by Erick Gunter. We thank him for this effort.

People continue to surprise us with acts of kindness. Our neighbors (Vincent and Jody Fama and their son Vincent) went to Arlington National cemetery for John’s burial and provided exceptional emotional support to us during the burial and memorial Mass. We are extremely thankful for their efforts. Many neighbors provided delicious food and comfort for us along with visits to our home.

Kate and I hope we have included all those whose effort contributed to honor John. If we missed anyone, please accept our sincere thanks for your efforts. We are extremely grateful to all of you.

Robert J. Quinlan

Kathleen T. Quinlan

John's Eulogy - March 11, 2007

John's father, Robert J. Quinlan, spoke these words at John's memorial Mass:

“We lost John”

With those words, our world was turned upside down. Susan called me on Sunday morning February 18, to tell me John was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Those words will echo in my head forever. Sunday will always be our remembrance day of John.

John’s life was a life worth living. We will miss him dearly but we, as a family, will survive this event.

Julie and their daughters could not be here today. Julie is attending the funeral of John’s co-pilot. They will be here this summer when we will have a scheduled Mass in memory of John.

God now has a new co-pilot in John. But I must alert God that within a very short time John may try to become Pilot-In-Command.

Kate and I are so proud of our children’s accomplishments. Sue and John have given us great families including five grandchildren. We will love and nurture them always and forever. But today, let me share with you some things about John which you may or may not know.

He was the grandson of Mary and Bob; son of Kate and me; brother of Sue; husband of Julie; father of Keely, Maddie, and Erin; brother-in-law of Greg; and uncle of Olivia and William, along with 8 other nieces and nephews. He was the friend to so many people both military and civilian that it is impossible to count or acknowledge them all. I wish to thank all of you here today for your friendship with John and for the comfort that friendship brings to our family.

John was a family man in every sense of the word. His devotion to his wife and children was exceptional in every way. He was a devoted Catholic with his family attending weekly Mass and children attending a Catholic School. His religious convictions were part of his everyday life. He had respect for all people regardless of their creed or background.

John was at the front in five wars since 1990. The Gulf Kuwait War, Somalia, Dessert Storm, 2 tours in Iraqi Freedom and 5 tours in Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

He spent 8 years as a US Marine. John was an Avionics Specialist for Harrier jump jets and a Loadmaster for C130 Hercules cargo planes. He will always be a “Devil Dog” to his Marine buddies. “Semper Fi Marines”.

He spent 10 years as U.S. Army Warrant Officer Chinook pilot receiving two promotions ahead of his peers. It won’t surprise all of you to hear that his pilot flight name was “Irish”.

He received 27 military medals. It was impossible for him to wear all of them on his uniform. His highest honor was the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) which is for exceptional heroism and flying skills. He earned it when he safely landed his Chinook helicopter safely last July after it was shot down by an enemy RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). He saved 25 soldiers. I met three members of his crew in Fort Campbell, Kentucky two weeks ago. They all cried and hugged me and said that they are alive today because of John's actions.

His second crash on Sunday, three weeks ago, which took John’s life along with the lives of seven other soldiers. Fourteen soldiers, however, survived due to John’s landing the helicopter “dirty side down” - meaning on its wheels with no fire. Any rollover would have caused a fuel fire and total loss of its crew and passengers. Thirty eight U.S. Army soldiers are with us today because of John’s courage and technical knowledge.

John is an exceptional military hero in every definition of the word. He was a Professional Warrior. He was never in the rear with the gear, but always at the front lines where the action took place. One his aunts has pointed out to me that John’s zeal in his military duties is also a definition of patriotism.

John’s unit is called “Night Stalkers” because they fly in the night to surprise and defeat the enemy. The motto of John’s unit is “Night Stalkers Don’t Quit”. The Quinlan family’s new motto is “Quinlans Don’t Quit”.

God bless you John and your family. We know that the world is a better place because of your having been here. God’s speed be with you. We will miss you forever! You have our love forever!

New articles

John's picture is on Page A11 of today's (Thu Mar 22nd) Washington Post. Also, there are several new stories posted in the column on the right.

Memorial Mass for John

There will be a memorial Mass for John on Sun Mar 11th at 2PM at St. Elizabeth Church [424 Lincoln Ave] in Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ.

Following the Mass, there will be a reception at the Bradley Beach Fire Department's Company Banquet Hall [725 Rear Main Street] in Bradley Beach, NJ beginning at 3:30PM. Please bring an appetizer, a side dish, or a dessert to share.