DJIBOUTI, Jun 1, 2010 — Approximately 35 people representing the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, and Camp Lemonnier took part in a rare ceremony on Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, to honor American-born Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Officer Lawrence R. Maguire who died when his plane crashed in Djibouti during World War II.Pilot Officer Maguire, a Native of East Orange, New Jersey, was assigned to the 8th Royal Air Force Squadron (British Royal Air Force) out of Khormaksar, Aden (now Yemen) in July 1942 when his Blenheim MK IV with a crew of five failed to return to base. The remains of the aircrew were recovered and buried July 16, 1942 in the Cimetiere Non Musulman de Djibouti, near Camp Lemonnier.Among the 850 graves in this Christian cemetery, ceremony participants got a glimpse into the life of a young American, relatively unknown to most of the attendees until today."An athletic type; very courageous, strong character, clean cut and keen attitude," said Mike Lombardo, Regional Security Officer, U.S. Embassy Djibouti, who conducted the lion's share of the research on Maguire for the Memorial Day ceremony. "(He was) A lad to tie to -- one of the really strong Irish."Maguire hitch-hiked to Ottawa, Canada to join the RCAF, actions he took of his own volition without informing his parents. From there, he served alongside British Royal Air Force airmen out of Watton (Norfolk), England before being reassigned to Aden."If Maguire had been a 21-year-old living in East Orange on September 11, 2001, there is little doubt that shortly thereafter he would have enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces. And there's no doubt he would have done it without informing his parents," Lombardo added.
Rear Admiral Brian Losey, commander, CJTF-HOA, spoke on the importance of Memorial Day and the importance of recognizing Americans, like Maguire, who have given their lives for their country...more..
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