Mass. native Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher killed in Air Force crash off Japanese coast

The body of an American airman from Massachusetts has been recovered off the coast of Japan after a military aircraft crashed there earlier this week[1], the man's family and his Congressional representative said Friday.

Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher, a native of Pittsfield, was among eight members of the Air Force missing following the crash during a training flight Wednesday.

The military notified Galliher's family Thursday night that a search and rescue team had recovered his body, according to his stepfather, Tor Krautter.

Galliher, who was stationed in Japan, was a 2017 graduate of Taconic High School in Pittsfield, the city police department said in a statement[2] Friday morning. He left behind his wife, 2-year-old and 7-week-old sons, and a loving family in Western Massachusetts.

In a statement, Galliher's family called him "an amazing father, son and brother dedicated to his family and friends."

"During this period of immense grief, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding as we navigate this unimaginable loss," the family said. "Our thoughts and support are with the families of Jake's fellow crew members who are dealing with this tragedy as well."

The Air Force Special Operations Command said[3] a CV-22B Osprey, a plane-helicopter hybrid, "was involved in an aircraft mishap while performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island, Japan," on Wednesday.

At a press briefing Thursday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said[4] the cause of the crash remained under investigation.

On Friday, the Air Force said American and Japanese search and rescue teams had recovered the body of one airman, while the seven others remained missing.

An Air Force spokesperson said the military could not confirm the name of the person found until 24 hours after the airman's family had been notified.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, who represents Pittsfield, said in a statement[5] that Galliher "represented our nation's best."

"As a father, my heart goes out to Staff Sgt.

Jacob Galliher's mother and father during this difficult time," Neal said Friday. "Any parent will tell you there is no greater pain than the pain of losing a child, and Jacob Galliher was beloved by all."

Galliher enlisted in the Air Force out of high school. He was a military linguist and was fluent in Mandarin Chinese, his family told the Berkshire Eagle[6].

He played four years of football at Taconic High School, his former coach, Jim Ziter, said in a phone call Friday.

"Jake was a great kid, a great kid," Ziter, a Pittsfield Fire Department captain, said. "One of the hardest workers on my team. He was as loyal as could be.

A great sense of humor. He was a great kid and a phenomenal football player, but more importantly a great kid."

A flag outside the high school hung at half-staff Friday.

Ziter described Galliher as "a quiet leader" who became a mentor to younger players as he grew older and "brought out the best in all his teammates."

Gov. Maura Healey in a statement Friday mourned Galliher's loss and said her thoughts were with "his family, especially his two young sons, and the Berkshire County community as they mourn the loss of one of their best and brightest."

Yakushima Island, near where the Osprey crashed, is about 40 miles southwest of the Japanese mainland.

The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but during flight it can rotate its propellers forward and cruise much faster like an airplane.

Ospreys have had a number of accidents in the past, including in Japan, where they are deployed at U.S. and Japanese military bases.

In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops are based, Gov.

Denny Tamaki told reporters Wednesday that he would ask the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan, the Associated Press reported.[7]

"The Galliher family is enduring every service family's nightmare, and we hold them in our hearts and prayers as they grieve," Massachusetts Veterans Services Secretary Jon Santiago said in a statement. "May his memory serve as a source of solace and strength to his family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. Our Massachusetts military community extends our deepest condolences to his family and will honor his legacy."

State Sen. Paul W.

Mark, D-Berkshire/Hampden/Franklin/Hampshire, said he heard of the crash Wednesday from a family friend and helped the family connect with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Markey's staff.

At the time the young airman was missing, not confirmed dead.

"It's terrible," Mark said Friday. "A young man serving his country, and for this to happen."

"It's terrible news," he said.

Republican Reporter Jim Kinney contributed to this story.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this story.

References

1. ^ crashed there earlier this week (apnews.com)
2. ^ statement (www.facebook.com)
3. ^ Air Force Special Operations Command said (www.afsoc.af.mil)
4. ^ Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said (www.defense.gov)
5. ^ statement (x.com)
6. ^ the Berkshire Eagle (www.berkshireeagle.com)
7. ^ the Associated Press reported. (apnews.com)