by Lisa Schauer
Thirty-three years to the day after their C-130 turboprop military transport aircraft struck power lines east of Berkeley Springs and fell from the sky, six Air National Guardsmen were memorialized in front of Morgan County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 7.
The crew of “Decoy 81” from the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard in Martinsburg all perished in that fiery crash on October 7, 1992.
Some of their surviving family members, friends and colleagues from the 167th Retirees Association and Family Readiness Group, about sixty people or so, gathered for a dedication ceremony of a granite bench to honor their memory.
“The wounds on their families’ hearts will never heal,” said Roland Shambaugh of Berkeley Springs, who served in the 167th from 1982 until 2020, in his remarks.
Shambaugh knew the men personally and shared his memories of each with those assembled.
Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Steinberger III was the crew’s commander. A Vietnam veteran, he served 19 years in the United States Air Force and was later a pilot for U.S. Air. He is remembered as a friendly man, and a role model.
Captain Dallas Adams Jr. was the co-pilot. An Air Force veteran, Adams is remembered as a colorful prankster, and larger than life. He is survived by two children.
Master Sargeant George Griffith was a flight engineer. At 56, he was the crew’s senior member, remembered as a man of God. His grandson George Buckley is a current member of the Air National Guard.
Master Sargeant James Henchman was a flight engineer. Known as Tim, he is remembered as being kind and quiet natured. He is survived by three children.
Technical Sargeant John Funkhouser was a loadmaster. A Martinsburg native, he was remembered as a great guy and always smiling. He is survived by a daughter.
Staff Sargeant Fred Jones was a loadmaster. At 24, he was the crew’s youngest member. A graduate of Shepherd University, he dreamed of becoming a law enforcement officer. Remembered as a shy guy who blushed easily, Jones loved the outdoors.
Following a prayer from Duane McKee, chaplain at Berkeley Medical Center, event organizer Alice Lantz invited attendees for refreshments at the American Legion in Berkeley Springs.
