11/12/1980
SMSgt Stryzak was assigned to the 27th Equipment Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico. He along with his team members, SrA Bianchi and A1C Meyer, perished when a C- 141 aircraft crashed while landing during a tactical response deployment to Cairo-West, Egypt. The C-141 aircraft and crew were taking part of a two-day airlift in which 1,400 members of the Rapid Deployment Force and their equipment have been ferried to Egypt’s largest air base from Fort Benning, GA. The airlift was completed a few hours after the crash. The purpose of the operation, according to the Egyptian Chief of Staff, General Said Abu-Ghazala, “was to familiarize themselves with the terrain and the weather conditions in Egypt, which are similar to those in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula where the Americans will have to operate if they are asked by the states of the region.” The Best Civil Engineer EOD Flight of the Year Award is named in his honor.
*This bio was researched and authored by SGM Mike R.Vining, USA (Retired). Please send any additional information and/or corrections to the author of this bio by email: sgmmvining@gmail.com. The EOD Warrior Foundation is not responsible for the accuracy of the information in bio.