Capt. Imlay Memorial

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 366th Fighter Wing attend a memorial for Capt. Dee “Piston” Imlay at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, April 6, 2012. Imlay, an F-15E pilot who passed while serving in Southwest Asia, is a member of the 391st Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Debbie Lockhart)

Capt. Imlay Memorial

U.S. Air Force Capt. Justin Warner, 391st Fighter Squadron, reads the obituary for Capt. Dee “Piston” Imlay during his memorial service April 6, 2012, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Warner, who considered Imlay to be one of his closest friends, also worked side-by-side with him during his time at MHAFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Debbie Lockhart)

Combat hammer

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho - Capt. Francis Imlay, 391st Fighter Squadron pilot, does a pre-flight inspection on an F-15E Strike Eagle here Aug 8. The weapons testing program is part of the Air Force’s ongoing effort to test weapons systems in training missions that also prepare aircrews for upcoming deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Heather Hayward)

Imlay memorial.

Friends and family od Capt. Dee Imlay stand solemly in the Sacramento Valley National Cemetary April 6, 2013. Imlay died March 28, 2012, in an accident involving an F-15E Strike Eagle near a base in Southwest Asia and many members of the squadron were not able to attend his funeral at the time. (Courtesy photo)

Bold Tigers remember one of their own

Published April 8, 2013
By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- On a beautiful spring day, members of the 391st Fighter Squadron past and present, along with their family members, stood among many silent graves while paying their respects to a fallen friend.

Capt. Dee "Piston" Imlay who was assigned to the 391st FS, died March 28, 2012, in an accident involving an F-15E Strike Eagle near a base in Southwest Asia.

"The purpose of this visit was to join the family in celebrating Piston's life as well as to allow the chance for those Bold Tigers who were deployed during the funeral the opportunity to pay their respects," said Capt. Justin Warner, 391st FS chief of mobility. "We wanted to show the Imlay family that we will always be there for them."

Friends and family flew to the anniversary from as far as Washington D.C.

"Dee's legacy is one of loyalty, dedication, commitment, integrity and courage," said Capt. Mike Whitmore, brother-in-law of Imlay. "Dee did it right. He was a good man."

For some, it was difficult to believe it had been a year since Piston had passed away.

"Being there was a surreal and difficult but a good opportunity for healing throughout the squadron," said Warner. "Everyone felt honored to visit Piston and be a part of the trip."

The Bold Tigers also decided to honor him by creating a heroic workout where the rounds and repetitions is the day he passed March 28, and the significance of the 443 meter row represents his unique "Tiger Number" which will never be re-issued.

"Piston was important to the squadron not only for his dedication to the job, but more importantly for the example he set for the rest of us as a leader, husband, father, son and friend," said Warner. "He was a man of character, honor and integrity. The strength of his character was shown through his selflessness, compassion and his contagious smile and sense of humor."

The Imlay family would like to thank everyone for their support and they are thankful to be a part of the Tiger and Mountain Home family.