[Jen]

1986 Christa McAuliffe astronaut/teacher, dies in Challenger disaster
1986 Ellison S Onizuka Hawaii, Major USAF/astronaut, dies in Challenger disaster
1986 Francis R Scobee Washington, USAF/astronaut, dies in Challenger disaster
1986 Gregory B. Jarvis Detroit Michigan, payload specialist/astronaut, dies in Challenger disaster
1986 Dr Judith Arlene Resnik Akron OH, astronaut, dies in Challenger disaster
1986 Michael J Smith Beaufort NC, Commander USN, astronaut, dies in Challenger
1986 Ronald E McNair Lake City SC, astronaut, dies in Challenger disaster

What a sad memory. I had the pleasure of meeting Major Ellison Onizuka when I was stationed at PACAF HQ in Hawaii. He came to Hawaii before the Challenger launch to do some public relations work and to visit his family. I arranged a speaking engagement for him and drove him to it and introduced him. He impressed me as a brilliant scientist who was humble and comfortable to be around. He gave me a mission patch that I still have stored in a box of treasured mementoes of my Air Force career.

RA, I'm sure you also remember this very well. :-(

[CholeraJoe]

Onizuka AFS, CA
Home of the 21st Space Operations Squadron

[HiJinx]

I suspect there are very few of us who don't have memories of that terrible day in January.

One of mine is a video clip that was shown as part of the live feed, but never shown again. One of the cameras was on young family members of the crew...I don't remember which one...and the disbelief in their eyes, the questions asked..."What happened? This isn't happening, is it?"...then the realization of what they were watching, the breakdown...

That was indeed a sad day.