Nathan White, LDS Pilot Shot Down Over Iraq,
Buried at Arlington
An Exclusive Photographic Essay
Photography by Scot Facer Proctor
Essay by Maurine Jensen Proctor
Photos from family files used by permission
All Arlington Photographs Copyright 2003 Scot Facer Proctor
(Use of any photographs herein only by written permission of Meridian Magazine)

click on photos to enlarge

Part 5

As we gaze across the white markers that march so far they seem to stretch to infinity, we sorrow with a hot grief about their stories that like Nate’s are real, poignant, funny, striving.

This is a fallen world where freedom is always at risk from those who know no moral constraints and would decimate people in their way.

Saddam gouged out the eyes of some he tortured, murdered 200,000 Kurds, perhaps another 300,000 Shiite Muslims. With his weapons of mass destruction, he had eyes upon the rest of us, too.

Who will pay the price for protection? Why did it have to be Nate? Or any mother’s son or daughter? Yet, if no one will pay that price, would evil then just have its way?

Nate’s last email home demonstrates his soul:

“When going in on a strike, there is always a lot going on.

“Here is a brief snapshot: brief for an hour or more to map out the flight, get catapulted from standstill to 140 miles an hour in less than 2 seconds, navigate through a maze of airborne highways that try to deconflict aircraft and of course steer you clear of the army's patriot batteries…

“… jump from radio frequency to radio frequency at least 12 different times shifting from controller to controller, avoid a sky full of AAA, surface to air missiles and ballistic rockets, set up your weapons system…

“…acquire your target, drop on target, fly to an airborne tanker, join up, get gas, and then fly back and land on a boat bobbing around in the middle of a sand storm. Make it night time and throw in some thunderstorms and then it really gets exciting.

“Sound a bit overwhelming? Sometime it feels that way. When it gets really hard, it's like they always say: You fall back on your training. Redundancy in training prepares you for those nights where your legs are shaking and you know that if you don't relax and get your refueling probe into the refueling basket, you are going to flame out and lose the jet.

“Life is no different. Success in any endeavor is brought about by personal preparation and training for those inevitable obstacles of life. Your Sunday school and seminary teachers, scout leaders and priesthood leaders, and yes even your parents, have valuable lessons of life to impart that are all aimed at preparing you for the tough decisions each of you face.”

If possible, the moment becomes more moving as the procession stops, waiting because overhead fly four planes with one suddenly leaving the group and flying vertically toward heaven. These are the same planes that Nate flew. It is called “the missing man” formation. As if they are all struck with an invisible wind of high feeling, everyone bursts into tears.

Click here to go to Part Six of
Nathan White’s Burial at Arlington

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