Alamosa in Alamosa County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
In Memory of Maj. Paul J. Weaver III
September 2, 1956 January 31, 1991
| | 16th Special Operations Squadron | |
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2025
1. In Memory of Maj. Paul J. Weaver III Marker
Captain William T. Grimm Navigator
Captain Arthur Galvin Fire Control Officer
Captain Dixon L. Walters Electronic Warfare Officer
Staff Sergeant Damon V. Kanuha Flight Engineer
Staff Sergeant Mark J. Schmauss Loadmaster
Staff Sergeant John P. Blessinger Sensor Operator
Senior Master Sergeant Paul C. Buege Sensor Operator
Aerial Gunners
Staff Sergeant John Oelschlanger Master Sergeant James B. May Technical Sergeant Robert K. Hodges Staff Sergeant Timothy R. Harrison Sergeant Barry M. Clark
In the early morning hours of January 31, 1991, after completing their mission behind enemy lines at the Battle of Khafji, the crew of Spirit 03 were task to destroy a free rocket ground missile site, preventing a missile attack on the First Marine Division Forces. Mission Completed, the AC-130H gunship was hit with hostile fire and all 14 crew members perished, giving their tomorrows so we could have our todays.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1991.
Location. 37° 28.367′ N, 105° 53.287′ W. Memorial is in Alamosa, Colorado, in Alamosa County.
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Regionally, this memorial is in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains and in the San Luis Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Old Mose" (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1988 NAIA Division 1 National Championship Runner-Up (approx. 0.4 miles away); William H. Billy Adams / Richardson Hall / Luther Bean Museum (approx. half a mile away); Millstone, c. 1845 (approx. half a mile away); Sacred Heart Catholic Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Educational Desegregation (approx. 1.2 miles away); Maestas Case 1912-1914 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Alamosa Post Office (1935) (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alamosa.
Also see . . .
1. 16th Special Operations Squadron (Wikipedia).
The 16th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It operates the AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft in support of special operations.(Submitted on March 20, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)On 12 September 1990 the 16th arrived in Saudi Arabia to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the protection of Saudi Arabia and the liberation of Kuwait. The squadron flew 50 combat missions in Desert Storm and lost one
aircraft and 14 airmen on 31 January 1991, while supporting coalition forces engaged in the Battle of Khafji.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 20252. In Memory of Maj. Paul J. Weaver III MarkerThe marker is on the concrete pedestal directly across from the flagpole in Olympian Park.
2. Battle of Khafji (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: The Battle of Khafji was the first major ground engagement of the Gulf War. It took place in and around the Saudi Arabian city of Khafji, from 29 January to 1 February 1991.(Submitted on March 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who had already tried and failed to draw Coalition forces into costly ground engagements by shelling Saudi Arabian positions and oil storage tanks and firing Scud surface-to-surface missiles at Israel, ordered the invasion of Saudi Arabia from southern Kuwait. The 1st and 5th Mechanized Divisions and 3rd Armored Division were ordered to conduct a multi-pronged invasion toward Khafji, engaging Saudi Arabian, Kuwaiti, and U.S. forces along the coastline, with a supporting Iraqi commando force ordered to infiltrate further south by sea and harass the Coalition's rear. Most of their attacks were repulsed by U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army forces but one of the Iraqi columns occupied Khafji on the night of 2930 January.
From 30 January to 1 February, two Saudi Arabian National Guard battalions and two Qatari tank companies
attempted to retake control of the city, aided by Coalition aircraft and U.S. artillery. By 1 February, the city had been recaptured at the cost of 43 Coalition servicemen dead and 52 wounded. Iraqi Army fatalities numbered between 60 and 300, while an estimated 400 were captured as prisoners of war.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 20253. In Memory of Maj. Paul J. Weaver III MarkerThe marker is on the center concrete pedestal. First Street is in the background.
3. Maj Paul Jennings PJ / Dream Weaver Weaver (Find A Grave).
(United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, USA) Excerpt: Major Paul J. Weaver was killed 31 January 1991 while commanding an operational mission during the liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. The AC-130H aircraft he was piloting was shot down during the early morning hours while engaging ground forces north of the Saudi Arabian border town of Khafji. The aircraft received heavy enemy fire and was forced down into the Persian Gulf. There were no survivors in his crew of 14. Major Weaver knew heavy triple-A was in the area and that the FROG missile was capable of delivering chemical munitions on our Marines. Despite the known risks, he elected to engage and destroy this major threat. His gallant actions saved many U.S. Marine lives. Major Weaver was buried at the Air Force Academy Cemetery with full military honors on April 29, 1991.(Submitted on March 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 20, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
