US embassy and U.S.

military members honor fallen WWII pilot during ceremony in

Djibouti

By Lieutenant Colonel Cecily Christian

CJTF-HOA Public Affairs

DJIBOUTI, May 31, 2010 -- Approximately 35 people representing the U.S. Embassy
in Djibouti, Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, and Camp Lemonnier took
part in a rare and unique ceremony on Memorial Day to honor American-born Royal
Canadian Air Force Pilot Officer Lawrence R. Maguire who died when his plane
crashed in Djibouti during World War II.

Pilot Officer Maguire, a Native of East Orange, New Jersey, was assigned to
th
the 8 Royal Air Force Squadron (British Royal Air Force) out of Khormaksar, Aden
(now Yemen) in July 1942 when his Blenheim MK IV with a crew of five failed to
return to base. The remains of the aircrew were recovered and buried July 16, 1942
in the Cimetiere Non Musulman de Djibouti, near Camp Lemonnier.

Among the 850 graves in this Christian cemetery, ceremony participants got
a glimpse into the life of a young American, relatively unknown to most of the
attendees until today.

“An athletic type; very courageous, strong character, clean cut and keen
attitude,” said Mike Lombardo, Regional Security Officer, U.S. Embassy Djibouti,
who conducted the lion’s share of the research on Maguire for the Memorial Day
ceremony. “(He was) A lad to tie to – one of the really strong Irish.”

Maguire hitch-hiked to Ottawa, Canada to join the RCAF, actions he took of

his own volition without informing his parents. From there, he served alongside
British Royal Air Force airmen out of Watton (Norfolk), England before being
reassigned to Aden.

“If Maguire had been a 21-year-old living in East Orange on September 11,
2001, there is little doubt that shortly thereafter he would have enlisted in the U.S.
Armed Forces. And there’s no doubt he would have done it without informing his
parents,” Lombardo added.

RDML Brian Losey, commander, CJTF-HOA, spoke on the importance of

Memorial Day and the importance of recognizing American’s, like Maguire, who
have given their lives for their country.

“We recognize that to live life with a heartfelt desire to provide service to
others, to answer the call of duty during tumultuous and uncertain times, and to
willingly volunteer to confront evil so that others can be free, is something Pilot
Officer Maguire, like everyone here today, carried out,” said Losey. “We honor him
today, as millions of American will honor those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice
in service to our nation.”

The Honorable James C. Swan, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti,

connected the significance of WWII operations in East Africa with current operations
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“Djibouti remained under Vichy control until 1942 when further advances of
Allied forces recaptured Djibouti,” said Swan. “Those who’ve been to Ali Sabieh and
other locations in Djibouti can still see the fortifications from a period which
demonstrates that this, too, was a front in the war on Fascism in the 1940s.

“This is a valuable lesson today when we know also that the central front in
the current struggle against Al Qaeda, against violent extremism is farther to the
east in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and yet at the same time, our roles here will play
as an important factor to our ultimate success in that campaign,” Swan added.

Swan concluded his remarks by reminding attendees about the powerful roles
that individuals, like Maguire, play in making history, even when unknown.

“Memorial Day usually focuses on numbers – the millions lost. Other times
we commemorate the unknowns, the anonymous,” added Swan. “Until recently,
Pilot Officer Maguire was unknown and anonymous, but it’s a special privilege today
that we can now recognize him and his sacrifice as an individual.”

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