Close to home
I read about a plane crash in Alaska a few days ago but did not think much of it. I read in my hometown newspaper that the pilot was a guy I went to school with. His obituary revealed a lot about him I did not know. Don
Robin R. Starrett
Published: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:46 AM CST
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KODIAK, Alaska - Robin Royce Starrett of Kodiak was taken from us on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, as a result of a tragic plane crash near the Kodiak Airport.
Born Jan. 10, 1957 in Pratt, Robin grew up in Iuka, where he developed a love for flying, receiving his private pilot license in 1975. That same year he attended Pratt Community College, joined the US Army ROTC and earned an AA degree in 1977. Subsequently, he attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and attained a bachelor's degree in aeronautical sciences.
Robin married the former Miss Judy Kramer just prior to graduation from Embry Riddle. They had met during high school and were joined together on May 26, 1979, in Pratt.
The following April, Robin accepted a commission in the US Army as a second lieutenant. After completing the Army Transportation Officer Basic Course at Ft. Eustis, Va., he reported to Flight School at Ft. Rucker, Ala. His first assignment as an Army aviator was near Stuttgart, West Germany, where he ultimately oversaw his unit's transition to the new UH-60A helicopters while serving as a UH-60A Maintenance Officer.
In October of 1985, he completed his Army service and accepted a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard. His first Coast Guard assignment was to Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, where he quickly achieved designation as HH-65 Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot. Additionally, both of Robin's sons, Doug and Randy, were born during this time in 1986 and 1989 respectively.
In January of 1990, Robin reported to the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., where he became a HH-60 Standardization Instructor Pilot. Following that assignment, Robin and his family traveled to Kodiak, Alaska, in 1994, where he quickly earned a reputation as a top notch search and rescue helicopter pilot at the Coast Guard's most demanding air station.
As such, Robin was selected as the CGAS Kodiak Rotary Wing Assistant Operations Officer where he utilized his extensive talent and experience to achieve safe flight operations throughout western and northern Alaska.
During a subsequent assignment at CGAS Cape Cod, Mass., Robin realized that he missed Alaska and volunteered to return to CGAS Kodiak where he continued to fly arduous search and rescue missions until his retirement in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Robin's steady and committed service to his country earned him over two dozen military decorations, including Coast Guard and Army Commendation Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and two National Defense Service Medals. Additionally, he held FAA Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor ratings.
Although an accomplished military officer and aviator, Robin was also a loving husband, proud father, and an outdoorsman. He spent much of his free time as a Little League baseball coach, umpire, Boy Scout Leader, and as a supporter and fan of his sons. One of his favorite activities was going on hunting trips with his family, including his nephew Cole Kramer, who used his skill as a guide to make the hunts fun and successful. Robin seemed happiest when his home or his cabin was filled with friends and family.
Robin was preceded in death by his father, Robert, and his brothers Raymond, Lee and Randy.
Surviving him are Judy, his wife of 28 years; two sons, Doug and Randy; mother, Jane Ann Starrett of Iuka; two sisters, Leigh Ann Hall of Iuka, and Michelle Phillips of Midland, Texas; six nephews and six nieces; and his beloved dog, K2.
Memorial services will be held at the Kodiak High School Auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 13, at 1 pm and at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Natrona on Jan. 26 at 2 pm.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Robin Starrett Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Wells Fargo Bank, 202 Marine Way, Kodiak, AK 99615.
Robin R. Starrett
Published: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:46 AM CST
E-mail this story | Print this page
KODIAK, Alaska - Robin Royce Starrett of Kodiak was taken from us on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, as a result of a tragic plane crash near the Kodiak Airport.
Born Jan. 10, 1957 in Pratt, Robin grew up in Iuka, where he developed a love for flying, receiving his private pilot license in 1975. That same year he attended Pratt Community College, joined the US Army ROTC and earned an AA degree in 1977. Subsequently, he attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and attained a bachelor's degree in aeronautical sciences.
Robin married the former Miss Judy Kramer just prior to graduation from Embry Riddle. They had met during high school and were joined together on May 26, 1979, in Pratt.
The following April, Robin accepted a commission in the US Army as a second lieutenant. After completing the Army Transportation Officer Basic Course at Ft. Eustis, Va., he reported to Flight School at Ft. Rucker, Ala. His first assignment as an Army aviator was near Stuttgart, West Germany, where he ultimately oversaw his unit's transition to the new UH-60A helicopters while serving as a UH-60A Maintenance Officer.
In October of 1985, he completed his Army service and accepted a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard. His first Coast Guard assignment was to Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, where he quickly achieved designation as HH-65 Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot. Additionally, both of Robin's sons, Doug and Randy, were born during this time in 1986 and 1989 respectively.
In January of 1990, Robin reported to the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., where he became a HH-60 Standardization Instructor Pilot. Following that assignment, Robin and his family traveled to Kodiak, Alaska, in 1994, where he quickly earned a reputation as a top notch search and rescue helicopter pilot at the Coast Guard's most demanding air station.
As such, Robin was selected as the CGAS Kodiak Rotary Wing Assistant Operations Officer where he utilized his extensive talent and experience to achieve safe flight operations throughout western and northern Alaska.
During a subsequent assignment at CGAS Cape Cod, Mass., Robin realized that he missed Alaska and volunteered to return to CGAS Kodiak where he continued to fly arduous search and rescue missions until his retirement in 2004 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Robin's steady and committed service to his country earned him over two dozen military decorations, including Coast Guard and Army Commendation Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and two National Defense Service Medals. Additionally, he held FAA Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor ratings.
Although an accomplished military officer and aviator, Robin was also a loving husband, proud father, and an outdoorsman. He spent much of his free time as a Little League baseball coach, umpire, Boy Scout Leader, and as a supporter and fan of his sons. One of his favorite activities was going on hunting trips with his family, including his nephew Cole Kramer, who used his skill as a guide to make the hunts fun and successful. Robin seemed happiest when his home or his cabin was filled with friends and family.
Robin was preceded in death by his father, Robert, and his brothers Raymond, Lee and Randy.
Surviving him are Judy, his wife of 28 years; two sons, Doug and Randy; mother, Jane Ann Starrett of Iuka; two sisters, Leigh Ann Hall of Iuka, and Michelle Phillips of Midland, Texas; six nephews and six nieces; and his beloved dog, K2.
Memorial services will be held at the Kodiak High School Auditorium on Sunday, Jan. 13, at 1 pm and at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Natrona on Jan. 26 at 2 pm.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Robin Starrett Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Wells Fargo Bank, 202 Marine Way, Kodiak, AK 99615.
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sorry you lost a friend...but i bet you have been having a lot of good momories of him since you heard... 0 -
sounds like an all american Don,..prayers go out for his family..Loko 0 -
Sorry to hear of your loss Don... 0 -
sorry for the loss of your friend 0 -
Sorry for the loss, but I guess he went doing what he loved to do, and that was flying in the heavens. 0 -
He sounds like he was a truely accomplished man, and a great father as well.Prayers said for his family and friends.Shame to loose such a man, but he did go out doing what he loved.Sorry.. 0 -
He packed a lot of good stuff in his 50 years.
It remains to be seen why that forward baggage door popped open.
It's not the first crash from this cause I've heard about.0 -
My thoughts are with you sorry for the loss. 0 -
Sorry to hear about your friend, Don. Is that Iuka, Mississippi? I lived just outside Iuka for about a year when I was a youngster. That would have been a while before your friend was born. I guess you lost a friend and Alaska lost a good citizen. Really sorry to hear about this. 0 -
Sorry for your loss, Don.
My condolences to Mr. Starrett's family and loved ones.0 -
Probably better you than him. 0 -
Sorry for your loss, prayers and thoughts got out to you and the family, God Bless. 0
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