A Tribute to Captain James N. "Trey" Wilbourn III
And even though it’s been more than 20 years, the loss of Trey still reverberates today, he is sorely missed; May his soul rest in peace.
This statue dedicated to Trey is located in Huntsville, Alabama.
CAPT. JAMES N. "TREY" WILBOURN III
Call Sign: "L.Z." Died: Feb. 23, 1991
Captain Wilbourn, piloting an AV-8B Harrier was shot down over central Kuwait during a night attack in Operation Desert Storm.
He had been flying missions since the first day of the Gulf War, when he attacked Iraqi rocket launchers and artillery positions, according to news accounts.
A native of Huntsville, Ala., and the son of a Navy veteran, Captain Wilbourn received a degree in aviation management from Auburn University in 1984 and then joined the U.S. Marines, earning his wings in 1987. He first flew the A-6 Intruder, switching to the Harrier in 1990.
Captain Wilbourn kept a photograph of Army Gen. George S. Patton on his bedroom wall at home. As a high school football player, he would motivate himself before games in the locker room by playing a tape of the theme music from the movie "Patton."
While in the Persian Gulf, Captain Wilbourn regularly wrote to his parents and his sister back home. He often signed the letters: "Love, Trey, pilot, patriot and defender of freedom."
To donate in Trey's name, please utilize the following link:
https://giving.veracross.com/
https://secure.auburn.edu/s/1715/giving/form.aspx?sid=1715&gid=2&pgid=390&cid=1009&appealcode=bca
