Honor the fallen. Support the families of VT-7 Eagles. A T-45C Goshawk assigned to Training Squadron Seven, based at Naval Air Station Meridian, crashed in southeastern Tennessee the afternoon of Sunday, October 1st, 2017.  LT Patrick L. Ruth, 31, of Metairie, Louisiana, and LJTG Wallace E. Burch, 25, of Horn Lake, Mississippi, were aboard and did not survive the crash.

Help us by donating, and proceeds go directly to the squadron families without fee from us. You will help fund things like airfare, hotels, rental cars, meals, and even unit memorials.

The families and squadron affected by this mishap have given The Wingman Foundation their full support in launching this fundraiser to help with current and future expenses. Rest assured, 100% of all donations will go to those affected.

Lieutenant Patrick “Tank” Ruth was born in Metairie, LA to David Ruth, Sr. and Mary Ruth.  Patrick was a standout athlete at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, LA, competing in football and track and field.  He attended Tulane University where he met his future fiancée, Jessica, majored in Mathematics, and participated in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.  He graduated in 2008 and reported to Aviation Preflight Indoctrination (API) in Pensacola, FL, for duty as a Student Naval Aviator.

After completion of API, Patrick reported to Training Squadron Twenty Seven for Primary Flight Training in the T-34.  He subsequently reported to Training Squadron Nine in Meridian, MS and then Training Squadron Thirty One, where he received his Naval Aviator wings March of 2011.  Following completion of his training syllabus at the E-2C Hawkeye Fleet Replacement Squadron, Patrick reported to VAW-126 in Norfolk, VA.  He deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) as part of Operation Enduring Freedom from July 2013 to April 2014, during which time he was awarded “Top Hook” of the Air Wing.  In April of 2015, Patrick returned to Meridian, MS for duty as a T-45C Goshawk instructor pilot with Training Squadron Seven. Patrick is survived by his fiancée, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Wallace E. Burch was born in Nashville, TN to Dr. William E. Burch and Ms. Adrienne Starling Moore.  Wallace was raised in the Mid-South area.  Wallace attended Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, TN and then graduated from Desoto Central High School in Southaven, MS.  After high school, Wallace stopped at Northwest Community College for a year on his way to Mississippi State University.  Wallace graduated from Mississippi State University in 2014 and began Naval Officer Candidate School in September 2014.  Following graduation and commissioning as an Ensign with Class 05-15E on January 16th 2015, he reported to Aviation Preflight Indoctrination in Pensacola, FL.

After Pensacola, FL Wallace reported to Training Squadron Six for Primary Flight Training in the T-6B in June 2015.  Upon completion of the syllabus in April 2016, Wallace received the Commodore’s List with Distinction Award.  Following Primary Flight Training, Wallace was selected for the Strike training pipeline and reported to Training Squadron Seven in Meridian, MS.  He was a member of Class 16-95 with VT-7 and finished Intermediate Jet Training in March 2017.  Wallace is survived by his mother and father, brothers and sister, and girlfriend. Lieutenant Patrick “Tank” Ruth Lieutenant Junior Grade Wallace E. Burch

If you have memories, stories, or pictures you would like to share with the families, please send them to email@example.com for LT Ruth or firstname.lastname@example.org for LTJG Burch.
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