Fisher Houses are a blessing to thousands of families when their loved one is wounded, ill, or injured. But, there is a special Fisher House at Dover Air Force Base. Named the Fisher House for Families of the Fallen, their mission is unique and solemn.

Managed exclusively by uniformed personnel, this Fisher House holds close the families who are awaiting the homecoming of their loved one’s remains from overseas.

For the families of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matt Ruffner and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder, time stopped on April 9, 2013. That day, Matt & Jarett were in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan with Bravo Company, 1/104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, flying a series of recon missions in support of ground troops.

Their aircraft, Gun 23, was flying trail, providing high security overwatch for the lead when communications were lost. They died doing what Apache Helicopter Pilots do best: protecting our military brothers and sisters on the ground.

With the establishment of the Gun 23 Memorial Fund at Fisher House Michigan, their mission continues. This fund will be used to support Fisher House operations, ensuring our military and Veteran brethren have access to the medical care they have earned, with their families by their side. With your help, Gun 23 will continue to provide overwatch for our troops and Veterans for years to come.

Learn more about Matt and Jarett via the links below. Consider a gift in their honor, or in memory of someone you’ve personally lost. Simply indicate “Gun 23” and the name of the departed Patriot in the tribute field of your gift.

Honor their memory with a gift to support military and Veteran families.

Give online or mail to:

Fisher House Michigan
Gun 23 Memorial Fund
PO Box 130466
Ann Arbor, MI 48113

There is a story Apache Warriors tell their young, and it not only perfectly describes the mission of the US Army’s Apache Gunship, but also describes the mission Matt & Jarett continue from above:

“It is not yet a good world for human beings. Perhaps one day it will be. But, for us Apache, let us go up to the great sky above and watch over them from there.”