Captain Mark K. Weber, 29, a Combat Rescue Officer with the 38th Rescue Squadron (RQS), was killed in a helicopter crash in Anbar Province, Iraq, March 15, 2018. “It’s apparent to everyone that you cannot replace someone of the caliber of Mark Weber,” said Maj. Jason Egger, 38th RQS commander “Instead, it is now left to us to carry his memory forward and pay tribute to him and live up to his truly exceptional example.”

Mark graduated from Guyer High School, Denton, TX, in 2007, then attended the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated in 2011 as a contracting officer, but soon-after switched gears to become a combat rescue officer.

As a Combat Rescue Officer, Mark was trained to direct Combat Search and Rescue operations and to plan, manage and execute Combat Search and Rescue tasks. Mark was known in the Combat Rescue community as one who would always put the care and well-being of his men before his own. In turn, his team would follow him with unwavering confidence. A member of Mark’s Squadron once said “In the pool, he would help the last team member across before surfacing for his own breath. On a ruck, I watched him carry a teammate whose body had quit. When the team screwed up, it was Capt. Weber who shouldered the responsibility. I never saw him tired and I never saw him afraid – not because he didn’t feel pain or experience fear, but he placed his duty before his own personal desires and comforts.”

Maj. Jason Egger, the commander of Mark’s squadron, said “Mark has become part of the storied legacy of combat rescue officers and pararescuemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It is now up to us who continue to wear the beret, to honor that sacrifice and to understand that our words and our actions carry the full weight of our fallen comrades. We should strive to ensure that we never fall short of the standard of excellence and honor defined by those who have gone before us.”

Mark leaves behind his parents, Ron and Margaret, along with four sisters: Lori, Kristin, Kathryn and Leah.

$10 from every bracelet sale will go to the That Others May Live Foundation, a non-profit that provides immediate tragedy assistance critical support, and scholarships for the families of U.S. Air Force Rescue Heroes who are killed or severely wounded in operational or training missions. TOMLF also provides advocacy, guidance, and support to U.S. Air Force Rescue service members, veterans , and families affected by visible and invisible wounds.