Final wishes: A true portrait of honor, courage

  • Published
  • By Jennica Semon
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Early in the morning on April 13, as a brisk breeze flowed through Weber canyon, rifles fired and Taps sounded the empty Hill Air Force Base airfield, in honor of one our nation's heroes; Lt. Col. Edison Phillips Janney. The commemoration was held to grant Janney's last wish; for his ashes to be spread across an Air Force runway.

A native of Salt Lake City, Janney served 23 years in the military. While serving as a bombardier with the 95th Bomb Group, he was shot down and captured by German forces on October 10, 1943, then sent to Stalag Luft I where he suffered a broken pelvis and lay unattended on a cement floor for days.

Eventually, a German doctor placed blocks of wood on each side of his pelvis, creating a 'makeshift' vice, as treatment. Janney remained in these conditions for two years until he, and other POWs, were released from the compound when Russians invaded the prison camp on May 13, 1945.

In his honor, members from the Veterans of Foreign Wars from throughout Utah stood in formation and gave the Airman a final salute on the south end of the Hill AFB runway; a moving and emotional farewell. A U.S. flag was presented to Janney's wife, Maureen Janney.

In attendance at the event included Janney's family, Commander of the 75th Air Base Wing, Col. Kathryn Kolbe; Commander of the Utah Test and Training Range, Col. Rick LeBlanc; the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Military and Veteran's Affairs, Gary Harter; and the National Executive Committee Chair of the American Legion of Utah, Terry Schow.