On this, the final day of 2011, Air Ambulance Weekly would like to pay tribute to three fallen air medical crewmen who tragically lost their lives en route to pick up a heart for a patient’s life-saving transplant.
Hoke Smith, a pilot who was a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War, founded SK Jets in St. Augustine in 1997. Having learned to fly at the age of 16, he earned the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross in the Vietnam War, deftly piloting both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for the U.S. Army. He piloted medical transports “quite often,” and “loved to fly” according to his son, Derrick Smith, the general manager of SK Jets. Far from being just the owner of the company, Hoke was also an active and highly-requested pilot for charter clients.
Dr. Luis Bonilla was an extremely knowledgeable, well-respected heart surgeon who divided his contributions to medicine between the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Originally from Columbia, he followed his dream of becoming a doctor – going so far as to return to medical school and start over when his medical licenses from Columbia would not transfer. He was known for his compassion and dedication to his work. His wife Tracy described him as “a wonderful husband and father.”
David Hines began in the medical field after retiring from a 25-year military career. He had served his country for almost 30 years as an emergency trauma technician in the Air Force National Guard, then as a Master Sergeant in the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida Air National Guard. Deputy rescue chief for a volunteer fire department and an organ procurement technician for LifeQuest, he is remembered by those who were fortuitous enough to know him as a selfless, benevolent team member who placed his patients’ interests above all.
These three men – professionals, respected in the air medical field – heroes – gave their lives to transport a donated heart to save the life of a patient waiting at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
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