When D.C. firefighter Sean Wathen responded to the tragic midair collision over the Potomac River, he never expected to stand guard over a fallen hero. But as a former Marine, he recognized the flight suit of Staff Sgt. Ryan O’Hara and refused to leave his side for nearly four hours.
O’Hara, the crew chief of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport, was one of the first victims recovered. As rescue teams worked tirelessly in the icy water, Wathen ensured his dignity was preserved until a military official arrived.
O’Hara’s father, Gary, expressed deep gratitude to the first responders who braved the wreckage to bring his son home. "There are no words to express our thanks," he said. The loss of his 28-year-old son, a devoted husband and father, remains unfathomable.
A memorial service at Fort Belvoir will honor O’Hara and the two other crew members lost in the crash, with firefighters, including Wathen, invited to attend.
For Wathen, this act of respect wasn’t about duty—it was about brotherhood.
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Photo: Getty