Major David L. Yaggy grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and was proud to follow his father’s footsteps by joining the United States Marine Corps. He initially thought he would be part of the infantry like his father, but he was offered and accepted an aviation billet. Major Yaggy served for 11 years and was a decorated combat veteran, having served two tours of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2005 during Operation Enduring Freedom.
He acted as a Forward Air Controller when they initially entered Iraq and returned to the Huey’s cockpit for the second deployment. David earned 10 air strike medals and other combat awards during his three combat tours. As an experienced Naval aviator, having spent much time in the forward theater and in combat, David was chosen as a Naval Flight Instructor and based at the Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida.
On March 14, 2008, Major Yaggy and Second Lieutenant Alexander “AJ” Prezioso, of Lake Worth, Florida, died in a crash in Alabama. LT Prezioso was training for a long-range flight in a T-34 Mentor from NAS Whiting Field to Savannah, Georgia, when the crash occurred.
