Facets of Friendship: Fort Campbell, Kentucky & Gander, Newfoundland

#2 is a series of "friendship stories" between Americans and Newfoundlanders.

Until December 12, 1985, the people of Gander, Newfoundland barely knew of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. But on that day almost 40 years ago, a tragic event brought the communities together.

The American soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles”, based in Kentucky, had been on a 6-month peacekeeping mission on the Sinai Peninsula. They were flying home to Fort Campbell.

During a brief stop for refueling at Gander International Airport, many of the soldiers visited the airport giftshop and purchased stuffed animals and other mementos for their children. They were anticipating their homecoming later that day.

It was a cold and rainy day in central Newfoundland. Following the de-icing of the DC-8's wings, the plane sped down the long runway. Gander Lake was just ahead, but shortly after they lifted off, something happened. The plane crashed onto the northern bank of the lake.

Emergency personnel from the town rushed to the scene. They scrambled through the forested area just off the quiet highway, but it was too late. The plane had crashed hard and there was nobody left to save.

Of the 248 servicemen on board the Arrow Air Flight 1285, 236 were from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Most of those "Screaming Angels", as they are known, were with the 3d Battalion, 502nd Infantry. Of the other 12 servicemen, one was an agent from the Criminal Investigations Command (CID) and the other eleven were from other Forces Command units. In addition, the 8 crew members on board the Arrow flight lost their lives that day.

News of the crash shocked and saddened the world at a time when many people were preparing for the holidays. Hearts were broken in Kentucky and across the US.  It was the most devastating single-day loss in the history of the 101st Airborne Division. 

Decades later, the exact cause of the crash remains a contentious issue among the families of those lost, compared to the official report of icing on the wings.

The people of Gander, especially those who tended to the crash site and victims, grieved as well. Knowing that many families of the deceased would eventually come to their town to see the place where the beloved had died, Ganderites built a memorial. They wanted to pay homage to the victims and to the mission they had completed.

In the 40 years since the crash, the Silent Witness Memorial has welcomed thousands of family members, Newfoundlanders, Americans, and others from around the world. Built on the boulder-strewn hillside that overlooks Gander Lake, its quiet solitude gives visitors pause as they remember the American peacemakers and the Arrow crew members.

Silent Witness Memorial Photo source: Trip Advisor

The centerpiece of the memorial is a statue of a soldier standing atop a boulder. He’s holding the hands of two children – a boy and a girl, each of whom holds an olive branch – a symbol of their peacekeeping mission. The statue faces southwest towards Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where The Peacekeeper, statue looks back towards Gander.

The Peacekeeper statue at Gander Memorial Park (Hopkinsville Tourism photo)

The Newfoundland statues was designed by Lorne Rostotski of St. John's, Nfld., but both statues were created by Hopkinsville, KY artist, Steve Shields. Mr. Shields and his wife drove 2,365 miles to Gander to deliver the sculpture - a gesture of genuine friendship. (Gander Mayor Doug Sheppard had attended a dedication service at Fort Campbell and commissioned Gander's sculpture at that time.)

The people who live in the areas of Gander and Fort Campbell have a lot in common. Gander also has a military history, and during World War II, its airbase housed the Air Forces of both Canada and the U.S for their missions in the north Atlantic. Also, in a testimony to their service to others, Ganderites hosted many American travelers in the days following 9/11.

And like Gander, Fort Campbell and its neighbors continuously respond to others' need. In addition to the over 30,000 military who serve their country, their families and the local communities support each other and honor their fallen. Residents of the area are currently building a new museum, The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum that will open in 2026, and there's also a permanent memorial being planned that will honor Gold Star families.

It is much too easy to forget the smaller strands that support the bond between Canada and the U.S.A. They make our communities stronger. My goal in writing this series is to highlight just a few facets of that relationship. These stories deserve to be told, and the people and their friendships deserve to thrive.

Josette Abruzzini is an educator, writer and poet who builds bridges and nudges perspectives. She's a native Canadian, and a naturalized American citizen who visits her home province of Newfoundland and Labrador at every opportunity!

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