Captain Vince Segars

One of my best friends from my teenage years died in a plane crash June 10.

Earlier that Thursday, I saw a Facebook post with him and his family in a group photo. I hit "like" and scrolled on without reading. I assumed he had received another award from the Navy. Hours later, a mutual friend messaged me and informed me, "Vincent Segars was killed in a plane crash yesterday. He was training a friend (Commander Joshua Fuller) who was trying to earn his commercial license."

Segars was the commanding officer of the Naval Aviation School Command at NAS Pensacola and had served nearly three decades as a Naval officer. You may or may not have heard of the terrorist attack that occurred there Dec. 6, 2019. An international flight student from Saudi Arabia went on a shooting spree, murdering three servicemen, while three of his countrymen filmed the whole thing. For several days, the assault caused tensions between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The Pensacola naval base has long hosted international students from United States allies for flight training, including high-ranking Saudi officials.

Vince's profile picture is of a patch that honors the victims, Joshua Kaleb Watson, Cameron Scott Walters and Mohammed Sameh Haitham.

Many people have posted memories on Vince's Facebook page. Vince was praised for his leadership through the shooting crisis. One man spoke of how his commanding officer held him (an ensign) in his arms as he wept. Friends wrote about his open faith in Jesus, and how he was loved by all who knew him. He was also leading well as the aviation school was adapting to challenges from COVID-19.

Vince is survived by his father, a Baptist minister; mother; wife; two daughters; and his brother.

Vince and I became friends instantly when his dad became the minister of children at my home church in St. Louis. There was a circle of four of us who loved to spend time together and spend the night at each other's homes. We loved sports, arcades and movies. One of those movies was "The Right Stuff." Little did I know how that movie would apply to Vince. I should have known, since his father, Van, was in the Air Force, and the boys grew up on military bases. His younger brother, Shane, is also a Baptist minister.

We had not talked in years. We would say, "happy birthday," to each other each year on Facebook after we reconnected in 2014. By the way, his birthday is July 4. How appropriate for an American hero!

Before the day was over, I reached out to our other two friends to let them know of his passing. Since then I have had other conversations with our mutual friends and fellow church members. I am reminded how we can love our friends but not really keep in touch. I believe that when we get to heaven, we will have a more perfect ability to love and enjoy one another as we worship God.

I have many memories of Vince Segars, but the one that stands out was life-changing for me. Our group was spending the night at his house the summer before my senior year. I was taking a summer school class and had a test the next day. Up until that time I had been a poor student. When Vince found out that I had not studied, he challenged me to stay up until I was prepared to take the exam. It was like he flipped the academic switch in me, and my grades vastly improved my senior year.

That is what leadership looks like. Vince never stopped earning medals and ribbons, but at the same time, he lifted everyone around him and empowered them to become their best. He followed Jesus' model of servant-leadership. He loved his country and he made the world a better place. He served his country for 30 years and was making plans for retirement. He will be missed.