John D. Yamnicky

John David Yamnicky Sr. (8 June 1930 – 11 September 2001) was a United States Navy captain, naval aviator and test pilot. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1952. While at Annapolis he played in the 1950 Army–Navy Game. He was one of 34 finalists for NASA Astronaut Group 3 selection in 1963, but was unsuccessful. He served in the Korean War and on two combat tours in the Vietnam War. He was killed in the terrorist attack on The Pentagon on 11 September 2001, on which American Airlines Flight 77, a hijacked aircraft crashed into The Pentagon that was flown by lead hijacker, Hani Hanjour.

Early life John David Yamnicky Sr. was born in Barren Run, Pennsylvania, on 8 June 1930, the son of John Joseph Yamnicky, a coal miner, and his wife Mary. He had an older sister, Mary. His father became ill with a lung disease, and took a job in a candy factory. This prompted the family to move to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, where Yamnicky attended McKeesport Area High School. He took "David" as his middle name, adopting the middle name of his friend George D. Miller. In 1944, Yamnicky was part of the track and field athletics team, participating in the and events, and set records as a member of the relay team. He also played basketball. In his senior year, he was a wide receiver on the school American football team, the McKeesport Tigers, who won the state championship and went on to play (and lose to) Miami in Scholastic Orange Bowl on Christmas Day 1947 before a crowd of 25,000. There is also a memorial at the Pentagon. "He crash-landed five times and walked away from them each," a family recalled. "But not this last one."

Naval Aviator BadgeDistinguished Flying CrossMeritorious Service Medalw/ " gold starAir Medalw/ strike/flight numeral 11Navy and Marine Commendation Medalw/ "V" deviceNavy Unit Commendationw/ " bronze starNational Defense Service Medalw/ " bronze starKorean Service Medalw/ two " bronze starsArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalVietnam Service Medalw/ two " bronze starsRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationUnited Nations Korea MedalVietnam Campaign MedalRepublic of Korea War Service Medal