A Salute To A Fallen Hero
Callsign: L.Z.
A native of Huntsville, AL and the son of a Navy veteran, Captain Wilbourn received a degree in Aviation Management from Auburn University in 1984 and then joined the U.S. Marines, earning his wings in 1987. He first flew the A-6 Intruder, switching to the Harrier in 1990.
Captain Wilbourn kept a photograph of Army Gen. George S. Patton on his bedroom wall at home. As a high school football player, he would motivate himself before games in the locker room by playing a tape of the theme music from the movie “Patton.”
While in the Persian Gulf, Captain Wilbourn regularly wrote to his parents and his sister back home. He often signed the letters: “Love, Trey, pilot, patriot and defender of freedom.”
Thirty-seven days into the air war, as final preparation for the ground war, Captain Wilbourn provided deadly accurate ordnance delivery on enemy positions along the path of the intended Marine assault. This included low altitude weapons delivery on enemy trench-lines that placed him within hostile anti-aircraft artillery and surface to air missile envelopes.
On 23 February 1991, during his 38th combat mission, after destroying enemy tanks near the Ali Al Salem Airfield, Captain Wilbourn’s aircraft was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Captain James N. Wilbourn made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life in service to his nation.
Trey’s good friend Lt. Col. Scott Keller said, “Pictures do no justice, whatsoever, to the man that Trey Wilbourn personified throughout his short but phenomenal life. Even though it’s been more that 17 years, the loss of Trey still reverberates today, he is sorely missed.”
For his skill, courage, and devotion to duty in the face of hazardous flying conditions, Captain Wilbourn was posthumously awarded the Air Medal, Third Strike Flight Award, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.
Lt. Col. Scott Keller contributed to this story. Lt. Col. Keller is the inventor of the PresentationMate™ and author of the book entitled, “Marine Pride: A Salute to America’s Elite Fighting Force”. A percentage of PresentationMate™ orders will be donated to a scholarship at Auburn University on Trey’s behalf.