May was among the fourteen who crashed into the twenty-five feet of water in the Persian Gulf. The missile found its target and at 0635 hours the aircraft sent out a mayday distress call and then crashed into the waters of the Persian Gulf. The Iraqi pointed the weapon at the aircraft, and fired. The decision to remain behind to support the Marines cost the pilots and crew of Spirit 03 their best defensive weapon - darkness. In the dawn of the early morning light, the form of the large AC-130 slowly became visible in the skies over Khafji. Soon after eliminating the target designated by the Marines, a lone Iraqi hoisted an SA-7 Grail man-portable surface-to-air missile to his shoulder. Despite the risk of anti-aircraft artillery fire, and the greater danger of the morning sun casting light on the circling gunship, the crew of Spirit 03 chose to remain and destroy the position requested. Spirit 03 was due to end its patrol when it received a call from the Marines - they needed an enemy missile battery destroyed. The following is an account from an article entitled Spirit 03 and the Battle for Khafji:Īt 0600 hours on the morning of January 31, Spirit 03 was the last of three AC-130 Spectre gunships on station to provide close air support for the embattled Marines on the ground. On January 31, 1991, the Spirit 03 gunship was providing support for ground forces defending the town of Khafji from Iraqi Armor and ground troops. The gunship would seek out enemy targets and neutralize them or direct other aircraft to the enemy location. May was a gunner aboard an AC-130 Spectre gunship and was mobilized to the Persian Gulf to participate in Operation Desert Storm. May, also in the Air Force, and had a son, Scott, and a daughter, April, all of Fort Walton, Florida. He was married to Master Sergeant Christina L.
May was last stationed at Hurlburt Field in Galveston from 1979-1991 with the 16th Special Operations Squadron. He had been stationed with the 33rd Fighter Wing and the 51st Fighter Wing at bases in Tampa, Florida, Ubon, Thailand, Zaragoza, Spain, and Eglin Air Force Base in Galveston, Texas. He had served with the Air Force from 1968-1991. May joined the Air Force under the delayed enlistments program and left right out of high school. He was graduated with the Class of 1968 at Jonesborough High School. He was born in Johnson City on and was educated in his hometown of Jonesborough.
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