Capt. Jeff Kuss, USMC, was killed during a training flight while flying the #6 aircraft for the United States Navy Blue Angels demonstration team. Capt. Kuss' aircraft crashed near the start of a training flight at the Smyrna, Tennessee airport. Although Capt. Kuss could have safely ejected from the aircraft, several eye witness accounts state that Capt. Kuss, with disregard of his own life, chose to pilot the aircraft away from populated areas saving the lives of countless people on the ground.
Capt. Kuss sacrificed his own life in order to save the lives of those on the ground and keeping with the Highest traditions of the United States Navy. I hereby recommend that Capt. Kuss be posthumously be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism on June, 2nd 2016.