Air Force Captain walks from Louisville to Morehead in honor of fallen comrade

BATH COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)-Step by step Captain Nathan Tingle of Kentucky’s Air National Guard is keeping the name of fallen Navy Seal Collin Thomas of Morehead alive.

He says, “We had a lot of the same friends, grew up in the same environment, same neighborhood too, so we had a lot a lot in common.”

Thomas was shot and killed while serving in Afghanistan six years ago, but Captain Tingle wasn’t able to make it to his funeral.

Captain Tingle says, “There’s not too many guys that come out of Morehead that serve especially in his capacity. And knowing that we were all had this huge circle of friends and not being able to get back there it just stayed with me.”

So he’s finishing up a 145 mile journey or ruck as they call it in the military from Louisville to Morehead in his honor. Tagging along with him for the last leg is air force veteran Nicholas Finch.

Finch says, “We ruck all the time and it’s that bond that blood, sweat, and tears that we all kind of instill in ourselves. It’s as close as we can to feel what they might of felt. You know, obviously nothing is ever going to feel as close to it. But still it’s something that we can do just to show our support.”

They’re raising money for special operations warrior foundation which provides scholarships to the children of fallen servicemen.

Captain Tingle says, “93, 94 cents of every dollar they get goes to the families and so when I think of combining Collin and this charity I like to think that he’s still reaching us, still touching you know the families of his fallen teammates even after he’s gone.”

US 60 holds a special place in Captain Tingle’s heart. It’s the road he used to live on in college, and the one Thomas used to train on…

Captain Tingle says, “I’d like to think that he would be somewhat proud of what we’re doing. I know he probably wouldn’t want him to make a big deal about him. But he’s not here to object so we’re making a big deal about him.”

The pair will get to Morehead tomorrow afternoon for an annual golf scramble in Collin Thomas’s name. And this is not the first time Captain Tingle has made the journey. Two years ago he raised almost $11,000. This year he’s raised the bar, hoping to reach his goal of $25,000. If you’d like to help, you can donate on his fundraising page.