San Diego Father Who Lost Family Prays for Pilot
Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 | Updated 6:53 AM PST
AP
Dong Yun Yoon remembers the scene of an F/A-18D crash near his home. Yoon lost four family members in the crash and says he's praying for the pilot involved.
The man whose family was killed in the crash of an F/A-18 Hornet says he's praying for the pilot.
University City resident Dong Yun Yoon visited the crash site where his family, wife Young Mi Yoon, his mother-in-law, 15-month old daughter Grace and 2-month old daughter Rachel, were killed Monday.
In an emotional statement, Yoon thanked those who have tried to contact him in the past 24 hours and said he is praying for the pilot involved in the crash.
“I heard the pilot is safe,” said Yoon. “I know he is one of our treasures for the country and I don’t blame him, I don’t have any hard feelings. He did everything he could.”
The sound of jets flying overhead interrupted the father’s statement, forcing him to pause several times.
Yoon talked about the baby Rachel who was just born October 17. “No one expected such a horrible thing to happen,” he said. “But I believe my wife and two babies, mother-in-law are in Heaven with God. I know God is taking care of them.”
“I know there are people who have experienced more terrible things. Please tell me how to do it,” he asked.
The family's pastor and other friends accompanied Yoon and at times supported him as he stopped near the home and cried.
The Yoon family were members of the Korean United Methodist Church in Clairemont. Pastor Daniel Shin has been with Yoon since police first informed him of the accident. "The police chaplain called me at 6 o'clock and told me what happened," Shin said Monday night.
"They're good people, they're gentle people, they're so loving toward other people," Shin said.
Fellow church member Yong Byun said Yoon and her family had just moved into the University City home a few months ago because they needed more space for a new baby.
"So sad, what can I say?" Byun said.
Byun said Yoon's mother was also killed in the crash. She had flown from Korea to stay with the family shortly after the baby was born two months ago.
"My mother-in-law just came here to take care of my babies. She loved the kids and she didn’t complain at all," said Yoon.
“My father-in-law is coming tomorrow and I don’t know what to tell him. I don’t know if he will ever forgive me."
Church members said Yoon worked as a registered nurse at a local hospital and her husband ran a business in the South Bay. Shin said the congregation will do everything to help Yoon's surviving family members --including her husband -- get through this horrible loss.
"We'll cry with them, experience the loss with them, be with them every step of the way," Shin said.
