By Chief Master Sergeant Richard T. “Taco” Sanchez
On a dusty landing strip in Iran in April 1980, Chief Master Sergeant Richard T. “Taco” Sanchez was a young Air Force loadmaster at the heart of Operation Eagle Claw.
“When you say Eagle Claw, you have to understand just how big the operation was,” Sanchez explains.
The daring attempt to rescue 52 American hostages was a complex mission with many moving parts: helicopters, MC-130s, and 160 operators. The mission resulted in the loss of nine servicemen, seven helicopters, and one MC-130. The fallen left behind 17 children. Sanchez, like everyone present, carried more than grief. He carried a promise.
“That night changed everything,” he recalled. “Out of those ashes came a great thing, the whole [Special Operations] jointness we have today. We’ve come a long way.”
The battlefield promise to care for the children of fallen Special Operations Personnel would eventually become Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Sanchez, whose career stretched across three decades of operations from Grenada to Bosnia, never let that commitment fade. Even after retiring in 2001 as Command Chief of the 16th Special Operations Wing, he remained dedicated to keeping the foundation’s mission alive.
“It’s kept the same focus and mission, but it’s expanded. You look at where we were with the 17 kids and where we are now,” Sanchez reflects. “The [Special Operations] Warrior Foundation works like our military counterpart. We have a task, and we have a purpose. Every dollar counts. Every effort matters.”
The beginnings of Sanchez’s career were marked by uncertainty, as public opinion of Special Operations after Vietnam was wary at best. “We didn’t have any capabilities; Uncle Sam was trying to get rid of us,” he explained. It wasn’t long, though, before the United States recognized the importance of Special Operations, and Sanchez was soon flying missions in the Bosnian War, conducting snatch operations and capturing notorious leaders.
For Sanchez, leadership has always been rooted in people. Whether guiding aircrews as an evaluator loadmaster, planning missions in Grenada and Panama, or flying evacuations from Liberia and Sierra Leone, he saw his role as more than tactics and execution. It was about building trust, preserving heritage, and ensuring those who served alongside him were never forgotten.
With over 5,600 flying hours, induction into the Air Commando Hall of Fame, and a career marked by boldness, Sanchez could easily settle into the comfort of a well-earned retirement. Instead, his legacy continues to be written through the lives of the children supported by SOWF. He hosts golf tournaments, speaks with families, and mentors younger generations about the meaning of sacrifice and service. His leadership style is direct and humble, always emphasizing the team.
“Whether it’s the fight in war or it’s the fight at [Special Operations] Warrior Foundation, you are all a team. Every one of you brings something to the table. Collectively you are the team.”
Sanchez reminds us that leadership is not about titles; it’s about keeping promises.
SOWF Executive Vice President, COL (Ret) Sean Corrigan, Sandra Sanchez and CMSgt (Ret) Taco Sanchez at this year’s 45th anniversary dinner.
