[Kasik]

Attached is the photo taken by then Major Juan Montes in Puerto Rico just after Echanis and then MSG Jakovenko did their impromptu H2H demo in the field.

The company had been flown down to PR to provide its National Guard with "training and assistance" during a period when Puerto Rican "nationalists", read terrrorists, were becoming a significant problem.

Echanis was invited to go along but because he was then a civilian and because of his leg injury (he would have if they'd let him) he couldn't jump in with the company.

So he air-landed after the jump and caught a ride out to link up with Jake's team.

According to those who were there the demo was pretty amazing. SGM Jakovenko punched Echanis who then smacked him back...then Jake smacked him...then Echanis hit back harder...and pretty soon both were bleeding and giving it all they had.

As Jake told me they got a standing ovation after it was over and Mike saw to it Jakovenko was promoted to black belt ranking in Hwa Rang Do.

In the photo you can see SGM Jakovenko in the background over Echanis' right shoulder.

Of Jakovenko Echanis said in a Soldier of Forune interview he did in '77 - "...when we are talking about individuals, probably one of the toughest hand to hand combat instructors and probably one of the best professonal soldiers I have ever seen is MSG Jakovenko...He was one of the leaders on the Son Tay Raid...He's Special Forces and Ranger Qualified."

Returning the accolade and more it would be MSG Jakovenko who, along with three others from his SCUBA team, who would honor their friend by placing their berets on his casket on September 16, 1978.