2005-2006
2005
Capt. Christopher J. Sullivan
Hometown: Princeton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 29 years old
Died: January 18, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Tex.
Incident: Killed by a roadside bomb blast in Baghdad.
Christopher J. Sullivan never wanted his family to worry about him, so he told them the situation in
Iraq was not as grim as it appeared. A week before his death, he passed joke e-mails back and forth
with his sister. "He was always trying to protect everybody ... (saying the conditions) were not as
bad as they seemed," his sister Amy Lilley said. Sullivan, 29, of Princeton, Mass., was killed Jan. 18
when an improvised explosive device detonated near his parked vehicle. Sullivan was stationed at
Fort Hood and had been scheduled to return home to his wife Sandy and their 19-month-old son
David in a few weeks. He joined the Civil Air Patrol at age 14 and was in the ROTC while attending
the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, where he majored in mechanical engineering. An
enthusiastic skier and golfer, Sullivan also served in Kosovo and Germany, where he met his wife.
He was remembered for a great sense of humor and a willingness to help out. "He was a peach,"
said Alice Halloran, a friend of the Sullivan family.
Christopher J. Sullivan
FT. HOOD, Texas - Capt. Christopher J. Sullivan, 29, formerly of Princeton, Mass., was killed in action in Iraq on
Tuesday, Jan. 18. He was the husband of Sandra (Letzner) Sullivan, to whom he had been married for three years.
He was born in Princeton, Sept. 2, 1975, son of James and Dorothy Sullivan. He graduated from Wachusett
Regional High School in Holden, Mass., in 1991. He later attended UMass Lowell and graduated in 1998
with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He then received his commission in 1998 at Worcester
Polytechnical Institute.
Mr. Sullivan entered active military service in 1998. He was promoted on Jan. 10 to commander of Company
A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment. His service includes serving with the 16th Cavalry Division in Ft.
Knox, Ky., the Kosovo peacekeeping mission, and the 1st Infantry Division based in Ft. Hood. He was
deployed to Iraq in January of 2004.
He will be remembered by family and friends for his quick smile, amazing sense of humor, his generous,
giving nature and his deep love for his family.
Besides his wife and parents, his survivors include a son, David William; his grandmother, Prudence
Davidson of Lancaster, Mass.; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jennifer and Edward Orr Jr., of Epsom, N.H.,
and Amy and Stephen Lilley, of Scarborough, Maine; two nephews, Ryan and James Lilley; and many aunts,
uncles and cousins.
Published in Lowell Sun on January 27, 2005
Christopher James Sullivan
Captain, United States Army
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 059-05
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2005
Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000 Public/Industry Contact: (703)4280711
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Captain Christopher J. Sullivan, 29, of Princeton, Massachusetts, died January
18, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near
his parked vehicle. Sullivan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry
Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at
(703) 692-2000.
January 21, 2005:
Army Captain Christopher J. Sullivan was a protector, his sister said. The 29year-old Princeton native always tried to keep his family and friends from
worrying, often telling them the situation was not as grim as it appeared in Iraq,
where he had been sent one January ago.
Amy Lilley, Sullivan's sister from Scarborough, Maine, said she had heard from
her brother on January 10, 2005. ''We were passing around joke e-mails," she
said.
Lilley was still trying to let the news sink in yesterday that her brother, a
committed career soldier, was killed on Tuesday in Baghdad, while serving as
part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The Department of Defense confirmed yesterday that Sullivan died when an
improvised explosive device detonated near his parked vehicle.
He was scheduled to return home to his wife and son in a few weeks, the
government reported.
Sullivan had been working as an armor officer, in charge of the tanks and
vehicles in the field, said Maureen Ramsey, a public affairs specialist for the
Defense Department.
He had entered the Army in March 1998 and just this month had taken on the
responsibility of company commander, leaving a job at headquarters.
He also had served in Kosovo and Germany and in November had participated
from Fallujah via satellite phone link in the Veterans Day ceremony held in
Shirley.
Sullivan felt it was important to thank veterans who had preceded him and
always emphasized that soldiers in Iraq were proud to serve, his family said.
Sullivan's interest in military service started early. At age 14, he joined the Civil
Air Patrol. He served in the ROTC while attending the University of
Massachusetts at Lowell, where he majored in mechanical engineering. He
sought to continue the family tradition of military service, following the path of
his grandfather, father, and two uncles.
His parents, longtime Princeton residents James and Dorothy Sullivan, could
not be reached for comment. Yesterday, they were with Sullivan's widow,
Sandy, and his 19-month-old son, David, in Fort Hood, Texas, where he was
based.
Sullivan also leaves an older sister, Jennifer Orr, who lives in Epsom, New
Hampshire.
Lilley said Sandy Sullivan had talked to her husband on Saturday.
''This is the worst thing that we could imagine," she said.
17 November 2005:
On a cold and windy Veteran’s Day, more than 350 people gathered at a
memorial service at the top of the hill at Krashes Fields to remember and honor
the sacrifice of Princeton native Captain Christopher J. Sullivan who was killed
in Iraq on January 18, 2005.
Captain Sullivan’s commanding officer, Major General Peter W. Chiarelli, 1st
Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, told the gathering that Captain Sullivan’s
Unit was known as the Blackjack Brigade and Sullivan had established a
reputation as a stellar officer. Captain Sullivan planned and managed combat
operations, one dealing with the liberation of the city of Fallujah in 2004. On his
return he was assigned to a command. commander was his dream job,” said
General Chiarelli. Sullivan took command of Alpha Company, establishing
security in a section of Baghdad in preparation for upcoming elections.
“It’s important to me you know Chris spent a lot of time planning operations to
improve the conditions of life for common Iraqis,” General Chiarelli said. “He
contributed to planning the $1.9 billion infrastructure projects designed to
bring life to market economy. That part of the war isn’t always reported on.
“Our soldiers gave blood, sweat and tears and some of them their lives to give
Iraqis their right to freedom,” General Chiarelli said. “Chris was liked and
admired by all for his sense of humor, humility and dedication to realizing his
dream. Amid the tears, we all remember he was a dedicated soldier and a good
and faithful friend.”
Essays on the topic of “What Freedom Means To Me” were read by Thomas
Prince School students. Eighth grade student Graham Bennie told the audience
that soldiers like Sullivan were fighting to maintain the freedoms Americans
enjoy today, including the ability to make choices.
Seventh grader Chelsea Jackson, whose father is deployed in Iraq, said her dad
has sent home photos of little boys and girls, barely dressed, who used to be
afraid of living in their own country. “With the soldiers over there now, the
families have the courage to stand outside in front of their run-down houses and
enjoy a Coke that the soldiers have offered them,” she said. “They are also able
to stand beside the road and try to sell some of what they manage to grow.
“Christopher Sullivan and my dad have both bravely stepped up to be those
heroes risking their lives. What brought them both to war was the aspiration to
make a difference in the Iraqi people’s lives, and to protect their own country as
well,” she said.
Jackson said it was hard for her family not to be able to see her father for such
long periods of time. She said she missed him at the dinner table and when he
wasn’t there to give her a ride to school, and to help with her homework.
“May Christopher’s family get through this difficult time. God bless America,
and God bless Christopher Sullivan,” she said.
Carrie Dolmat-Connell, choir director at the First Congregational Church,
organized two benefit concerts to raise money for an educational fund for
Sullivan’s young son, David. The concerts raised $17,000 and Dolmat-Connell
also presented the Sullivans with a framed copy of the concert program. She
cited one of her favorite quotes from Barbara Jordan, the first AfricanAmerican woman to serve in Congress, “We live in a community and each of us
is not an atom. What each of us does has an impact on all of us.”
As she presented the scholarship fund, Dolmat Connell said, “This conveys the
depths of our community’s heart — to cry with you and to wrap our arms
around you to show we care, and we still care. What is more important than the
proceeds from the concerts is the outpouring of love for you for the burden of
your loss. On behalf of a community, we thank you.”
“No one could ever express to you what it’s felt like to know you shared our
grief,” said Dorothy Sullivan, Christopher’s mother. “He really loved life.”
Dorothy said Chris always had a little boy inside him and she was sure “he’s up
there now looking down at all this and proud because he got the major general
at his affair.
“Thank you for all the care you’ve given us,” she said.
Chelsea Jackson, seventh grade student at Thomas Prince School, read her
essay about “What Freedom Means to Me” at the November 11, 2005, ceremony
at Krashes Field.
Dorothy’s brother, and Christopher’s godfather, retired Sergeant Major Luther
Davidson, said, “We’re here to celebrate all the people both living and dead who
have protected our freedom. Christopher exemplified in my mind a leader.”
Davidson hoped the ceremony and memorial would help bring closure to
Sullivan’s family for what has been a very long year.
“At the funeral I stood up and saluted Chris,” he said. “Today I salute all those
in the Army and all those who are out defending our freedom.”
Congressman James McGovern said, “The death of Captain Christopher
Sullivan reminds us how personal war is. They are owed a debt of gratitude that
can’t be paid.”
Captain Sullivan epitomized a sense of duty, and a sense of patriotism, he said.
“When his son David is old enough to read this memorial he will know what a
sacrifice his father made and how proud we all are of him.”
McGovern said the country should fulfill the debt to those who have sacrificed
their lives and give the families the support and care they deserve.
21 April 2007:
On a day that teased of springtime, a small group of mourners gathered for a
tradition-steeped ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday to honor
Army Captain Christopher J. Sullivan of Princeton, Massachusetts.
It was the second funeral for Captain Sullivan, killed January 19, 2005, in
Baghdad, Iraq, when a car bomb exploded next to him. A series of car and
truck bombs rocked the Iraqi capital that week, just days ahead of the country’s
first free election in more than 50 years.
Captain Sullivan was cremated and remembered at a service after his death in
2005. His wife, Sandra, kept the remains until this year, when she gave them to
Captain Sullivan’s parents, Dorothy I. and James R. Sullivan of Princeton.
In a will drafted before his marriage, Captain Sullivan wrote that he wanted to
be buried in the national cemetery and have a full military funeral, Mrs.
Sullivan said in an interview yesterday.
“It was upsetting today for a while,” she said. “Actually, it was worse that he
wasn’t getting his wish. (The Arlington service) opened up all the wounds again.
But at least we know he got what he wanted. … There is a little closure with
this.”
Captain Sullivan is the 330th military officer who served in the Iraq war to be
buried in Arlington, just across the Potomac River from Washington.
Yesterday morning, a procession of nine cars — about 30 people — found its
way to gravesite 8545 of the sprawling cemetery, where thousands of soldiers,
public servants and President John F. Kennedy also are buried.
An Army chaplain, Captain Boguslaw A. Augustyn, presided over the
ceremony. Seven members of the Army Honor Guard unfurled a flag over the
brown urn that held the remains, with “Christopher J. Sullivan” etched on the
side.
Another party of soldiers, with rifles, fired three shots into the air, grabbing the
attention of families visiting nearby graves. They all stood still and watched in
silence. From a distance, a bugler played taps as a bulldozer worked in the
background in a nearby field.
The flag was presented to Captain Sullivan’s mother. An Arlington Lady, one of
a group of the Army’s representatives who make sure someone attends every
military funeral, presented a note of condolences to Mrs. Sullivan. It was all
over in 15 minutes.
As Captain Sullivan was a commissioned officer, he was eligible for a fullhonors funeral, including a three-volley salute and an Army band. But the
family chose the standard ceremony instead.
U.S. Representative James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, met with Captain
Sullivan’s parents yesterday morning at Arlington, but was not able to attend
the graveside service.
According to Department of Defense figures released yesterday, 3,311 troops
have died serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom since 2003.
Captain Sullivan enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 1994.
He served in Vilseck, Germany, where he met his wife, Sandra, and at the
Kosovo-Serbia border. He was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, in 2002.
In January 2004, Captain Sullivan was sent to Iraq, where he was an armor
officer with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment. He
helped improve the lives of ordinary Iraqis, according to Major General Peter
W. Chiarelli, his commanding officer, who spoke at a Veterans Day ceremony in
Princeton in 2005.
At age 29, Captain Sullivan was killed when an improvised explosive device
detonated near his parked vehicle, just eight days after he had become a
commander of troops.
“He loved what he was doing,” Mrs. Sullivan said yesterday. “I know he died
doing what he wanted to do.”
In January 2005, more than 300 mourners squeezed into Prince of Peace
Church in Princeton. He was remembered as one of the best and brightest
soldiers in the Army, who served his country dutifully.
Captain Sullivan posthumously earned the Purple Heart and Bronze Star,
which his wife accepted at the 2005 funeral service. His wife and their son,
David, who will turn 4 in June, now live in Germany. They did not attend
yesterday’s services.
Members of the Army Honor Guard casket team walk in formation as they prepare to participate in the
military burial services of Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan at Arlington National Cemetery,
Friday, April 20, 2007
Members of the Army Honor Guard carry in the remains of Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan
during
military burial services at Arlington National Cemetery, Friday, April 20, 2007. Sullivan, a native of
Princeton, Massachusetts,
who was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, was killed in action is Iraq, January 18, 2005
Dorothy Sullivan and James Sullivan, both far right, stand up during military burial services for their
son Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan, at Arlington National Cemetery, Friday, April 20, 2007
Family members attend the military burial services for Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan, at
Arlington National Cemetery, Friday, April 20, 2007
Army Chaplain Captain Boguslaw A. Augustyn, left, present a U.S. Flag to Dorothy Sullivan, center,
and James Sullivan, right, parents of Army Captain Christopher James Sullivan during military burial
services at
Arlington National Cemetery, Friday, April 20, 2007
Posted: 17 April 2007 Updated: 20 April 2007 Updated: 21 April 2007 Updated: 3 June 2007
Photo Courtesy of Holly, June 2007
1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller
Hometown: Granville, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 26 years old
Died: January 26, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary
Force, Marine Corps Base, Hawaii
Incident: Killed when a Marine Corps transport helicopter crashed during a sandstorm near Rutbah.
Travis J. Fuller was a standout student and athlete who dazzled teachers and friends with his ability to put as
much effort and dedication into physical training as he did into academics. He was as strong a leader as he
was a team member, they said. Fuller, 26, a native of Granville, Mass., and based at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii,
died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in western Iraq _ the military's deadliest crash of the Iraq war. Fuller
attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, Mass., and earned a bachelor of science degree in
marine transportation. His teachers found plenty to praise. "Travis was very good and everyone enjoyed
being around him," said Eduardo Martinez, his high school wrestling coach. Added high school assistant
principal James E. Vincent: "He was a good student with outstanding work habits again, both in the
classroom and the wrestling mat."
1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller
FULLER, 1st Lt. Travis J. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller, 26, diedWednesday
(January 26, 2005) in a CH-53 Helicopter crash in Iraq, during operations in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born in Springfield, MA, grew up in Granville, MA and
graduated from Southwick-Tolland Regional High School in 1997. Travis was co-captain
of the wrestling team and was a member of the cross-country team and Boys State. He
graduated from Mass Maritime Academy where he also ran cross-country. Mass Maritime
Academy will be renaming their September Invitational 5-mile Invitational Cross Country
Race to the Travis J Fuller Cross Country Invitational. He was commissioned in June of 2001 and was based
in Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. He was also deployed in Cambodia, Thailand, North Korea, the Philippines, and
Sri Lanka. He leaves his parents David and Joanne (Ayotte) Fuller of Granville; two sisters, Jennifer Francis
and her husband Robert of Bowdoin, ME and Rebecca Fuller and her wife Patricia Grant of Roslindale; and
his grandmothers, Jean Ayotte of Agawam, MA, Marilyn Fuller of Granville and Jean Jinks of Tolland. The
Funeral Mass will be Monday at 12 Noon in St. John the Evangelist Church followed by committal services
with Full Military Honors in the Massachusetts Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. Calling hours at the Agawam
Curran-Jones Funeral Home will be Saturday 4-8 p.m. and Sunday 2-5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Granville – Tolland Citizen's Scholarship Foundation for the
Lt. Travis Fuller Memorial Scholarship, P.O. Box 215, Granville, MA 01034-0214.
Published in Hartford Courant on February 3, 2005
Marine 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller
26, of Granville, Mass.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III
Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; killed Jan. 26 when the CH-53E helicopter in
which he was riding crashed near Rutbah, Iraq. Twenty-nine Marines and one sailor also were killed.
Massachusetts Marine killed in Iraq CH-53 crash
Associated Press
GRANVILLE, Mass. — Marine 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller was remembered on Friday as a standout student and
athlete who put as much effort and dedication into his physical training as he did in the classroom.
Fuller, 26, was among the 31 people killed in a helicopter crash in the Iraqi desert on Wednesday,
according to the Pentagon. It was the U.S. military’s deadliest crash of the Iraq war.
“I can’t think of words to say,” Jean E. Ayotte, Fuller’s grandmother, told The Republican of Springfield. “It’s
pretty hard to take, that’s for sure.”
Fuller, a Granville native, was a 1997 graduate of Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, who went on to
attend Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in
marine transportation.
Fuller’s parents, David and Joanne Fuller, are staying with relatives outside the area and could not be
reached for comment, Ayotte said.
“They are destroyed,” she said.
Fuller also has two sisters, said Ayotte, who lives in Agawam.
Fuller was a leader, said Eduardo Martinez, his high school wrestling coach. He was respected by his
teammates and was captain of the team his senior year.
“Travis was very good and everyone enjoyed being around him,” Martinez said.
Fuller was on the 19-member New England All-Star team in 1996 that participated in an international
wrestling competition in Puerto Rico, where he won the 132-pound class in his age division.
“He was a good student with outstanding work habits, again, both in the classroom and the wrestling mat,”
said James E. Vincent, the assistant principal when Fuller attended high school.
Fuller and the others died when their CH-53E Super Stallion went down in western Iraq while transporting
troops for security operations in preparation for Sunday’s elections.
Fuller, 3rd Platoon commander for Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, III Marine Expeditionary
Force, based in Hawaii, saw action in Fallujah in November when his unit fought insurgents.
More than 1,400 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003,
according to an Associated Press count. At least 25 were from Massachusetts, according to the Pentagon.
Family keeps promise made to slain Marine
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The parents of Marine 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller promised their son that when he
returned from his tour of duty in Iraq they would meet him in Hawaii.
Fuller died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Jan. 26. He was 26.
Earlier this week, Joanne and David Fuller of Granville kept that promise to their son when they attended a
ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, about 12 miles northeast of Honolulu, where
Travis Fuller was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star with a V for valor, for his bravery while fighting
insurgents in Fallujah.
“We had told Travis that when he returned from Iraq ... we would be here in Hawaii to meet the plane, and
we didn’t want to do any less,” Joanne Fuller told The Republican of Springfield from Hawaii, where she
was joined by her three daughters and other family members. “We were quite honored that the entire
battalion was here.”
The formality of the Marines during the 90-minute ceremony melted away at the end when many of the men
Travis Fuller commanded hugged his family.
“They all reminded us what a great guy he was. He was very confident, didn’t consider his own safety,” she
said.
The Marines told the Fullers that their son used his sense of humor to keep them loose.
Fuller’s citation notes enemy fire had pinned down the Marines as they advanced on a mosque while
fighting in Fallujah, but Fuller traversed the battlefield to check on his men.
“His exceptional display of valor resulted in the destruction of four insurgents and enabled the unit to
continue with its mission,” the Marines said.
— Associated Press
US Marine 1st Lieutenant Travis J. Fuller, 26, of Granville
Date: December 23, 2004 11:42:30 AM EST
I'm healing rather fast and should be back in the fight soon. When I was in the hospital today one of my
Marines was brought in. He has shrapnel wounds on the left side of his body. A guy dropped a grenade off
a roof about 4 feet away. Luckily it was a crappy Egyptian grenade and it didn't mess him up too bad. There
were 5 insurgents in the building he was next to. I think they killed all 5 and he was the only Marine injured,
so I guess they are not doing too bad without me. I just wish I was there. I hope I am here for the next one.
I'm wheeling him around in a wheelchair. He can walk but this just makes things easier, and plus we can
usually cut in the lines when you have a Marine in a wheelchair.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I think they have something planned and some big shot is coming to visit.
That's all for now,
trav
Memorial Scholarship Established: The family has announced it will set up a Lt. Travis Fuller Memorial
Scholarship through the Granville-Tolland Citizen's Scholarship Foundation. Contributions should be made to the
fund by sending a check tmade out to the GTSF and mailed to PO Box 214, Granville, MA 01034.
Lt. Travis J. Fuller
Monday, January 31 2005 @ 08:25 AM EST
Boston Herald -- The kids at the Granville Village School had written a big stack of cards for
their own Marine, Lt. Travis J. Fuller, who was once one of them but grew up and went to serve
his country in Iraq.
Yesterday, Principal Robert Thompson had to break the news.
``We had to let them know they can't send the letters, but we're going to forward them to his parents,''
said Thompson, who knew Fuller since he was a tyke just starting school.
The 26-year-old platoon leader from the small Western Massachusetts town of Granville, a 2001
Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate, was killed Wednesday when a CH-53 transport helicopter
crashed in a sandstorm in western Iraq, while taking Fuller and his men to help seal the border for
tomorrow's election.
Fuller, the son of David and Joanne Fuller of Granville, was someone you could rely on to get the job
done, someone who knew since he was a boy that there were some things in life you just had to do,
friends and educators said.
``He was a kid who did things because they were the right thing to do,'' Thompson said. He told the
children yesterday, ``We grow up in a small country town. Sometimes we feel like the bigger world
doesn't affect us.
``But we encourage our kids to go out in the world and make a difference. That's what Travis did,''
Thompson said. ``Unfortunately, he had to make the ultimate sacrifice.''
``He was proud to be there,'' said Mass. Maritime Acting President Richard Gurnon, who remembers
Fuller as a ``really fine young man . . . someone you'd like your own son to grow up like.''
``He was a stand-up guy. He was always ready to do whatever needed to be done,'' said Navy Lt.
Chris Tibbetts, an academy classmate. ``All he ever wanted to do was be a Marine Corps officer and lead
his Marines into battle and do the best he could.''
Fuller led his platoon in the brutal house-to-house fighting in Fallujah last fall and was wounded by
shrapnel last month. He sent back e-mails that offered ``down-to-earth descriptions of the hell he was in,''
Gurnon said.
But Fuller conveyed ``a sense he was accomplishing things. He was making the world safer.''
``It is just such a crushing blow,'' Gurnon said.
Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr.
Hometown: Weymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 31 years old
Died: January 28, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, 2nd Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Killed in a non-hostile related incident in Anbar province.
Marine Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr.
31, of Weymouth, Mass.; assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Force Service
Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Jan. 28 in a non-hostile
incident in Anbar province, Iraq.
Weymouth Marine killed in Iraq
Associated Press
WEYMOUTH, Mass. — Marine Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr., who re-enlisted after the 9-11 terrorist attacks,
died Friday on his 31st birthday while on patrol in Iraq, his father said Sunday.
The Weymouth native, scheduled to return home to his wife and two young sons in three weeks, was
electrocuted when he ran into a high-voltage wire on patrol in Anbar province in western Iraq, said Andrew
Farrar Sr.
Farrar nearly returned to civilian life in 2001 and took the police civil service exam to prepare for a career in
law enforcement.
Then came Sept. 11.
“He was scheduled to discharge a month later,” his father said. “He re-enlisted after 9-11 to serve because
he knew others wouldn’t be able to serve. His whole approach was selfless.”
The family planned to travel to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina on Monday for a military funeral. A service
in Weymouth was being planned for later this week.
Farrar’s wife, Melissa, was his high school sweetheart at Weymouth High School. They married in 1996 and
he joined the Marines a year later. They have two sons, Tyler, 6, and Liam, 2.
Farrar was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He led his squad of young Marines during fierce fighting in
Fallujah last year.
“He was profoundly patriotic,” his father said. “We’re proud of him and we’re proud of all service men and
women.”
Farrar, who was the oldest of four children, is the third Massachusetts native killed in Iraq this month, and at
least the 26th overall since April 2003.
Andrew K. Farrar Jr. nearly left the Marines for civilian life in 2001, even taking a police civil service exam to prepare
for a career in law enforcement. Then came Sept. 11: "He re-enlisted after 9/11 to serve because he knew others
wouldn't be able to serve," said his father, Andrew Farrar Sr. "His whole approach was selfless." Farrar Jr., 31, of
Weymouth, Mass., was electrocuted by a high-voltage wire while he was on patrol in Iraq on Jan. 28. He was
stationed at Camp Lejeune. Farrar was scheduled to return home to his wife and two young sons in three weeks
when he died on his birthday. Farrar leaves behind a wife, Melissa, who was his high school sweetheart. They
married in 1996 and Farrar Jr. joined the Marines a year later. He is also survived by two sons, Tyler, 6, and Liam, 2.
"He was profoundly patriotic," his father said. "We're proud of him and we're proud of all service men and women."
Sgt. Andrew Kevin Farrar Jr.
Of Jacksonville, NC, formerly of Weymouth, died on his 31st birthday, Jan. 28, 2005, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, while
serving his country. Beloved husband of Melissa V. (Xayavong) Farrar. Loving father of Tyler Andrew & Liam Patrick
Farrar. Devoted son of Andrew K. Sr. & Claire M. (Gaudiano) Farrar of Weymouth. Brother of Jason M. & his wife
Jillene Farrar, Nathan P. Farrar and Bethany L. Farrar all of Weymouth. Grandson of Ralph B. and Joanne Farrar of
Weymouth, Eileen C. Gaudiano of Weymouth and the late Edward J. Gaudiano. Son In Law of William and Onechang
Workman of Weymouth and Bruce Xayavong of Las Vegas. Loving uncle of Luke A. Farrar. Also survived by many
aunts, uncles and cousins. Visiting hours in the NORTH WEYMOUTH McDonald Funeral Home, at 40 Sea St. (off Rte 3A) Friday from 3:00-8:00 P.M. Funeral Mass in St. Francis Xavier Church, South Weymouth at 10:00 A.M. Relatives &
friends invited. Interment, Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Andrew's memory to the Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr. Memorial Fund, c/o
South Shore Savings Bank, 1530 Main St., South Weymouth, MA 02190.
Published in The Boston Globe from February 3 to February 4, 2005
Boston Magazine
THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
More than 2,100 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since
2001—at least 40 of them from Massachusetts. But this is not a story about politics.
It's about brothers and sons who went away to fight and didn't come home.
BY BLYTHE COPELAND (AS TOLD TO)
Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr., USMC
January 28, 1974–January 28, 2005 // Weymouth
"Andrew said early on, 'Basketball is my life.' He played all day, every day. The
sound of Andrew dribbling a basketball was the
soundtrack to his childhood. He often played well into the evening with only a
streetlight to illuminate the hoop. His dedication, enthusiasm, loyalty, work
ethic, love, and devotion all stem from his love of basketball. He spent hours
perfecting his game both on and off the court—and he took the same approach
to raising his family and his life in the Marine Corps.
"A basketball net must have appeared unreachable to Andrew when he started
playing at age four. His courage and determination on the court remind us of
the man who sacrificed everything for each of us." —Andrew Sr. and Claire
Farrar, parents; Jason and Nathan, brothers; Bethany, sister
Capt. David S. Connolly
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 37 years old
Died: April 6, 2005 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army Reserves, 1173rd Transportation Terminal Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Brockton,
Mass.
Incident: Killed when a CH-47 helicopter crashed in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
David S. Connolly
U.S. Army Captain, killed in action, of Boston, formerly of Newton Centre. Beloved husband of Debra (Toran)
Connolly. Son of the late Gerald F. & Marguerite (McHugh) Connolly. Services are pending. For information please
contact: Eaton Funeral Home 781-444-0201 www.eatonfuneralhomes.com
Published in The Boston Globe on April 14, 2005
Army Capt. David S. Connolly
37, of Boston; assigned to the 1173rd Transportation Terminal Battalion, Army Reserve, Brockton,
Mass.; killed April 6 when the CH-47 helicopter in which he was riding crashed in Ghazni,
Afghanistan. Fifteen service members were killed or are unaccounted for in the crash.
Boston prosecutor killed in Afghanistan chopper crash
By Ken Maguire
Associated Press
BOSTON — A Suffolk County prosecutor and Army reservist whose death in Afghanistan was confirmed
Tuesday was recalled as a leader who was committed to public service.
Capt. David S. Connolly, 37, was on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that crashed in bad weather last
Wednesday about 80 miles south of Kabul with 15 military personnel and three civilians aboard, the district
attorney’s office said Tuesday.
“You only needed to spend a few minutes with David to realize that this soft-spoken, serious-minded young
man is a leader,” District Attorney Daniel Conley said. “He inspired confidence in others.”
There were no survivors, but Connolly’s friends and colleagues had held out hope that he wasn’t on the
helicopter.
The helicopter’s crew had been delivering mail, supplies and personnel and was returning to a U.S. base in
Bagram. Officials said there were no reports of enemy fire. Bad visibility and strong winds may have caused
pilot error or a technical problem.
Connolly, a resident of Boston’s North End, served in the Army Reserve’s 1173rd Transportation Battalion,
based in Brockton.
The Boston College graduate served a tour of duty in Iraq before joining the district attorney’s office last
year. He was one of about 10 prosecutors assigned to the Boston Municipal Court.
“David prosecuted a wide range of street crimes and helped many victims seek justice for the wrongs that
had been done to them,” Conley said. “In those few months that he was with us, he impressed many with
his work ethic and compassion for victims.”
Connolly was a prosecutor for less than a year when his unit was reactivated and sent to Afghanistan. His
wife, Debra Connolly, is a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. They were married in 2003 and had no
children.
Connolly’s mother and three of his six siblings also graduated from Boston College, Oslin said.
“Before he went to Afghanistan, they had a big tailgate party at BC football game,” he said.
Connolly, following in his brother Joseph’s footsteps, entered the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at
the college, Oslin said. He graduated in 1994. Joseph Connolly graduated in 1985. Joseph administered his
brother’s commissioning oath in 1994.
David Connolly served on active duty as an Army Ranger and graduated from Suffolk Law School in 2003.
Connolly is the first Boston College ROTC graduate to die in military action since 1970, when 1st Lt. Louis
Favuzza died in Vietnam, Oslin said.
Connolly is at least the fourth Massachusetts resident killed in military action in Afghanistan.
ROTC Alumnus Connolly Killed in Afghanistan
By Reid Oslin
Staff Writer
The United States Army has confirmed that Captain David S. Connolly '94, one of six Boston College
graduates in his family, was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on April 6.
Capt. Connolly is the first graduate of the University's ROTC program to lose his life in hostile action since
the Vietnam War, according to University officials.
Capt. Connolly, 37, who last year was appointed as an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, had
been a member of the Army Reserve until his Brockton-based 1173rd Transportation Company was called
to active duty last fall.
He was serving as a transportation officer in Afghanistan when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he
was riding went down 80 miles southwest of Kabul, the Afghan capital, as it returned from delivering
personnel, mail and supplies to the US Army forward base in Baghran. All 18 persons on board the aircraft
were killed in the crash.
A Newton native, Capt. Connolly graduated from the Woods College of Advancing Studies and served on
active duty with the Army's elite Ranger special operations units. After returning to civilian life, he graduated
from Suffolk Law School in 2003 while continuing to serve as an Army Reservist.
Capt. Connolly had strong ties to Boston College. His mother, Marguerite Connolly, who died in 2003,
earned her degree while employed in the Athletic and Geology and Geophysics departments. His sister
Marguerite Connolly, holds bachelor's (1988), master's (1991) and doctoral (2001) degrees from the
University and is currently a research associate for Boston College's Teachers for a New Era program.
The Connolly family's BC connections also include Capt. Connolly's brothers, Joseph '85, Paul '89 and
Gregory '03, are also University alumni. Joseph, a graduate of the University's ROTC program,
administered the commissioning oath to David as his younger brother was made an Army lieutenant in a
1994 commencement weekend ceremony.
"I can still picture David," said Associate Dean for Student Development D. Michael Ryan '67, a former
Army captain who serves as the University's liaison to military officer training programs. "He was a solid
leader, partly because he had prior military service before coming to BC. All of the other students respected
him. He was a quiet person, but a good leader."
The last graduate of Boston College's ROTC program to die in combat was Army 1st Lt. Louis A Favuzza
'68, who was killed in Vietnam on April 20, 1970, according to Ryan. Capt. Connolly won the Boston College
ROTC program's Veterans of Foreign Wars' Award in 1993 and the Reserve Officers' Association Award in
1994. Each is presented for military proficiency and outstanding leadership, Ryan said.
"Dave was so proud to have been from Boston College," said his sister, Marguerite Connolly. "He was a
season ticket holder in both football and basketball and hardly ever missed a game. He just loved to wear
his BC shirts and jacket." Capt. Connolly enjoyed a tailgate party at an Alumni Stadium game just prior to
his departure to military duty, said Steven Woodside '95, who was a fellow ROTC cadet. "He was a very
likeable guy. We got together with Dave and his wife Debra and reminisced about our ROTC days at BC,"
Woodside said.
"His connection to BC was so strong," Marguerite Connolly said. "I think there had to be 30 friends and
classmates from BC who have been with us all the time since we heard about the crash. It has been a
tremendous help to our family." In addition to four brothers and two sisters, Capt. Connolly is survived by his
wife, Debra Connolly of Boston.
A funeral Mass with full military honors will be said for Capt. Connolly Saturday, April 16 at 9 a.m. at St.
Ignatius Church in Chestnut Hill. Capt. A wake will be held from 3-8 p.m. Friday, April 15 at Eaton Funeral
Home, 1351 Highland Avenue in Needham. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the
ROTC Memorial Fund, in care of the Boston College Development Office, More Hall. •
David S. Connolly '94, Capt., U.S. Army Reserve
1967–2005
Captain David S. Connolly '94 was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on April 6,
2005, the first graduate of the University's ROTC program to lose his life in hostile action
since the Vietnam War, according to University officials.
Connolly, 37, an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, had been a member of the
Army Reserve's 1173rd Transportation Battalion, based in Brockton, Massachusetts, and
was called to active duty last fall. He was serving as a transportation officer when the
helicopter in which he was riding went down 80 miles southwest of Kabul, the Afghan
capital. All 18 persons on board were killed.
A graduate of the Woods College of Advancing Studies, Connolly served on active duty in
the Army Rangers and graduated from Suffolk Law School in 2003. He was one of six
members of his family holding degrees from the University, including his late mother
Marguerite Connolly '03, his sister Marguerite '88, MA'91, Ph.D.'01, and his brothers
Joseph '85, Paul '89, and Gregory '04. The Connolly family has established a memorial
fund in Connolly's honor through the Boston College Development office.
The last graduate of Boston College's ROTC program killed in Vietnam was First Lt.
Louis A. Favuzza '68 of the U.S. Army, who died on April 29, 1970, according to Michael
Ryan, associate dean of students.
Reid Oslin (Reid Oslin is a staff writer for the Boston College Chronicle.)
Suffolk DA's office mourns loss of a colleague in Afghan crash
By Emma Stickgold, Globe Correspondent | April 13, 2005
Suffolk County and Boston Municipal Court workers, used to consoling victims' families
when crime strikes the streets of Boston, were comforting one another yesterday after
confirming that their colleague had died in a helicopter crash while on military duty in
Afghanistan.
Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley and others said they learned soon after the crash
last week that military officials officially deemed Assistant District Attorney David S.
Connolly's whereabouts unknown.
It was not until yesterday that his colleagues received official word that the 37-year-old North
End lawyer, a captain in the Army Reserve, was indeed aboard the CH-47 Chinook helicopter
that crashed in bad weather on April 6, about 80 miles southwest of Kabul. None of the 18
people on the aircraft survived.
''We were hoping for a miracle," Conley told reporters at a press conference yesterday at his
office in Boston. ''Now, we're just grieving for our loss."
Connolly had worked for the office just six months, but had already made a name for himself
among colleagues, who yesterday recalled his commanding presence and the effort he put
into cases he prosecuted.
''You only needed to spend a few minutes with David to realize that this soft-spoken, seriousminded young man was a leader, and he inspired confidence in others," Conley said.
Reached by telephone yesterday, friends in the tight-knit group of Army Reserve Officers'
Training Corps members who attended Boston College with Connolly recalled his qualities.
At well over 6 feet, he had a booming voice and a lean, sturdy frame, they said.
''A contradiction, at times, was striking between the loud voice and his charisma and the
intellectual who was quiet and introspective at times," said John Foley, a friend who met him
in the ROTC program.
Those who had served with him were stunned Friday when they heard about the crash.
''All of us have experienced someone being killed in combat or training," Foley said of their
group of friends. ''This just seemed radically different than the others."
Whether Connolly was playing golf, hunting, or fishing with the guys, he was a natural leader
with ''a million-dollar smile and a good laugh," said Chris Buckley, who also attended
transportation officers' school with Connolly.
''He set the example for the junior officer corps and the young leadership of the US Army,"
Buckley added.
Connolly started working for Conley's office in June, after returning from a tour in Iraq. He
took up mostly cases stemming from Operation Neighborhood Shield, a Boston police effort
to clean up the city's most violent communities.
In November, Connolly was called to duty in Afghanistan. Colleagues threw a big goingaway party, which was very well-attended given his short tenure, county officials said.
Connolly, who grew up in Newton, graduated from Boston College in 1994 before heading
into active duty and serving with the Army Rangers. About two years ago, he married Debra,
a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was hired for the district attorney's office
shortly after his 2003 graduation from Suffolk Law School, from a pool of 600 candidates
applying for 12 positions.
''Today is a sad day here," Conley said. ''As we go about our work to help others who have
suffered loss, and to help some who have suffered the ultimate loss to violence, we do so with
the heaviest hearts because we have suffered our own loss."
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
Fallen prosecutor remembered as a hero
By Christine McConville, Globe Staff | April 17, 2005
More than 850 mourners attended the funeral yesterday of Army Captain David Scott Connolly, who
died in Afghanistan. Above, Army Airborne soldiers served as pallbearers. (Globe Staff Photo / John
Tlumacki)
David Scott Connolly was remembered yesterday as a man with a strong sense of values who
took on challenges in a variety of endeavors in order to make a difference in people's lives.
More than 850 mourners gathered at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola in Chestnut Hill
to mourn Connolly, 37, an assistant district attorney for Suffolk County and a captain in the
US Army Reserve who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier this month.
After the funeral, Connolly was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and promoted to the
rank of major before being buried in Newton Cemetery with full military honors, including a
gun salute.
Major Paul Caruso, public affairs officer for the 94th Regional Readiness Command, said of
Connolly: ''He did not die in vain. He died serving his country. He died very honorably. For
every soldier, every serviceman, even if you didn't know Dave Connolly, this is like losing a
brother. We can all put ourselves in his shoes."
The church pews were packed with Connolly's childhood friends from Newton and coworkers from the Suffolk district attorney's office.
Mourners included military and school friends, along with law enforcement and military
personnel. Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly and Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F.
Conley, who hired Connolly as a prosecutor in 2003, were in attendance, along with Major
General Dennis J. Laich and other military personnel.
Marguerite Connolly, one of Connolly's two sisters, said the way her brother was honored
helped ease her family's pain. ''Boston College, Suffolk University Law School, the Army, the
town of Needham, the city of Newton. Everyone came out to respect the ultimate service that
my brother gave," she said. ''With the tragedy that our family has been through, he was
honored in a way that gave us some comfort," she said.
Gregory Connolly, one of Connolly's four brothers, recalled his older sibling as a man ''with a
strong sense of values in a society consumed by the individual. David believed in others."
He added: ''Many a summer night, we sat listening to the [Red] Sox, fishing for stripers in the
harbor. Leisure was on the agenda, but the conversation often turned to a series of questions:
'Could you do more, could you do better, could you make a difference?' "
Connolly grew up in Newton and attended Newton South High School. He enlisted in the
Coast Guard, then enrolled at Boston College. While there, he joined the ROTC program and
quickly distinguished himself. He won the Boston College ROTC program's Veterans of
Foreign Wars Award in 1993 and the Reserve Officers' Association Award in 1994.
After graduating in 1994, he joined the Army's elite Ranger special operations units. He
attended Suffolk University Law School, from which he graduated in 2003. Also that year, he
married his wife, Debra, and landed a job with the district attorney's office as a prosecutor.
Last fall, Connolly's Brockton-based 1173d Transportation Battalion was sent to Afghanistan.
On April 6, Connolly was traveling in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter about 80 miles southwest
of Kabul, the Afghan capital.
It was returning from delivering personnel, mail, and supplies to an Army base in Bagram
when it crashed. All of the 18 persons on board were killed. The Army has said the crash was
caused by bad weather.
During the funeral Mass, the Rev. Joseph O'Keefe said Connolly's death was sad for those
who loved him because he ''had a future filled with hope" that will never come to pass. But he
urged Connolly's survivors -- especially his nieces and nephews who crowded into the front
pews -- not to become lost in their grief.
''When you are overwhelmed with grief, remember he was a hero. We should be filled with
gratitude for his life and his sacrifice," O'Keefe told them.
The Rev. William P. Leahy, president of Boston College, encouraged the mourners to seek
solace in their faith. He said that an Easter candle was burning bright, in front of Connolly's
casket. Even during times of crisis, he said, ''it still burns."
At the end of his eulogy, Greg Connolly encouraged the congregation to follow his brother's
example.
''Through a single act of kindness, persevering in achieving a personal goal, or supporting a
cause for which you have conviction, there could be no more powerful testament and legacy
to my brother David than for each of us to leave here today and make a difference in the lives
of others," he said.
Christine McConville can be reached at cmcconville @globe.com.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
Sgt. Michael J. Kelley
Hometown: Scituate, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 26 years old
Died: June 8, 2005 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army National Guard, 101st Field Artillery Battalion, Army National Guard,
Rehoboth, Mass.
Incident: Killed when his helicopter-landing zone came under fire in Shkin.
Michael Kelley, a 1997 graduate of Scituate High School in Massachusetts, joined the National Guard
straight out of high school, hoping to take advantage of the military's educational assistance
programs. He wanted to parlay the skills he learned in the Army into a career in the civil aviation
industry. Michael volunteered to go to Afghanistan after his old National Guard Unit out of Quincy,
MA was stationed in Iraq last year. Michael felt it was the right thing to do after he was reassigned to
a unit in Rehoboth, MA and that unit was looking for volunteers to relieve military personnel in
Afghanistan due to lack of military replacements.
Michael was somewhat introverted and quiet, but had a keen wit, a sharp mind, a big heart, and a
great sense of humor. He was an artist and loved to read. He loved to play video games and loved to
watch movies. Michael had the fantastic ability to recite movie lines. One of his favorite movies was
Tommy Boy and he would always recite the line by Chris Farley, to his brother, Shawn and Brotherin-law, Doug, "Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug!"
In addition to his parents, Joseph and Karen Kelley, Michael leaves behind a brother, Shawn, two
sisters, Karianne and Colleen, Brother-in-law Douglas, and nieces, Olivia and Rachael.
Michael Jason Kelley
Of Scituate, June 8, 2005, age 26. Loving son of Joseph P. and Karen (Tuv) Kelley. Devoted brother of
Shawn P. of VT, Karianne J. Golemme and her husband Douglas of Rockland and Colleen J. Kelley of
Scituate. Beloved grandson of Carmella Kelley of Rockland and Ethel Tuv of Randolph. Uncle of Olivia
Golemme. Also survived by numerous friends and family. A Funeral Service will be held at Christ
Lutheran Church (on Rt 3A), Scituate on Sat., June 18 at 10AM followed by Burial in Cudworth
Cemetery, Scituate. Visiting hours Friday from 5-9PM. Parking at Christ Lutheran Church & Cudworth
Cemetery will be by permit only: All others are asked to park at Scituate High School for busing to the
Church & Cemetery, last shuttle bus will leave the H.S. at 9:40 a.m.
At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sgt. Michael J. Kelley
Memorial Fund, c/o Rockland Trust, 288 Union St., Rockland, MA 02370. For directions and guest
book vist www.richardsongaffeyfuneralhome.com
Published in The Boston Globe from June 15 to June 16, 2005
Wreath-laying in Scituate this Saturday
Posted December 8, 2009 12:55 PM
SCITUATE AMERICAN LEGION POST 144
Scituate Vets to Lay Holiday Wreaths at Cudworth Cemetery
In a collaborative effort, Scituate American Legion Post #144, The Sons of Union
Veterans of the Civil War, the Town's Veterans Service Officer, and the family of
the late Sergeant Michael J. Kelley, who made the supreme sacrifice while
defending our country in Afghanistan on June 8, 2005, will again hold a
ceremony to remember and honor the service and sacrifice of Scituate's deceased
veterans. Wreaths will be placed on as many veterans' headstones as donations
allow.
Deployed to Tactical Training Base Kelley
Feature News Story
Tech. Sgt. Casey Walsh of the 104th Security Forces Squadron briefs his
Airmen on an upcoming convoy mission at Tactical Training Base Kelly during a
three day exercise that started on June 9, 2009. As convoy commander Walsh
was responsible for correct mission execution. The base is located on the
Massachusetts Military Reservation and allows Airmen and Soldiers to
experience situations similar to actual deployments. (U.S. Air Force Photo by
Master Sgt. Aaron Smith)
By Master Sgt. Aaron Smith, 102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs
The scene could be from any overseas base. A Humvee drives up to a heavily
guarded entry point. It weaves between concrete barriers and sandbags while
being watched from a guard tower by an Airman standing behind a heavy
machine gun.
Inside the walls, tents are neatly laid out with a work section on one side and
a living section on the other. A line of three Humvees sits in the wide gravel
lot, while security Airmen talk and eat Meals Ready to Eat. An M-249 machine
gun mounted atop their vehicles is ready for the next convoy. The only signs
that this base is on the Massachusetts Military Reservation are the lush green
trees visible over the outer walls.
Airmen from the 102nd Security Forces Squadron based at Otis Air National
Guard Base, along with Airmen from the 104th Security Forces Squadron,
104th Services Squadron, 267th Combat Communications Squadron, 202nd
Weather Flight and elements of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment
and the Army Aviation Support Facility #1 all came to Tactical Training Base
Kelley on June 9, 2009 for three days and two nights of realistic joint force
training.
The base is named after Sgt. Michael J. Kelley, a Massachusetts Army
National Guardsman killed in Afghanistan in 2005. It allows units to
experience a deployed environment and expose their Airmen and Soldiers to
situations that they may face on a real world mission.
Inside the command post tent, Lt. Col. Christopher Hamilton, commander,
102nd Security Forces Squadron, talks with Tech. Sgt. Casey Walsh, a convoy
troop commander. Hamilton goes over the mission briefing for Walsh’s next
convoy. Minutes later, Walsh is outside in the gravel lot, huddled over a map
on the hood of a humvee, relaying the plan for today’s mission to his Airmen.
What was originally planned as an annual security forces training exercise has
grown into a multi-unit and multi-service exercise. The 202nd Weather Flight
is on hand to keep leaders up to date with the constantly changing weather
conditions. The 267th Combat Communications Squadron has setup a
complete communications package, supporting all the units on the base.
Volunteers from the 102nd Intelligence Wing are taking part as role players.
The roles include acting as villagers trying to sell fruit at the front gate and
heavily armed terrorists with actual weapons. Army Aviation Support Facility
#1 and Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment provided air
support with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters.
Tech. Sgt. Chris Fiore, an Airman assigned to the 267th CBCS, commented on
how participating in the exercise benefitted his unit, “We’ve got a lot of new
Airmen and this is great training. Some of us who have deployed a number of
times can pass on our knowledge in an environment that’s like what you see
overseas. The stress level goes up, there’s a real sense of urgency, and it’s
real easy to get into the role here.”
Three Humvees roll down the dirt road, spaced 20 yards apart on a “route
reconnaissance” convoy mission. The Airmen’s eyes are constantly scanning
the brush alongside the road for anything unusual. The lead vehicle turns left,
onto a heavily wooded road, suddenly there are two vehicles blocking the way
ahead. All three Humvees quickly move into position beside each other.
Suddenly there is the “crack, crack, crack” sound of gunshots from the woods
to the right. The turret gunners shout, “contact right!” then swing their turrets
around and open fire. Blank bullet casings tumble onto the roofs of the
humvees and the Airmen flow out of the doors to take a defensive position.
Each situation during this exercise tests the experience and ingenuity of the
Airmen and there is no right answer for every situation. Master Sgt. Marc
Vercellone, 102nd SFS, stated that squad leaders in particular would benefit
from the training. “A squad leader has to be able to provide guidance and
advice to people in his squad regardless of whether it’s technical or tactical. In
a day-to-day environment we’re not always making quick decisions and trying
to analyze what the immediate outcome and consequences our decisions will
be. It isn’t as imperative but when you’re in a situation like this, you have to
think quickly. It’s better to learn how to do it in a training environment than
have to learn how to do it when the bullets are flying for real,” said Vercellone.
Over the course of the exercise the situations vary widely. The missions
include convoy and patrol operations dealing with the local populace including
angry protestors throwing vegetables, quick reaction force and personnel
recovery training.
One phrase that is not often heard during this exercise is “simulated.”
Vercellone noted, “I wanted to provide the most realistic environment for the
(Guardsmen) to (train) in. I’m a big fan of immersion training. It’s one thing to
practice loading a helicopter while it’s sitting on the ramp, but when there’s
rotor-wash and blades spinning, people moving around the landing zone, you
have to get the bird in and out quick. You can’t really create that sense of
urgency and the distraction that goes with it unless you’re actually doing it
that way.”
Vercellone and the other units involved commented that they hoped to grow
this training and expand it in the future to take advantage of the great
facilities that Camp Edwards has to offer. With the 102nd Security Forces
Squadron deploying more than 40 Airmen in the coming year, it’s training that
will not go unused.
7/24/2009
Capt. John W. Maloney
Hometown: Chicopee, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 36 years old
Died: June 16, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Incident: Killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Ramadi.
John W. Maloney
Captain John W. Maloney
1968-2005
SAN CLEMENTE, CA - Captain John W. Maloney, 36, was killed in Ramadi, Iraq, June 16, 2005. He was
born Nov. 22, 1968 in Los Angeles, CA. At the age of three, the Maloney family moved to Chicopee
where John was a graduate of Chicopee High School, Class of 1986. After graduation, John enlisted in
the United States Marine Corps, where he spent most of his career filling positions in the infantry
field. In 1996, John graduated from Colorado University and was commissioned an Officer. He faced
combat situations in the Gulf War, Somalia and finally in Iraq. John committed over 18 years of his
life to distinguished service to his country. He was a paradigm of professional excellence, compassion
and humility. According to all who knew him, they just don't come any better than John. He is
survived by his loving wife, Michelle, his adoring children Nathaniel (6) and McKenna (1), his caring
mother Lydia, his proud father John his admiring brothers Jason, Justin and James. Funeral services
will be held Wednesday June 29th at 3 p.m. at the new Chicopee High School in the Auditorium.
Public calling hours will be held from 1 - 3 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will take place on Friday
July 1st in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers family requests memorial contributions be made payable to John W. Maloney
Memorial Fund, and mailed to, PNC Advisors Attn: Tim Thieneman, 500 West Jefferson Street, 5th
Floor, Louisville, KY 40202. This fund will be used for his children's education and to create a
scholarship in John's memory. Brunelle Funeral Home 413-532-7711, is handling the arrangements.
For complete information and biography, please visit www.johnmaloneymemorial.com
Published in The Republican from June 26 to June 27, 2005
John William Maloney
Captain, United States Marine Corps
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 620-05
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2005
Media Contact: Marine Corps Public Affairs - (703) 614-4309
Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two
Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Corporal Erik R. Heldt, 26, of Hermann, Missouri
Captain John W. Maloney, 36, of Chicopee, Massachusetts
Both Marines died June 16, 2005, when their vehicle hit an
improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations
near Ar Ramadi, Iraq. They were assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom
their unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force (Forward).
In Marines, and in life, they were brothers
Chicopee family mourns as oldest of 3 dies in Iraq
By Heather Allen and James Vaznis,
Globe Correspondent and Globe Staff
Courtesy of the Boston Globe
20 June 2005
CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSTTS - A 36-year-old Marine from a
local family devoted to the military died in Iraq last week after a
homemade bomb struck a vehicle he was riding in, making him
the third service member from Massachusetts killed this month
in the conflicts.
The blast killed John Maloney, the father of two, and Lance
Corporal Erik Heldt, 26, of Hermann, Missouri. They were
returning from a combat mission near Ar Ramadi.
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. John W. Maloney, commander of Company C, 1st
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, communicates with his fellow Marines on his
radio as a truck carrying a sea container full of medical supplies heads towards
the entrance of the Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Ar Ramadi, Iraq, May 17, 2005.
The U.S. Marines and soldiers delivered four sea containers of medical supplies
valued at more than $500,000 to the hospital. The supplies ranged from heart
monitors and antibiotics to new bed sheets and bandages.
Maloney was the eldest of three sons -- all of them Marines -- and
was like a father figure to his younger brothers, relatives said. He
enlisted in the Marines two months after he turned 18 and his
brothers followed his lead. His youngest brother also has been
serving in the Middle East.
Outside the family's green shingled house yesterday, a large, red
Marine flag hung from the front porch along with several yellow
ribbons and miniature American flags. Inside the house, nearly a
dozen figurines of Marines decorated a doorway in the living
room -- a room that featured framed pictures of all three
brothers in their uniforms.
Maloney's youngest brother, Justin Clark, 23, a Lance Corporal
in the Marine Reserves who flew back from the Quantico,
Virginia, Friday, said death is the reality of being a Marine. He
said he believed his brother had no regrets about the life he led.
''Not many people are fortunate enough to have that type of life,"
said Clark. ''He always did his best to help us out. At a drop of
the hat, he would be there for us. He lived a great life."
The other brother, Jason, is en route from Japan and is expected
in time for his brother's funeral, which will probably be held next
week. The family would like to have him buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
With three sons in the Marines, Lydia Maloney said the thought
always lingered in the back of her mind that one of them might
die. Then came the knock on the door early Friday, and the news
that the war had taken her eldest son. The moment, she said, will
always be ingrained in her memory.
''He took great pride in his men," she said, rubbing her hands
back and forth as she spoke. ''He understood what his job was as
a Marine."
John Maloney arrived in Iraq during the first week in March.
Clark said he wondered what the loss of his brother would mean
for Maloney's 6-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter Lydia
Maloney said she never had to ask her oldest son to help out. He
naturally took to the role as a father figure when she and the
boy's father divorced. John Maloney was 8 at the time.
''We didn't have a life of riches at that time," she said. ''He was
the voice of reason. If someone got excited, he would take out the
mental tape measure and say 'Is it worth it?' He was just a
dream."
Maloney's passion for the Marines, she said, blossomed out of an
interest in studying the Vietnam War at Chicopee High School,
from which he graduated in 1986. As a Marine, she said, her son
never lost his natural tendency to take care of people and make
them laugh.
''It's chilling to know you have held this person who has touched
so many people," she said. ''He could walk into a room and
create a presence."
Maloney fought during the first Gulf War and served in Somalia.
He met his wife, Michelle, while stationed in California. Maloney,
who had been in the lead vehicle in the convoy when he was hit, is
the third service member from Massachusetts to die of combatrelated injuries this month.
Green Beret Staff Sergeant Christopher N. Piper, 43, of
Marblehead, died on Thursday of injuries sustained in
Afghanistan on June 3, 2005. Army National Guard Specialists
Michael J. Kelley of Scituate, 26, died June 8, 2005, during a
mortar attack on his base in Afghanistan.
At least 33 Massachusetts natives have died in Iraq or
Afghanistan.
Maloney's mother's eyes filled with tears as she thought of her
three sons' commitment to the military and their lives growing up
together.
''I'm proud of the three of them," she said. ''They held
themselves together."
By joining the Marines, Clark said, the three brothers only
expanded their brotherhood.
''We're not just looking out for the three of us, but our other
brothers right next to us," he said. Reflecting on his brother's
service, he added, ''Marines like him make sure other Marines
come home and keep the country safe."
January 20, 2006
Posthumous Honor for Mission of Mercy
By Tony Perry
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times
Last spring, Marine Captain John Maloney led his Marines on a
mission of mercy through the dangerous streets of Ramadi in
Iraq to bring medical supplies to a struggling hospital.
Maloney's Marines and a squad of Army soldiers guided a slowmoving convoy through streets infested with insurgent snipers
and hidden bombs to deliver more than $500,000 worth of badly
needed supplies — bandages, bedsheets, heart monitors,
antibiotics, incubators and more — to the Ramadi Maternity and
Children's Hospital.
Maloney told a military reporter that he hoped the mission would
"show the Iraqi people that the Marines mean well."
Just days later Maloney, 36, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and
Lance Corporal Erik Heldt, 26, of Hermann, Missouri, were
killed when their Humvee hit an improvised explosive device.
Three other Marines in the vehicle were badly burned.
Today, Maloney's widow, Michelle, received the Bronze Star with
V for Valor, awarded to her husband posthumously for his
leadership during 109 days of frequent fighting with heavily
armed insurgents.
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Smith, the battalion commander, pinned
the brightly colored medal on the couple's son, Nathaniel, 6, while
their daughter, McKenna, 2, looked on.
"He's had a hard time understanding why all the other daddies
came home and his didn't," said the boy's grandmother, Linda
Keil of Simi Valley. "But he's proud of his daddy and he knows
he gave his life for something he believed in."
Maloney enlisted in the Marine Corps when he was 18 and served
in the Persian Gulf War and Somalia. He attended Colorado
University, became an officer, and was commanding officer of
Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine
Division when he was killed.
When the bomb exploded beneath the vehicle that morning in
June, Maloney and Heldt became the 23rd and 24th members of
the "one-five" to die in Iraq.
They were returning from a patrol when their convoy was
attacked. Maloney ordered his Humvee, the lead vehicle in the
convoy, to take a blocking position to keep the insurgents from
reaching the main part of the force.
By slowing the insurgents, Maloney allowed his Marines to
position themselves for what turned out to be a two-hour firefight
before the insurgents were routed.
"Because of what he did over there, I brought 150 Marines
home," said Charlie Company FIrst Sergeant Michael
Brookman. "He'll be with me the rest of my life."
Three more Marines were killed before the battalion returned
from its third tour in Iraq in October. Thirty-eight Marines in
the 195-man Charlie Company have received Purple Hearts.
After the ceremony that was held beneath tall shade trees with
green hills in the background, Marines from Charlie Company
offered their condolences to Michelle Maloney and other family
members.
Michelle Maloney chose not to speak to reporters, but when her
husband was buried at Arlington National Cemetery last year,
she issued a statement about him:
"He was fun and silly and had such dreams for his children and
our lives together. They were his life and he will always be ours."
The award ceremony on the sprawling base was held at a
memorial garden dedicated to Marines from the 5th Regiment
who have died in combat.
Stone markers note battles where Marines from the regiment
have died, including Belleau Wood from World War I,
Guadalcanal in World War II, the Chosin Reservoir in Korea,
Hue City in Vietnam, Kuwait, and now, Iraq.
"Ramadi is a tough place," Brookman said, "and it's even
tougher to be a company commander there."
Minutes after a Bronze Star Medal with Valor was pinned on the
shirt of the young son of a Marine captain and company
commander killed last year in Ramadi, Iraq, First Sergeant
Michael Brookman stooped and delivered a message to the boy.
"Your father is a hero," Brookman told 6-year-old Nathaniel
Maloney, son of Captain John W. Maloney. "Don't ever forget
it."
Brookman's message was delivered during an award ceremony
Friday afternoon at the base's Camp San Mateo, the home of
Marines from the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
Marine Lieutenant Colonel Eric M. Smith presents the Bronze Star to 6-year-old
Nathanial
Maloney, whose father Marine Captain John Maloney was killed in Iraq last
year as his mother, Michelle Maloney, looks on at a ceremony held at the Memorial
Garden on Camp Pendleton Friday
The fallen Marine died in Ramadi on June 16, 2005. He was
leading a patrol when his truck was blown up by a roadside
bomb.
For Brookman and members of his unit known as the 1/5s
Charlie Company, Maloney's death hit hard because of the
respect he had earned through what several said were his caring
ways and leadership.
"Marines know that people like him are special," Brookman said
after the outdoor ceremony at San Mateo Memorial Park. "We
respected Capt. Maloney and losing him was a big loss for the
entire company."
Maloney, 36, had been featured last spring in a Marine Corpswritten story that told of how he and his troops had taken extra
steps to keep a Ramadi hospital stocked with medications and
supplies.
In a quote from that story, the native of Chicopee, Mass., said the
hospital effort "shows the Iraqi people that the Marines mean
well."
One month later, Maloney died.
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Smith said Friday's event was intended
as a celebration of Maloney's life and his heroism in leading
numerous patrols and directing his Marines during several
firefights in Ramadi. Earlier memorials took place in Iraq, at
Camp Pendleton and at Arlington National Cemetery.
"This is an award which he earned," Smith said. "John Maloney
did valorous things in Ramadi and this is an opportunity to
remember those acts. Ramadi is a tough place and it's even
tougher to be a platoon commander out there."
In a citation accompanying the Bronze Star, Maloney was
recognized for "heroic achievement as the commanding officer of
Charlie Company."
He had led the company while in Iraq from March until his
death. On March 18, he had a close call when another roadside
bomb was detonated while on patrol.
About a dozen family members attended Friday's ceremony at
the memorial park, which is surrounded by markers of legendary
Marine battles around the world. The most recent addition
includes an arrow pointing east and reads "Baghdad 2003, 7701
miles."
Maloney's widow, Michelle, did not speak to reporters at the
ceremony. But some of the dozen other family members did,
including his brother-in-law, Mike Keil of Simi Valley.
"I don't know if there will ever be closure," he said. "But it's an
honor for his son to know that his dad did not die in vain."
One of the Marines he had led, Lance Corporal Brandon Phillips,
said Maloney stood out as a commander.
"He was an officer who really looked out for all the young guys
like me," said Phillips, who returned to Camp Pendleton in
October. "He helped us out, and in Ramadi, he always showed
how much he cared about us."
Brookman, who called Maloney his best friend, said he will carry
his memory with him for the rest of his life.
"Because of what he did there, I was able to bring 150 Marines
home."
Maloney is survived by his wife and son, as well as a young
daughter, McKenna.
As the ceremony was taking place, about 250 members of the 1st
Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment were preparing to say goodbye to
their loved ones as they headed for the Anbar province of Iraq
for a seven-month deployment.
Originally published January 21, 2006:
Lsst spring Captain John Maloney led his Marines on a mission
of mercy through the dangerous streets of Ramadi, Iraq, to take
medical supplies to a struggling hospital.
Maloney's Marines and a squad of Army soldiers guided a slowmoving convoy through streets infested with snipers and hidden
bombs to deliver more than $500,000 worth of supplies —
bandages, bedsheets, heart monitors, antibiotics, incubators and
more — to the Ramadi Maternity and Children's Hospital.
Maloney told a military reporter that he hoped the heavily
guarded mission would "show the Iraqi people that the Marines
mean well." It was completed without trouble.
But just days later, Maloney, 36, and Lance Corporal Erik Heldt,
26, were killed when their Humvee struck an improvised
explosive device. Three other enlisted Marines were badly
burned.\
On Friday, in a ceremony at the sprawling Marine base here,
Maloney's widow, Michelle, received the Bronze Star with V for
Valor, awarded posthumously to her husband for his leadership
during 109 days of combat against heavily armed insurgents.
Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the battalion commander, pinned the
brightly colored medal on the couple's son, Nathaniel, 6, while
their daughter, McKenna, 2, looked on.
"He's had a hard time understanding why all the other daddies
came home and his didn't," said the boy's grandmother, Linda
Keil of Simi Valley. "But he's proud of his daddy, and he knows
he gave his life for something he believed in."
Maloney, of Chicopee, Mass., enlisted in the Marine Corps when
he was 18 and served in the Persian Gulf War and Somalia. He
attended the University of Colorado, became an officer and was
commanding officer of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th
Regiment, 1st Marine Division when he was killed.
When the bomb exploded that June morning, Maloney and Heldt
became the 23rd and 24th members of the One-Five — as it is
known — to die in Iraq.
Maloney and Heldt, originally from Hermann, Mo., were
returning from a patrol when their convoy was attacked.
Maloney ordered his Humvee, the lead vehicle, to take a blocking
position to keep the insurgents from reaching the main part of
the force.
By slowing the insurgents, Maloney allowed his Marines to
position themselves for what turned out to be a two-hour firefight
that routed the enemy.
"Because of what he did over there, I brought 150 Marines
home," said Charlie Company 1st Sgt. Michael Brookman. "He'll
be with me the rest of my life."
Three more One-Five Marines were killed before the battalion
returned from its third tour in Iraq in October. Thirty-eight
Marines in Charlie Company received Purple Hearts.
After the ceremony, held beneath tall shade trees with green hills
in the background, Marines from Charlie Company offered their
condolences to Michelle Maloney and other family members.
Maloney chose not to speak to reporters, but when her husband
was buried at Arlington National Cemetery last year, she issued a
statement about him:
"He was fun and silly and had such dreams for his children and
our lives together. They were his life, and he will always be ours."
The Camp Pendleton ceremony was held in a memorial garden
dedicated to Marines from the 5th Regiment who have died in
combat.
Stone markers note the battles, including Belleau Wood in World
War I; Guadalcanal in World War II; the Chosin Reservoir in
Korea; Hue City in Vietnam; Kuwait; and now Iraq.
Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson
Photo Courtesy of Holly, September 2005
US Marine Captain John W. Maloney, 36, of Chicopee
Maloney frequently text-messaged with his wife, Michelle. Exchanges usually went something like
this one she saved from March 19:
Michelle: We miss you so much.
John: I miss you too.
Michelle: Promise me you're coming home safe and sound.
John: I promise.
Michelle: Thank you. I'm going to hold you to that!
John: Sounds good.
In May, she saved one of the last exchanges they had:
Michelle: I LOVE YOU!!! I MISS YOU!!! BE CAREFUL AND STAY SAFE!!! YOU ARE OUR
EVERYTHING!!!
John: I love you so very much! Believe me, I am doing everything in my power to come home to
you and the kids safely. You guys are the reason that I exist! Please give Nathaniel and McKenna a
big hug and kiss for me.
0
0
COLOR GAURD AT CAPT. MALONEY'S LEFTWICH TROPHY CEREMONY
2005 Leftwich Trophy Winner
Captain John W. Maloney, USMC
Leftwich Trophy awarded posthumously
By Christian Lowe
Times staff writer
For the first time in the award’s 27-year history, the Marine Corps has bestowed the
prestigious Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership to an officer who died in combat.
Capt. John W. Maloney was killed June 16, 2005, when his Humvee was destroyed by a
“massive bomb” as he led his infantrymen from the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based Charlie
Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, out of an ambush in a small town south of Ramadi,
Iraq, according to his nomination.
Maloney assumed command of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines in July 2004.
“There are few officers who accomplish so much in such a short time in command,” wrote
1/5’s former commander, Lt. Col. Eric Smith. “This is simply a reflection of the efforts and
abilities of an officer who, in my opinion, was not only made of the same stuff as Lt. Col.
Leftwich, but who similarly sacrificed his life for his Marines.”
The Corps cited Maloney as the 2005 recipient of the Leftwich Trophy in an April 4 Corpswide message, AlMar 015/06.
First awarded in June 1979 to Capt. Clyde S. Brinkley Jr., the Leftwich Trophy is intended to
recognize active-duty captains in the ground combat-arms community holding company or
battery command who “clearly and dramatically demonstrate the ideals of courage,
resourcefulness, perseverance and concern for the well-being of our Corps and its enlisted
Marines,” according to the criteria for the award.
The award is provided through a foundation established by H. Ross Perot, a Naval Academy
roommate of Lt. Col. William Leftwich, for whom the trophy is named.
Shortly after taking command of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam, Leftwich died in a
helicopter crash during a Nov. 18, 1970, emergency extraction of his men from enemyinfested territory.
Maloney’s company was posted at one of the hottest combat outposts in Ramadi, capital of
the volatile Anbar province in western Iraq, a notorious Sunni stronghold. The government
center outpost in the heart of the city is the site of frequent insurgent attacks from rocketpropelled grenades, machine guns and mortar fire.
The parallels with Maloney’s actions and those of the award’s namesake were not lost on
Smith when he recommended the fallen Maloney for the Leftwich.
“Were we to replace a hot [landing zone] and a UH-1 [Huey] helicopter with an IED-infested
sector of town and an armored Humvee, there would be no daylight between what these two
great leaders gave to our Corps,” he wrote.
Awarding the trophy posthumously was somewhat controversial, Marine officials said,
though rules governing the award do not rule out giving the trophy — which depicts a
Vietnam-era Marine officer clutching an M16 in one hand, waving his men forward with the
other — to a deceased Marine.
Smith argued in his nomination for Maloney that the Jan. 20 award of a Bronze Star with a
combat “V” was done “to pay him tribute” for his heroism in Iraq.
“The commandant came back and asked us, ‘Are you doing this because the Marine was
killed in action or was he the best guy?’” said Gene Benson, Leftwich Trophy coordinator
with the Corps’ Plans, Policy and Operations office, in an April 24 interview. “And he was the
best guy regardless if he had been [killed in action] or not. So it just turned out that way.”
Benson said plans are in the works to present the Leftwich Trophy to Maloney’s wife,
Michelle, at the Marine Corps Association-sponsored Ground Awards Dinner in Arlington,
Va., on Sept. 21.
Fallen captain gets Bronze Star
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Shaded from the afternoon sun, the men of Charlie Company
gathered Jan. 20 to pay their respects to their former commander in Iraq last year by
presenting his posthumous combat medal to his family.
A roadside bomb killed Capt. John Maloney, 36, on June 16 as he maneuvered the infantry
company in an assault against enemy fighters in Ramadi, Iraq. Maloney’s widow, Michelle,
and their two children joined relatives, friends and fellow Marines in a short ceremony to
accept Maloney’s Bronze Star medal.
“This is an award which John Maloney earned and it should be presented,” said Lt. Col. Eric
Smith, who commands 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, during the ceremony at Memorial Park at
Camp San Mateo, in the northern part of the sprawling amphibious training base. “He is not
here to receive it.”
Smith presented the Bronze Star medal, with a small bronze “V” fastened to the ribbon, to
Maloney’s son, Nathaniel, 6, as Michelle Maloney looked on.
The medal honors Maloney’s heroics while he led his company in Ramadi, a provincial
capital and hotbed of insurgent activity in western Iraq. Maloney, a native of Chicopee,
Mass., and the oldest of three sons who joined the Corps, led them through 109 consecutive
days operating in the city. “Ramadi is a tough place, and it’s even tougher to be a company
commander. When you do it really well, you are recognized,” Smith said. “We’ve been
waiting to do this for a long time … to present John with the award he deserved.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity to remember the valorous acts of John Maloney,” he
added.
Maloney, a prior enlisted Marine, had landed in Iraq last March with 1/5, which operated with
the Army’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team and 2nd Marine Division.
When enemy forces attacked a battalion outpost on March 18, Maloney “decisively moved to
counterattack the enemy when his vehicle was struck by a [roadside bomb],” the award
citation reads. “Despite being thrown from the vehicle and badly injured, he called in his own
medevac and forced the enemy to retreat by maneuvering his forces against them.”
Two months later, on June 16, Maloney led Charlie Company in a counterattack against a
group of enemy fighters encountered as the company hunted insurgents in southwest
Ramadi.
“Suspecting an ambush on his egress route, he instinctively placed his vehicle at the front of
the company and began to lead them out of the danger zone. As he personally led his men
out of harm’s way, a massive [roadside bomb] destroyed his vehicle and killed him,” the
citation reads. “His selfless leadership continued to inspire his Marines as they fought for the
next two hours against heavy machinegun, rocket propelled grenade and mortar fire.”
The attack also killed Lance Cpl. Erik Heldt, 26, of Hermann, Mo.
Maloney’s leadership inspired his men through those intense hours, said 1st Sgt. Michael
Brookman, Charlie’s company first sergeant. “All our Marines are rejoicing in what Captain
Maloney did for us,” he said, adding, “that Bronze Star is his gift for us.”
“I brought 150 Marines home,” said Brookman. “His legacy brought home the Marines of
Charlie Company.”
— Gidget Fuentes, Times staff writer
Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper
Hometown: Marblehead, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 43 years old
Died: June 16, 2005 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Incident: Died at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Tex., from
injuries sustained on June 3 when a makeshift bomb exploded near his vehicle in
Orgun-E.
Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, of Marblehead, Mass., died on June 16 at the Brooke
Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from injuries sustained on June 3 when an
improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle.
Christopher Neal Piper
43, Army Special Forces Staff Sergeant, Of Fort Bragg, N.C. and Marblehead, died June 15 at Brooke
Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. SSGT Piper was wounded on duty in Afghanistan earlier this
month and died of his wounds after being evacuated. Services are pending through Eustis-Cornell
Funeral Home In MARBLEHEAD. A graveside service is planned. Eustis-Cornell Funeral Home
Marblehead, MA (781) 631-0076
Published in The Boston Globe on June 18, 2005
Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper
Special Forces Communications Sergeant
1st Battalion
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, NC
Critically injured June 3, 2005 near Orgun-e, Afghanistan and died on June
16, 2005, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas
His awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy
Achievement
Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, the National
Defense Service
Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
with “M”
Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Navy
Sea Service
Deployment Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and
the Parachutist
Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, the
Meritorious
Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
A native of Marblehead, Mass. Piper enlisted in the Marine Corps September 30,
1980 where he served for three years. He entered the Army April 17, 1995.
After numerous assignments, including service in the Massachusetts Army
National Guard, he arrived to 7th SFG at Fort Bragg, NC. in September 2004.
Piper deployed in support of operation Enduring Freedom in November 2004 .
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 18, 2005) — An Army
Special Forces Soldier based here died June 16, 2005 at Brooke Army Medical
Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, a communications sergeant, assigned to 1st
Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) here, was critically injured June 3,
2005 near Orgun-e, Afghanistan. He sustained injuries when an enemy improvised
explosive device detonated near his Ground Mobility Vehicle during operations in
Afghanistan’s southeastern region.
In the same incident, Staff Sgt. Leroy E. Alexander and Capt. Charles D. Robinson,
both assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th SFG, were killed June 3.
Piper was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at Landstuhl,
Germany, then to Brooke Army Medical Center for further treatment.
Marblehead turned out yesterday to honor a fallen Green Beret in an outpouring of sympathy and
patriotism not seen in decades in the historic seaside community.
A horse-drawn caisson with the casket of Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper lead a funeral procession
through Marblehead. At left, Piper's widow, Connie, and his son, Christopher, receive the American
flag at his funeral. While a member of the Special Forces wipes his eyes as he kneels by the casket.
Amid tight security and a sea of American flags clutched by several thousand mourners along the
funeral route from Marblehead's Old North Church, Army Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper was laid to
rest in the veterans section of Waterside Cemetery.
the church service began and were quickly forgotten amid the flood of mourners who followed Piper's
casket from the church on a horse-drawn cassion or watched solemnly along the funeral route.
**Information from SFAHQ.com, The Department of Defense, USASOC used in this Article.
Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, a communications sergeant, assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th
Special Forces Group (Airborne), was critically injured June 3, 2005 near Orgun-e,
Afghanistan. He sustained injuries when an enemy improvised explosive device detonated
near his Ground Mobility Vehicle during operations in Afghanistan’s southeastern region.
Piper died at Brooke army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas as a result of his injuries.
A native of Marblehead, Mass. Piper enlisted in the Marine Corps September 30, 1980 where
he served for three years. He entered the Army April 17, 1995.
After numerous assignments, including service in the Massachusetts Army National Guard,
he arrived to 7th SFG September 2004. Piper deployed in support of operation Enduring
Freedom in November 2004 .
His awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement
Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense
Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
with “M” Device, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, the Navy
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge,
and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple
Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
His wife, Consuelo, and two children, Dierdre and Christopher of Marblehead, Mass. survive
him. God bless SSG Piper and his family. Rest in peace, brother.
U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND (AIRBORNE)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH U.S. ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE FORT BRAGG, NC 28310 / (910) 432-6005 / http://www.soc.mil As of 11 April 2006
STAFF SGT. CHRISTOPHER N. PIPER Died June
16, 2005 Operation Enduring Freedom
Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, was born Dec. 20, 1961. He was a Special Forces
communications sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Fort
Bragg N. C.
Piper died on June 16, 2005, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, from
wounds sustained when an enemy Improvised Explosive Device exploded near his Ground
Mobility Vehicle June 3, 2005, during operations in the vicinity of Orgun-e, Afghanistan.
A native of Marblehead, Mass., Piper graduated from Marblehead High School in 1980.
Following graduation he entered the Marine Corps and attended training at Parris Island, S.C.
While serving with the Marine Corps, he deployed to Beirut, Lebanon as a scout sniper from
February through October 1983, eventually becoming a regimental scout sniper. In 1983, he left
active service with the Marine Corps and joined the Marine Corps Reserves.
He entered the Army, April 17, 1995. After numerous assignments, including service with 20th
Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Headquarters, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, he
arrived to 7th SFG (Airborne) in September 2004.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Bronze Star Medal, the
Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the
Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global
War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, the NCO
Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Navy Sea Service Deployment
Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He
was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal
and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
His wife, Connie, survives him. His two children, Deirdre Margret and Christopher Thomas and
their mother, Colleen Egan-Piper of Marblehead, Mass. survive him as well.
- DE OPPRESSO LIBER -
1st Lt. Derek S. Hines
Hometown: Newburyport, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 25 years old
Died: September 1, 2005 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Vicenza, Italy.
Incident: Killed when his unit was conducting security operations and came under
attack by enemy fire in Baylough.
Eulogy for 1st Lt Derek Hines
July 9, 1980 – September 1, 2005
By his father Steven Hines
Good Morning and thank you all for being here with us today. Derek’s story was not
supposed to end this soon or in this manner. This is not how it’s supposed to end, a father giving his
son’s eulogy. When I asked myself how am I going to do this I drew upon Derek’s strength and
courage, thinking, if he can do what he accomplished in his twenty-five years of life, I have to speak
for him and let the world know Derek’s story.
After I received the news of Derek’s death I was angry at the world, the Army, the President,
the War, even myself for letting him attend West Point. I quickly realized that to take this stance
would minimize all that Derek believed in and all that he accomplished in his life because he truly
believed in his mission that he was making the world a better place. When Derek was looking at
colleges, Sue once said to me “Aren’t you worried about him having to go to war after he graduates.”
I said “no I would be more worried if he goes to a conventional college and him getting home safe on
the weekends.”
Well, September 11 changed the world we once knew and Derek quickly realized he would
probably be going to war at some point in his military career. He still had the chance to transfer out of
West Point before his junior year without owing the Military any time, but he not have it any other
way.
Derek is the oldest of our four children; Michael, Ashley & Trevor and he made parenting easy
for Sue & I by always setting the bar high and reaching for his goals both in the classroom and sports.
His younger brothers and sister just followed from the example he set.
By no means was Derek the perfect child. I like how Sister Mary (Derek’s second grade teacher
from the Immaculate Conception School) described him when she came to visit us on Saturday. She
called him “spirited” but went on to say that she saw the good in him when he would sit his little sister
Ashley on his lap in the lunchroom, while Sue would help at the lunches.
I would have to say that spirited would be considered an understatement at times. The first
parent teacher conferences of each new school year were always interesting with Derek. Sue would
always ask Derek if there was anything he wanted to say before we went he had better tell us now,
because we were going to believe the teacher. Then it was “well Mr. Smith might say this or Mrs.
Jones might say that.”
At St Johns Prep Sue & I were shocked at the first parent teacher meeting when we sat down
in Mr. Nance’s French class, introduced ourselves and he responded “Model Student” We looked at
each other in amazement and Mr. Nance said to us “you seemed surprised,” I said “we are” to which
he responded “In what way?” I just said Derek was a little bit of a problem in grades 1-8; he had a
little trouble remembering who was the teacher & who was the student.
Derek always seemed to find different ways to cut his head well enough for stitches. In the
doctors office while waiting to have his tubes removed from his ears he fell and hit his head on the
coffee table, climbing the stacks of dog food in the front of Shaw’s supermarket, falling off the stage
during the school play here at the IC and thinking an old piece of plywood would make a good slide,
(big mistake)
When Derek turned eighteen he said “you know dad I’m old enough to get a tattoo if I want.” I
jokingly said maybe I will get one with you, to which he responded “ya dad that will be cool,” I was
able to put it off for a few months, but he finally called my bluff. He was so proud of that little H
tattooed on his calf, if I knew it was going to make him that happy I would have done it a lot sooner.
I remember Derek’s first college hockey game in Bemidji Minn. Against Bemidji State as
though it were yesterday. He scored on his first shot on net, though he soon found out they weren’t all
going to be that easy. We were sitting alone in the hotel after the game and I told him how proud I
was of him for all he accomplished in the past six months, graduating from St Johns, getting through
Cadet basic training and making the team as a freshman. I then told him that “I HOPE SOMEDAY
YOU HAVE A SON, THAT GIVES YOU THE THRILLS, THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ALL
THESE YEARS”
At West Point Derek used to play like he was six feet tall, hitting everything in site at full
speed, backing down from no one. He had his own fan club; a group of local high school kids used to
bring Heinz Ketchup bottles to the games and would bang them on the glass when Derek would make
a hit or score. They would wait for him after games for autographs and talk with us like we were
celebrities. After the season he invited them in the locker-room giving them sticks and shirts.
Sophomore year at West Point he met his girlfriend Leah Sandman who was also a cadet and
member of the swim team. After graduation Derek and Leah continued their relationship despite
having different posts and jobs in the Army. Leah did a tour of duty in Iraq, while Derek was able to
go back to West Point to be a graduate assistant for the hockey team and she received her Combat
Badge for her duty in Iraq. Last September Derek was stationed in Italy for about six months before
he was deployed. Leah was stationed in Germany and they were able to travel to many places in
Europe and spent last Christmas in Paris. Leah will always be a member of our family.
Derek was in Afghanistan about six weeks and would call every so often. He would tell us
about the different projects he was working on. I was going online reading about a these battles that
were in the very province he was in and finally asked him Derek, what are you really doing? He said,
“Dad, you really want to know?” I said yes to which he replied, “don’t tell mom.” “I was in a fire
fight for 50 minutes the other day, we took gunfire and RPG fire for 50 minutes, three of us were
surrounded by 8 insurgents. I hate humvees, I am never getting in another one, I’ll walk till my feet
bleed and my feet are bleeding because we walked fifty miles in two days.” “That was the second
gun battle we were in this week.” Shortly after that, he wrote his letter to the Nbpt Daily News so I
really couldn’t keep the danger of his missions from his mother anymore.
The whole time he was there he never once complained. Two weeks ago four men in his
company were killed when their humvee was blown up in front of Derek’s one of his soldiers was
critically injured. Derek’s only concern was to ask if we knew anyone living in Washington that
could visit his soldier because his family couldn’t the plane fare.
Courage - That quality of mind or spirit enabling one to meet danger or opposition with fearlessness.
Fortitude - Strength of mind in the face of pain, adversity, or peril, patient courage.
Humble - Free from pride or vanity, modest.
Hero - A man distinguished for exceptional courage and fortitude, one idealized for superior qualities
or deeds of any kind.ford plane fare to visit.
It was never about Derek, he was truly a hero and his legacy will live on forever. I know he
is looking down upon me now saying Dad stop talking about me. I will never stop, until I see you
again, Love Dad
Our Mission
1st
The
Lieutenant Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance fund intends to provide financial
assistance for Massachusetts’s soldiers that have incurred serious, career ending,
and life altering injuries while on active duty.
Donate via US mail
Please make payments to:
1st Lt Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund
c/o Marie Wilson - The Provident Bank
P.O. Box 37
5 Market Square
Amesbury, Mass. 01913
st
The 1 Lt. Derek Hines Soldiers Assistance Fund was formed July 26, 2007 as a charitable nonprofit
organization, and is registered in Massachusetts with the Secretary of State. It is also classified as a
501(c)(3) charity under the Internal Revenue Service. Federal Tax ID #26-0752782
Derek Hines
July 9, 1980 - September 1, 2005
Derek Hines: July 9, 1980 – September 1, 2005. Derek is survived by his parents, Steve and Susan,
and his younger siblings Michael, Ashley, and Trevor.
A 2003 graduate of the United States Military Academy, 1LT Derek S. Hines, 25, died on September 1,
2005, in Baylough, Afghanistan. His unit was conducting security operations and came under attack
by enemy forces using small arms fire. Even after he had been fatally shot, 1LT Hines continued to
fire at the insurgents. Derek showed that same fortitude in everything he did.
Growing up in Amesbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts, he attended Immaculate Conception
School until the fourth grade. He went to the Nock Middle school through eighth grade at which
point he decided to attend St. John’s Prep School in Danvers, MA.
Derek thrived at St. John’s both academically and athletically. He was a four year starter on the
varsity hockey team and a three year starter on the lacrosse team. He participated in a number of
service projects at St. John’s distinguishing himself amongst his peers. He graduated as a member of
the National Honor Society having made the honor roll through most of his career at St. John’s. In
the spring of 1999 Derek made the difficult decision to attend the United States Military Academy.
At West Point Derek encountered many of the typical hardships felt by new students. He did not use
the hardships as an excuse, however. Derek used any setback as motivation to eventually succeed.
He succeeded in the classroom and as a member of the hockey team. By his senior year Derek was
captain of a team that at one point he wasn’t sure if he would make. All who knew Derek were not
surprised. He possessed the inherent ability to triumph even though odds might be against him. He
was strong in every sense of the word.
September 11, 2001 changed the complexion of the world for everyone, especially those in the
military. This did not deter Derek from seeking positions that might put him in harm’s way. Upon
graduation from West Point, Derek continued his training with completion of Ranger and Airborne
School after briefly serving as the Graduate Assitant to the Army hockey team.
Soon after completing the rigorous test of Ranger School, Derek joined the 173rd Airborne Division in
Vicenza, Italy before being deployed to his unit in Afghanistan. After arriving in Afghanistan Derek
joined his unit in their attempt to eradicate the country of terrorists and insurgents.
“He stands in that unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow
and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives - in a way that humbles the
undertakings of most men.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Our Fallen Brother
14 SEP 05
To our Battle Company Family,
On September 1, 2005, elements of 1st Platoon and Headquarters Platoon, Battle Company, were on
patrol in the district of Daychopan. We were on the hunt looking for the Taliban fighters that had
planted an IED the previous week. About two hours after sunset, we received information that the
leader of this IED cell was in a nearby village resting for the night.
Battle Company Paratroopers, accompanied by Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army,
approached the suspected compound to capture or kill the Taliban leader. In the ensuing firefight, the
Battle Company Fire Support Officer, LT Derek Hines, was killed by small arms fire.
Derek’s death has left a whole in our ranks and in our hearts. He was a genuine friend to those lucky
enough to know him. He was a leader, able to touch people in a special kind of way…able to provide
that sense of purpose and motivation so desperately needed on the field of Battle.
On 9 September we memorialized Derek as a Company and as a Battalion at a unit memorial
ceremony. Below, in red text, are my comments from that service:
In the early 1920s, General Douglas Macarthur was appointed as the Superintendent at the United
States Military Academy, at West Point. Shortly after he arrived to his new duty assignment, he
addressed the Corps of Cadets, and in his speech he proposed a new doctrine of leader development.
He drew the first correlations between the lessons learned in hard core athletic competition and the
lessons learned in battle. He said, “Upon the fields of friendly strife, are sewn the seeds, that upon
other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.” I think it is safe to say, without question,
that 1LT Derek Hines validated Macarthur’s opinion of athletics.
For those of you who knew Derek, you know well that he defined himself as an Army Hockey Player.
And to him, in the paradigm of his own life, he quantified his hockey and athletic experiences as a set
of great memories, memories that may have helped to shape who he was and what he did. But to me,
a regular guy who had the opportunity to walk next to greatness for 12 short months, there should be
no doubt, that the lessons and values that Derek Hines learned on the field of athletic competition
absolutely shaped and sculpted him into one of the finest men I have ever known.
Within a month of meeting Derek, it soon became absolutely apparent that he was a team builder. It
was also immediately apparent that I had an Army hockey player on my hands. Supremely
competitive, absolutely fit, exceptionally intelligence, with a work ethic that was unmatched. That
being said, Derek didn’t take himself too seriously, and he didn’t really take the nuances of garrison
life too seriously either. To be quite honest, it was hard as hell to make him focus on the
knuckleheaded things we distract ourselves with in the rear Army. But somehow I knew, I just knew
that this new and reckless addition to Battle Company would absolutely excel in combat. He was that
guy. He was my “break glass” in time of war guy. And I loved him for it.
Derek and I fought together, side by side, more times than I care to remember. And it’s strange, we
talk about the bonds and connections forged in the caldron of combat. And while Derek did
absolutely distinguish himself under fire, time and time again; the mark he made on me, and on this
company of men, was after the fighting. Derek made his mark on us during the sitting around part of
the war, the quiet jabs and jests between squad mates and long conversations of home and family on
radio guard. Derek Hines, I can honestly say, was a true and loyal friend to every person he met, and
with a friendship that transcended rank and position, he was equally comfortable sitting with his
battalion commander as he was the newest Soldier to the company, showing each a genuine respect
that was hard to turn away from.
Derek used to tell me about his little league games. And I had to laugh, as he described his dad as a
tough old state police trooper, and he’d describe how his dad would send his brother down to the
bench, with some smart ass question like, “Derek, dad wants to know if you are going to participate
today, or if you are going to play today.” For those of us that knew him, I don’t think there can be any
doubt that Derek played this game hard, and played it to win.
The true tragedy in Derek’s death is that it’s so damn early. We’ll all die, every one of us, but for
Derek, it’s just so early, so many things left undone, so many lives left untouched. Most men live
their entire lives, and don’t stand for a thing. We stumble along, absorbed in our own little worlds,
paying our bills, and concerned only about what we can see, and concerned only about that which
impacts us, that which touches our own little spheres of influence. Not Derek. Derek Hines was a
believer. There should be no doubt, absolutely no doubt, that Derek Hines died doing something he
loved, died on a mission that he believed in, along side men that believed in him. Derek Hines was an
absolute believer. As our company civil reconstruction officer, I would say, with absolute confidence,
that Derek Hines believed more passionately in his mission to make this place 1% better, only 1%
better, than the rest of us put together. Will the District Headquarters in Baylough, that Derek
personally designed, and resourced, and contracted, will that building make a difference. You bet
your ass it will. Will the school reconstruction initiatives in Khakeran, that Derek started a month
ago, that we’ll break ground on in three days, will that school make a difference? Absolutely. How
will it make a difference? Why will it make a difference? Because maybe, just maybe, some kid will
go to that school, and learn something other than the teachings of radical Islam, a doctrine of hate and
intolerance. And just maybe, that kid will choose to work for the betterment of his own country, and
not be a terrorist retard – threatening safety and security around the world. This is what Derek
believed, and this is where Derek was making his difference in Afghanistan.
Why did Derek Hines have to die? I don’t know. I do know, however, why Derek Hines lived.
Derek lived so that he could touch our lives, however briefly, and make us better people. Derek Hines
lived so that he could show us what right looked like. Teach us how to treat each other, how to be a
friend to each other, how to love each other. Derek lived to inspire us to be better Soldiers, and better
people.
As I close, I want to close with Derek’s own words. About two months ago, he wrote an article for his
hometown newspaper. In typical fashion, he didn’t tell anybody, he just did it. Derek wrote, “I
wanted to write this article to tell America of the war in Afghanistan. The press has slowly made
people think this is a humanitarian assistance mission. This is false. Coalition forces are on the fast
track to rebuilding this country, but there is fighting here too. The men who surround me are
America’s hero’s. They are between the ages of 18 and 21. Most of them are just back from Iraq and
are making the ultimate sacrifice for another year. Day in and day out, they amaze me with their
perseverance and determination. Their mission, secure the most contentious areas in this country,
Arghandab, Dechopan, and Khak Afghan. In the past four months, these brave men have successfully
met ever challenge presented to them. There are no days off. Recently, the fighting has been as
intense as it was when Special Forces and the Rangers initially came in to defeat the Taliban and Al
Qaida in the Tora Bora mountains. These Soldiers make every day I am here worth the trip. As a
young officer, I am beginning to understand why our Army is the best in the world. All the men are
respectful when pushed to the edge, and willing to take on any task, humble about their huge
accomplishments.
Derek Hines, you were my friend. I pray that I can live out my days in such a way to deserve your
sacrifice.
Go Army, Beat Navy.
Our mission continues. To lessen our pace, or hesitate in our step, would be an injustice for the values
and ethos that Derek held so dearly. We will continue to look for, find, and destroy the oppressive
forces that threaten our way of life.
We will never forget Derek.
We will never forget Josh.
We will never forget Michael.
We will never forget Christopher.
We will never forget Blake.
For these men are our fallen brothers, and will provide us the strength and overwatch so that we may
continue to fight and win in their names.
The war continues. Battle Company continues to hunt, to patrol, and to fight the thug terrorists that
threaten our way of life. For us, this is the greatest memorial that we can give our five heros. They
did not die in vain. Their sacrifice, while painful for us to endure, will only strengthen our resolve and
fortitude.
We pray for our fallen brothers, and ask that you pray for us, for tonight somewhere in the mountains;
there is a Battle Hard Paratrooper on patrol, hunting the bad guys, seeking vengeance.
Battle Hard!
CPT Mike Kloepper
Commanding
College Hockey: Hockey Commissioners Announce New National
Awards
National Rookie of the Year, Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award To Be Given
Compiled by USCHO Staff from wire reports and press releases
Jan. 18, 2007 — The Hockey Commissioners’ Association (HCA) Thursday announced the
establishment of two major annual awards. The National Rookie of the Year trophy and the
Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, named in memory of the former Army player who died
courageously in combat in Afghanistan, will both be presented for the first time in April.
“As the college game continues to receive more national exposure, both in terms of television
and a weekly satellite radio show that’s coming soon, our Association believes it’s the right
time to highlight one outstanding first-year player from what is a dynamic and highly-skilled
group of candidates each year across the nation,” stated HCA president and CCHA
commissioner Tom Anastos.
Consummate team player Derek Hines of Army, who was killed in service in Afghanistan,
is the namesake of the new Unsung Hero award.
“Invariably, the national winner and many of the finalists will have an impact at higher levels
of hockey. Players such as Marty Turco, Dany Heatley, Paul Kariya and Erik Cole, to name
but a few, are some of the freshman student-athletes that would have been considered for
this award in their college days.”
The National Rookie of the Year will be chosen from among the six players that are
recognized as the top first-year player in their respective conferences. Voting will be
conducted among the assistant coaches of all 59 D-I teams with one vote per team. Points
will be awarded on a 5-3-1 basis with five points for a first-place vote, three points for a
second-place vote and one point for a third-place vote.
Each of the six conferences will also submit a nominee for the Derek Hines Unsung Hero
Award to honor the nation’s “consummate team player and team builder.” Hines, a former
Army captain, was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan in September. He was a four-year
letterwinner for the Black Knights, graduating in 2003 after serving as the team’s co-captain
in his senior season.
“Derek was a special person who profoundly impacted those around him and his remarkable
life exemplifies everything that a college hockey player can strive for and achieve,” said Bob
DeGregorio, commissioner of Atlantic Hockey. “We are so pleased that the Hines family has
given their blessing to this award that we hope can serve as a fitting tribute to all that Derek
stood for.”
The Unsung Hero Award will go to the nominee who best personifies Derek’s spirit and
relentless commitment as defined by the following description:
“This award recognizes a fearless leader and beloved fan favorite who always places his team
first. Displaying exemplary sportsmanship, he’s supremely competitive, intelligent and
extraordinarily conditioned with an unmatched work ethic. The contributions of this
individual, on and off the ice, cannot be measured by statistics alone.”
Nominees will be judged by a panel comprised of the sports information directors from the
six D-I conferences along with representatives of Army athletics and the Hines family.
1ST LT. DEREK S. HINES
July 9, 1980 – September 1, 2005
Reflections of a Hero
“He stands in that unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and
grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives—in a way
that humbles the undertakings of most men.”
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
2
We gather to honor, reflect and support each other.We stand together — for
you, by you, because of you.We love you Derek Steven Hines
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Friday, September 9, 2005
The Hines Family
Michael, Ashley, Trevor, Derek
Sue & Steve
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Immaculate Conception Church, 10:30 a.m.
Celebrant Fr. Mark Piché
Eulogy Steven Hines
First Reading Pam Pappalardo
Second Reading Rob Ouellette
Offering of Gifts Derek’s cousins
Reflection from Ed Hill
Family & Friends Michael Hines
CPT. Tim Murphy
Music Soloist: Donna Postle
Accompanied by St. John’s Prep Choir
A letter from Derek Hines
Submitted to the Newburyport Daily News and published on July 4, 2005
B
attle Company is aiding in the construction of government headquarters,
police stations, schools and medical clinics throughout three districts of
Afghanistan. But our job is not solely to offer humanitarian support. The
fact remains, this is a war — groups of men are fighting each other on a daily
basis. In our three districts alone, we have engaged the Taliban over 20 times in
three months. The enemy's primary weapons are AK-47 assault rifles and Rocket
Propelled Grenades (RPGs). A standard mission for the men of Battle Company
consists of moving by helicopter into a village. The village is believed to be harboring
the Taliban, according to intelligence reports. Once inserted, we walk
upwards of 20 to 30 miles in the course of a week with 50 to 70 pounds on our
back in the form of body armor and a backpack. The patrol leader and his interpreter
move into the village and find the "mullah," usually the oldest and wisest
male. At this point, a systematic search of the compounds that make up the village
begins. About two hours into the patrol, the interpreter's walkie-talkie starts
making noises. It is the Taliban. We are hunting them, and they are hunting us. It
is a game of cat and mouse. The interpreter tells the patrol leader what the
Taliban is saying. They are beginning to prepare their attack. As the signal gets
better reception, we know they are getting closer. Every word said over the
radios the "terp" is telling us. The patrol starts to gear up, knowing it may have to
fight the mysterious enemy. We search the high ground looking for suspicious
activity in the rocks. The enemy is smart in this regard. They use the high ground
to their advantage. To try to reduce this advantage, Battle Company walks it.
Most mountains in Afghanistan range from 8,000 to 12,000 feet in elevation. At
the end of the day, we either get into a gunfight or wait until the next day when
the walkie-talkie chatter is heard again.
Working toward elections
The enemy in Afghanistan uses intimidation and weapons to influence the local
populace. They are professionally trained fighters educated at madrasses, or religious
schools, in Pakistan, where they are taught that coalition forces are in
Afghanistan to destroy Islam. They have absolutely no connection to the people
of Afghanistan. They spend the day walking the mountains, then move to the villages
in the evening to terrorize the people. One of the most pivotal events in
our one-year deployment will be the provincial elections. The responsibilities of
Battle Company include securing the election sites and workers. The United
Nations teams are taking responsibility for the actual elections. If the elections are
a success, it will move the Afghan government and the country closer to sustaining
itself without Coalition troops and assistance. The Afghan government is
allowing women to vote, but in our three districts, which are very traditional, the
elders have stated women will not vote. In more developed areas like Kandahar
4
and Kabul, they will. Coalition forces are working with the Afghan National
Police (ANP) and Afghan National Army (ANA). Both are in the early stages of
development, but every day show improvement. The men who join receive no
formal training. They are recruited, travel to the district they will work in, given
weapons and asked to secure the people. They range in age from 13 to 50. You
may think 13 is young for a police officer, but these brave boys are sometimes
the sole providers for their families — the only hope their families have to survive.
When we arrived, the number of police officers was dwindling because the
government hadn't paid them in six months. Those men who stayed on to serve
despite the hardship will be why Afghanistan's government makes it. The best
missions Battle Company has conducted have been joint patrols with them leading
the way. They live with the people and know who the bad guys are in the
local villages. Battle Company would have no idea who the enemy is if not for
them. The war would not be won without the brave ANP and ANA because the
Afghan people listen to them a lot more than they listen to us. The U.S. will not
win this war without the cooperation of every village because we cannot recognize
the enemy unless he is shooting at us. To prepare for the elections, Battle
Company scheduled Surrahs (town hall meetings) with elders of each of the three
districts on Fridays, which is their Sabbath. In these meetings run by Army lieutenants
and captains, groups of men attempt to solve district issues such as
hunger, drought and security. I've found that Afghans are looking for guidance,
and they want strong leadership. The elders listened to me talk about simple concepts
like security, cooperation and leadership.
The reason for writing
I wanted to write this article to tell America of the war in Afghanistan. The press
has slowly made people think this is a humanitarian assistance mission. This is
false. Coalition forces are on the fast track to rebuilding this country, but there is
fighting, too. The men who surround me are America's heroes. They are between
the ages of 18 and 21. Most of them are just back from one year in Iraq and are
making the ultimate sacrifice for another year. Day in and day out, they amaze
me with their perseverance and determination. Their mission: secure three of the
most contentious areas in the country, Arghandab, Deh Chopan and Khak
Afghan. In the past four months, these brave men have successfully met every
challenge presented them. There are no days off. Recently, the fighting has been
as intense as it was when Special Forces Units and the Rangers initially came in
to defeat the Taliban and Al-Qaida in the Tora Bora mountains. In four major
engagements with the enemy, we have destroyed 15, 16, 40 and 80 Taliban fighters
without the loss of a single American soldier. These soldiers make every day I
am out here worth the trip. As a young officer, I am beginning
to understand why our Army is the best in the world.
All the men are respectful when they are pushed to their
edge by rude Afghans, are willing to take on any task and
are humble about their huge accomplishments.
“Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.”
– Robert Louis Stevenson
(a favorite quote of Derek’s)
From Trevor…
Although you are gone, I will always remember what you meant
to me. In every aspect of my life, I will try to be just like you,
whether it is playing hockey, or following the example you set
for me.
I remember you and everything that you did in your life.
I hope to accomplish as much as you have, but realize it will
be difficult.
You are and always will be my hero,
my brother, and will always be in
my heart.
Love, Trev
From Ashley…
Derek is perfect. He set such high standards for us. We all aim
to achieve it. Now, as I sit here trying to think of memories of
Derek, they are all caring or funny gestures.
From his soft touch on our cousins’ faces, to his thoughtful
cards on Valentines Day. He also loved having a good
time....whether it was making fun of my excessive use of "Like",
or buying mittens for me every Christmas.
He was modest, selfless, and my hero. I am
so proud of his accomplishments and love
him with all my heart.
You're the Best,
Love, Ash
From Michael…
Even though you are gone, I will always remember the things
you taught me...you showed me. I will live the rest of my life
knowing that you will provide me with some of the strength
and courage you never had the time to use.
Love, Mike
“Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
– John 15:13
The family of Derek Hines would like to express
their deepest appreciation for the kindness shown them
during this very difficult time. The place Derek holds
in our hearts will be honored and cherished. We will fill it
with his memories, water it with our tears and nurture
it with our never ending love.
Rest in peace our beloved Derek, you will always be
the wind beneath our wings.
www.derekhines.org
Sgt. Pierre A. Raymond
Hometown: Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 28 years old
Died: September 20, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army Reserves, Army Reserve's 228th Forward Support Battalion, 28th
Infantry Division, Harrisburg, Pa.
You had to hear Pierre A. Raymond laugh. He would toss his head back and let his laughter escape
without shame or self-consciousness. "My greatest fear," said his sister, Barbara Bell, "is that I will
forget the sound of my brother's laughter. And he was always laughing." Raymond, 28, of Lawrence,
Mass., died Sept. 20 at a military hospital in Germany of injuries from a Sept. 15 attack in Ramadi. He
was based in Harrisburg. "Pierre just had this capacity that very few people have," Bell said. "This
capacity for life. Even as a kid, we don't have many family photos of him because he was always
running in the park." He graduated high school in 1994 and attended Northern Essex Community
College. Raymond, who had a passion for fixing cars on the fly, was a military mechanic. He joined
the Army in 1998 and spent 13 months in Bosnia. He also is survived by his parents, Santina and
David. "I'd give anything to have my brother back," said his sister, who was at his bedside in
Germany. "But to be there, to be able to laugh with my family when we remembered his jokes was
amazing. It was a gift."
Pierre A. Raymond
Monday, September 26 2005 @ 08:48 AM EDT
Boston Globe -- When Delta Flight 1880 landed late Saturday at Logan
International Airport, the pilot went on the intercom to make a request of the passengers
preparing to grab their carry-on bags: Sit for a moment and honor a fallen soldier.
''The pilot said, 'We have a hero on this flight and sadly, he isn't with us, but his mother is
escorting his remains,' " said Barbara Bell, sister of Sergeant Pierre A. Raymond, 28, an
Army reservist from Lawrence who died Tuesday in Germany after being wounded in Iraq.
The normal bustle of an emptying airplane immediately ceased, she said.
''He went on to say that 'a sergeant from the Army is escorting them as well', and then [the
pilot] thanked him for doing what he did and for keeping us safe and free."
As Raymond's mother, Santina, got up to walk off the plane, her fellow passengers gave
her a standing ovation.
''I was thankful that he was remembered like he was angel," said Santina Raymond, who
spent yesterday at her Lawrence home preparing for her son's funeral on Wednesday. ''He
was a hero, so everybody cheered. It was wonderful. He was wonderful."
Pierre Raymond died from injuries sustained after a Sept. 15 attack near Ramadi, Iraq,
where he was hit in the chest and neck with flying shrapnel while in his sleeping quarters.
Immediately after he was wounded, Raymond was talking and even flirting with the nurses
who treated him, said Bell, who lives in Palo Alto, Calif. But military doctors in Iraq couldn't
stop the bleeding and sent Raymond to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for
emergency treatment, where he was kept alive until his family arrived.
''We were all flown out on military orders," said Bell, also a former reservist.
The family stayed at Raymond's side during his last hours.
''Pierre just had this capacity that very few people have. . . . This capacity for life," said
Bell, 30. ''Even as a kid, we don't have many family photos of him because he was always
running in the park."
Bell said her brother joined the Army in 1998 and spent 13 months in Bosnia as a military
mechanic. He was discharged in 2001, she said, and spent some time traveling before
being called back in the National Guard to serve with the 228th Forward Support Battalion,
28th Infantry Division, which supported a Marine Expeditionary Force. Raymond was
dispatched for retraining and arrived in Kuwait in June. He'd barely been in Iraq a week
before he was wounded.
For two weeks prior, he called his mother nearly every morning at 6 a.m., Boston time, his
sister said. ''He'd even sent letters saying Kuwait was kind of boring," Bell said. ''He was
waiting to be attached to a unit."
Raymond had been a student at Salem High School in New Hampshire and attended
Northern Essex Community College for a short time. He enjoyed fixing cars and joined the
Army in part to use his skills as a mechanic. In Iraq, he was maintaining Bradley fighting
vehicles.
A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Church in Lawrence.
Besides his mother and sister, Raymond leaves his father, David, of Londonderry, N.H.; and
two brothers, Joseph, 26, and Alfio, 32.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
"We have an Angel on this Flight"
From the September 26, 2005 Boston Globe, written by Adrienne P. Samuels of the Globe
Staff.
When Delta Flight 1880 landed late Saturday at Logan International Airport, the pilot went
on the intercom to make a request of the passengers preparing to grab their carry-on bags:
Sit for a moment and honor a fallen soldier.
''The pilot said, 'We have a hero on this flight and sadly, he isn't with us, but his mother is
escorting his remains,' " said Barbara Bell, sister of Sergeant Pierre A. Raymond, 28, an Army
reservist from Lawrence who died Tuesday in Germany after being wounded in Iraq.
The normal bustle of an emptying airplane immediately ceased, she said.
''He went on to say that 'a sergeant from the Army is escorting them as well', and then [the
pilot] thanked him for doing what he did and for keeping us safe and free."
As Raymond's mother, Santina, got up to walk off the plane, her fellow passengers gave her a
standing ovation.
''I was thankful that he was remembered like he was angel," said Santina Raymond, who
spent yesterday at her Lawrence home preparing for her son's funeral on Wednesday. ''He
was a hero, so everybody cheered. It was wonderful. He was wonderful."
Pierre Raymond died from injuries sustained after a Sept. 15 attack near Ramadi, Iraq, where
he was hit in the chest and neck with flying shrapnel while in his sleeping quarters.
Immediately after he was wounded, Raymond was talking and even flirting with the nurses
who treated him, said Bell, who lives in Palo Alto, Calif. But military doctors in Iraq couldn't
stop the bleeding and sent Raymond to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for
emergency treatment, where he was kept alive until his family arrived.
''We were all flown out on military orders," said Bell, also a former reservist.
The family stayed at Raymond's side during his last hours.
''Pierre just had this capacity that very few people have. . . . This capacity for life," said Bell,
30. ''Even as a kid, we don't have many family photos of him because he was always running
in the park." Godspeed SGT Raymond.
Passengers aboard plane salute fallen 'hero'
Lawrence reservist remembered for service to country
By Adrienne P. Samuels, Globe Staff | September 26, 2005
(Editor's note: A headline in yesterday's City & Region section on a story about the return to
Logan Airport of the body of an American soldier who died of wounds suffered in Iraq used
quotation marks around the word hero. The headline should have made clear that quotation
marks were being used because the pilot of the plane had announced to passengers that a hero
was on board. Without that context, the headline appeared to call into question the soldier's
heroism.)
When Delta Flight 1880 landed late Saturday at Logan International Airport, the pilot went on
the intercom to make a request of the passengers preparing to grab their carry-on bags: Sit for
a moment and honor a fallen soldier.
''The pilot said, 'We have a hero on this flight and sadly, he isn't with us, but his mother is
escorting his remains,' " said Barbara Bell, sister of Sergeant Pierre A. Raymond, 28, an
Army reservist from Lawrence who died Tuesday in Germany after being wounded in Iraq.
The normal bustle of an emptying airplane immediately ceased, she said.
''He went on to say that 'a sergeant from the Army is escorting them as well', and then [the
pilot] thanked him for doing what he did and for keeping us safe and free."
As Raymond's mother, Santina, got up to walk off the plane, her fellow passengers gave her a
standing ovation.
''I was thankful that he was remembered like he was angel," said Santina Raymond, who
spent yesterday at her Lawrence home preparing for her son's funeral on Wednesday. ''He was
a hero, so everybody cheered. It was wonderful. He was wonderful."
Pierre Raymond died from injuries sustained after a Sept. 15 attack near Ramadi, Iraq, where
he was hit in the chest and neck with flying shrapnel while in his sleeping quarters.
Immediately after he was wounded, Raymond was talking and even flirting with the nurses
who treated him, said Bell, who lives in Palo Alto, Calif. But military doctors in Iraq couldn't
stop the bleeding and sent Raymond to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for
emergency treatment, where he was kept alive until his family arrived.
''We were all flown out on military orders," said Bell, also a former reservist.
The family stayed at Raymond's side during his last hours.
''Pierre just had this capacity that very few people have. . . . This capacity for life," said Bell,
30. ''Even as a kid, we don't have many family photos of him because he was always running
in the park."
Bell said her brother joined the Army in 1998 and spent 13 months in Bosnia as a military
mechanic. He was discharged in 2001, she said, and spent some time traveling before being
called back in the National Guard to serve with the 228th Forward Support Battalion, 28th
Infantry Division, which supported a Marine Expeditionary Force. Raymond was dispatched
for retraining and arrived in Kuwait in June. He'd barely been in Iraq a week before he was
wounded.
For two weeks prior, he called his mother nearly every morning at 6 a.m., Boston time, his
sister said. ''He'd even sent letters saying Kuwait was kind of boring," Bell said. ''He was
waiting to be attached to a unit."
Raymond had been a student at Salem High School in New Hampshire and attended Northern
Essex Community College for a short time. He enjoyed fixing cars and joined the Army in
part to use his skills as a mechanic. In Iraq, he was maintaining Bradley fighting vehicles.
A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Church in Lawrence.
Besides his mother and sister, Raymond leaves his father, David, of Londonderry, N.H.; and
two brothers, Joseph, 26, and Alfio, 32.
Adrienne P. Samuels can be reached at asamuels@globe.com.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
David L. Ryan Globe Staff Photo: Lawrence,MA., 9/28/05
Funeral for Lawrence US soldier killed in Iraq, Sgt Pierre Raymond. Members from Fort Drum, NY 3rd
BSTB bring the coffin out of St Patrick's Church in Lawrence.
Lance Cpl. Shayne M. Cabino
Hometown: Franklin, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: October 6, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Killed by a makeshift bomb while conducting combat operations against enemy forces
near Karmah.
September 26, 2009
(Rain date: September 27, 2009)
Registration: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Bikes to leave promptly at 1:00 pm
American Legion Post #106
727 S. Main Street
Sharon, MA
Donations may be made to the:
Shayne M. Cabino Memorial Fund
18 Washington Street, Box 106
Canton, MA 02021
The Annual Shayne M. Cabino Memorial Run raised thousands of dollars. Due to the success, the Shayne M. Cabino
Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded $5,000.00 in scholarships to 5 Canton High School 2007 and 2008 graduates.
This would not have been possible without the generous donations of friends, neighbors, and local businesses.
On September 13, 2008, the "Third Annual Shayne M. Cabino Memorial Run" will take place at the American Legion
Post 106, Sharon, MA 02067.
We need the help of local businesses such as yours to achieve the same success we were rewarded with last year.
We welcome your tax-deductible donations.
Your generosity is important to our success. On behalf of the Shayne M. Cabino Scholarship Fund and the Canton
High School students who benefit from your generosity, please accept our thanks for your support.
Shayne M. Cabino
Monday, October 10 2005 @ 08:18 AM EDT
Boston Globe -- CANTON -- Shayne M. Cabino was a standout wrestler with a cheery disposition who did
not have to struggle to be popular among his peers.
On Thursday, Cabino, 19, was one of four Marines killed when an improvised explosive device detonated
on a roadside near Karmah in Iraq.
Teary-eyed family members and friends gathered last night at the police station, some wearing white Tshirts bearing his picture, and described him as a gregarious teenager whose zest for life made for a
colorful personality.
''Simply stated, Shayne wanted to make the world a better place," said family friend Jim Stoffel of Franklin,
reading a statement on behalf of the family.
On the wrestling mat, Cabino competed his freshman year in the 103-pound weight class for Tri-County
Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin. He ''had kind of a natural talent to him," coach Mark
LeBlanc said yesterday in a telephone interview. ''He was very successful that year."
Cabino ''had a little bit of character and was confident for his size," LeBlanc said. ''He wasn't quiet."
Cabino lived in Canton with his father, William, a correctional officer at MCI-Cedar Junction, and his
stepmother, Mary. He had spent his younger years in Franklin, attending Tri-County Regional, before
moving to Canton, where he graduated from Canton High School in 2004.
He joined the Marine Corps at age 18, several months after graduating, underwent basic training at Parris
Island, S.C., and headed to Iraq three months ago. Cabino was a mortarman, responsible for operating the
81mm mortar, for the Second Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, which is part of the II Marine
Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
''They were training and working alongside the Iraqi security forces to deny insurgents access to and from
developing strongholds around the city" of Fallujah, said Lieutenant Barry Edwards, a base spokesman.
Also killed in the attack were Corporal Nicholas O. Cherava, 21, of Ontonagon, Mich.; Lance Corporal
Patrick B. Kenney, 20, of Pittsburgh; and Private Jason L. Frye, 19, of Landisburg, Pa.
Cabino had already received three service awards and is expected to receive a Purple Heart posthumously,
according to Edwards.
''Shayne was extremely proud of the uniform he wore, and the fact that he was serving his country,"
Stoffel said. High school teammates also recalled his gregarious nature.
''You'd notice him out of a crowd," said Greg Ambrose, 22, of North Attleborough, who was captain of
Cabino's Tri-County Regional wrestling team. ''He was very outgoing and was very talented for someone
who came onto the team with no experience."
''Life as we know it will never be the same," Stoffel said. ''Yet we know Shayne will always be with us." He
also leaves his mother, Jodi Cabino-Cipriano; and four brothers and two sisters.
Capt. Joel E. Cahill
Hometown: Norwood, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 34 years old
Died: November 6, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning,
Ga.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee in Ad Dawr.
Since 2001, Joel E. Cahill kept busy. He served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, earned a Bronze Star and was on his
second tour in Iraq. Not that his family knew much about any of that. "He was kind of tightlipped about everything he
did in the service," said his brother, Randy. "He wasn''t one to brag about anything, he kind of downplayed
everything." Cahill, 34, originally of Norwood, Mass., was killed Nov. 6 by a roadside bomb near Dawr. He was
assigned to Fort Benning. The 15-year Army veteran graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska at
Omaha in 1999 and later became a decorated member of the Army Rangers. One of his squads was responsible for
setting up support services for the extrication of Pvt. Jessica Lynch. Most recently Cahill''s company was asked to
ensure the safety of Iraq''s democratic elections. "Anything he did, he did it at 115 percent and he was great at it,"
said another brother, Jason. "He loved being around family and kids. He could walk in a room and his face would light
up when he was around our kids." He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their two daughters, Faith, 4 and Brenna, 3.
Joel E. Cahill
Captain, United States Army
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 1167-05
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2005
Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000 Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Captain Joel E. Cahill, 34, of Norwood, Massachusetts, died in Ad Dawr, Iraq, on
November 6, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his
HMMWV. Cahill was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment,
3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia.
For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703)
692-2000.
A local soldier believed strongly in the war that took his life, his family said Tuesday.
Army Captain Joel Cahill, 34, was serving his third tour in Iraq when he was killed by
a roadside bomb Monday, according to his sister Erin Christensen, of Gretna. Cahill
was a Papillion-La Vista High School graduate, and was one of five siblings in his
family. Cahill's brother is Omaha Police Department Detective Larry Cahill.
Cahill's family said he helped with the rescue of Jessica Lynch, who was taken hostage
early in the war in Iraq, and recently Cahill helped with the elections in Iraq. He spent
15 years in the military.
Joel Cahill left behind his wife, Mary, and their two daughters, Faith, 4 and Brenna,
3. They are in Georgia.
Cahill's sister said it was his family for which her brother was fighting.
"He strongly believed this is what he needed to do to keep his girls safe in the future.
He strongly believed he was doing the right thing," Christensen said.
"He laid his life down for this country, and for us, as well as all the soldiers who have
perished," said sibling Jason Cahill.
The soldier was described as a hero by his family, and as intelligent, funny and
athletic. Family members said they'll miss him greatly.
"He was a wonderful brother, father, husband, son and soldier. We'll miss everything
about him," said Larry Cahill.
Services are planned at Arlington National Cemetery next week.
8 November 2005:
Eyes glistening, four siblings of U.S. Army Captain Joel Cahill reminisced Tuesday
morning about the man who had devoted his life to serving his country.
Cahill, 33, and a 1990 graduate of Papillion-La Vista High School, was killed Sunday
morning by a roadside bomb five miles from his base camp in Iraq. From what the
family can discern, Cahill was riding in a Humvee returning from a raid in a
neighboring city when it rode over an improvised electronic device and detonated on
his side of the car. He was the only fatality of the five men in the vehicle.
The Army Ranger was less than three months from returning home to Georgia to
rejoin his wife, Mary, and two little girls Faith, 4, and Brenna, 3.
He is survived by parents Larry and Barbara Cahill, sister Erin Christensen of
Gretna, brothers Jason of Columbia, Mo., and Randy of Papillion and Larry of
Omaha.
Cahill's current tour of duty in Iraq wasn't his first and over time, said his brother-inlaw, Frank, and the family started to think Joel was invincible against the enemy.
Cahill would regularly assure his parents, and the family as a whole, that he was
relatively safe.
"He often expressed to my mom, to keep her calm while he was gone, 'Don't worry
about me, there's lots that could happen, but the only thing that could kill me is an
IED,'" Erin said. "He said, 'Don't worry about that, because that's by chance and you
can't keep worrying about a chance,' and that's ultimately what killed him."
For the approximately 15 years he's been a member of the U.S. Army, either as an
enlisted soldier or a commissioned officer, Cahill spent about eight years as a member
of the special forces Army Rangers unit. Since graduating from high school, Cahill's
life has been the Army, his siblings said.
He shipped off to basic training in 1990, one day after his brother Larry got married
and with the exception of a short stint at Creighton University, Cahill had been fulltime active duty ever since.
One of his squads was responsible for setting up support services for the extrication of
Pvt. Jessica Lynch in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Most recently Cahill
was given command of an entire company and its assignment was to ensure the safety
of Iraq's democratic elections.
Joel's siblings gathered at their sister's home Tuesday to share photos and memories
of their brother.
They remembered their brother as extremely intelligent and athletic.
"Anything he did, he did it at 115 percent and he was great at it," Jason said, who
played football at PLV High when he was a sophomore and Joel was a senior. "He
loved being around family and kids. He could walk in a room and his face would light
up when he was around our kids," Jason said. "He had a very dry sense of humor. He
just loved being around family and his wife and his girls. I don't know anybody who
loved this country more than he did."
Joel was a man dedicated to his wife and children, to his family and to his country,
Erin said.
"I asked him several times, 'Do we really need to be there?' and if this is something we
should be doing," she said. He strongly believed that this was what he needed to do to
keep his girls safe in the future. He strongly believed he was doing the right thing and
that there was a cause."
The effect of Cahill's death has been different for everyone, but the family will be
leaning on each other for support, Larry said.
"Our family is a very close family and we are there to support one another and we'll
get through it," he said. "It's extremely difficult right now, but we'll get through it."
Yesterday Larry's oldest son, Carter, dug out a box of medals and patches his uncle
had won and was grieving that way.
"Carter idolizes my brother and forever wanted to follow in his footsteps since he was
very little," Larry said. "Joel wrote him a letter explaining what each of the patches
meant - they had a pretty close relationship - and my son set all these medals out on
the table and read the letter over and over again yesterday."
His brothers and sisters want Joel to be remembered as a hero.
"I would hope people would consider him the hero he is," Larry said. "He laid his life
down for this country and for us. I think I speak for all my siblings when I say that we
believe what he was doing was important, and that his life isn't in vain.
"I believe it's important for us to tell as many people as possible about him. We
support my brother and all the soldiers and what they are doing.
"I think it's important for us to get that message out to people so that nobody will
forget that these people have made the ultimate sacrifice for our rights."
As they grieve, the Cahill siblings are savoring every memory and aspect of their
brother's life.
"There's not one thing about my brother that we won't miss," Larry said. "He was a
wonderful brother, a wonderful father, husband, son and a soldier. We'll miss
everything about him."
The Joel Cahill Memorial Fund has been established at all Pinnacle Bank locations,
and his siblings ask the public to remember their brother by giving to that fund.
Funeral services will be held November 18, 2005, at Arlington National Cemetery. At
some point after that, the family will organize a memorial service in the Omaha area.
10 November 2005:
A 34-year-old company commander, who had earned his college degree and an ROTC
commission after several years as an enlisted man, became the 29th Fort Benning
soldier killed this year in Iraq, the victim of a roadside bomb on Sunday.
Captain Joel Cahill, 34, commander of B Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry
Regiment, died near Dawr, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near
his Humvee. He is the ninth member of the 1-15 -- the fifth during the last three weeks
-- to die of wounds suffered in bombings. He is also the highest ranked soldier from
the 3rd Brigade Combat Team to die in action in 2005.
Bravo Company, which Cahill took command of in August, is rich in Army lore, being
the company of World War II's most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy.
"It's hard to believe," his brother, Randy Cahill, told the Lincoln Journal Star as
family members gathered at his La- Vista, Neb., home to mourn Joel. "We'll be
laughing about things that have happened one minute and crying the next."
Maj. Steve Warren, 3rd Brigade public affairs officer, said after learning of Cahill's
death, "We can't seem to climb out from under this black cloud."
After suffering 11 deaths in October and three more during the first six days of
November, the brigade has lost almost as many soldiers the past six weeks as during
its first nine months in Iraq.
Earlier this week, fellow Nebraskan and 1-15 soldier Specialist Darren Howe died of
injuries from a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq, in mid-October.
Howe's funeral is scheduled for Friday in his hometown of Beatrice, about two hours
south of the Omaha suburbs of Papillion and LaVista where Cahill attended high
school and college.
Though he was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, and lived in Wrentham,
Massachusetts, as a youth, Cahill's family relocated to Nebraska before he began high
school. The 15-year Army veteran is a graduate of Papillion-LaVista High and the
University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he graduated with honors in 1999 and
garnered an ROTC commission.
After graduating from high school in 1989, where he had been a star linebacker on the
school football team, Cahill joined the Army and later became a decorated member of
the Rangers.
His brother told the Star that Joel had a good sense of humor, was compassionate and
cared about his troops. "I think being with his family is probably his favorite
pastime," Randy Cahill said, acknowledging nonetheless that his brother had spent
most of the last four years abroad, including a 2003 deployment to Iraq.
Joel Cahill had earned several awards and honors, including a Bronze Star, Purple
Heart and Soldier's Medal, said Randy, adding that his brother was in full support of
the war and strongly believed in America's mission in Iraq.
"They supported their elections and worked on infrastructure," Randy said. "They
probably spent more time on that than actual combat."
Cahill leaves behind his wife, Mary, and two daughters -- Faith, 4, and Brenna, 3.
Cahill's sister Erin Christen- sen, who lives in Gretna, Neb., said her brother "loved
his job and loved what he did. He said he needed to do his job to keep his girls safe in
the future."
Other survivors include his parents, Larry and Barbara Cahill; brother Larry Jr., all
from the Omaha area; and brother Jason, of Columbia, Missouri.
Cahill's unit was returning from a raid on an insurgent stronghold when the roadside
bomb exploded near their Humvee.
"His unit and several other units were conducting a raid on a city," said Larry Cahill
Jr. "From what we understand, they completed their mission and were returning to
base."
Cahill's sister said her brother had mentioned that "the only thing that could kill me
would be an IED and he said don't worry about that because it's just by chance and
we can't keep worrying about a chance."
Cahill will be buried Nov. 18 in Arlington National Cemetery. Not surprising, as
Arlington is also Audie Murphy's final resting place.
To Child, Army Captain's Death Is Beyond Grasp
Georgia Captain Remembered As a Committed Father
By Brigid Schulte
Courtesy of The Washington Post Staff
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Yesterday, a cold, bright autumn day, 4-year-old Faith Cahill, bundled in a white hat
and shiny black patent leather shoes, climbed onto her weeping mother's lap. Red and
gold leaves floated down and lay on the grass of Arlington National Cemetery.
She watched from the front row as six somber soldiers folded the U.S. flag that had
draped the shiny silver coffin of her father, Army Captain Joel E. Cahill, 34, who was
killed in Iraq on November 6, 2005. He was on his fourth overseas tour -- after two in
Afghanistan and one previous tour in Iraq. He had been gone for most of her life. He
was supposed to be home for good in January.
A procession arrives for the Arlington funeral of Army Captain Joel E. Cahill, killed November 6, 2005 in Iraq
A military band slowly played "America the Beautiful." Major General Howard B.
Bromberg took the flag in his crisp, white-gloved hands and held it out to her mother,
Mary. Faith reached out for it with her little white-mittened hands.
A child giggled.
They say that very young children such as Faith and her sister, Brenna, 3, experience
death at least twice -- the first time, as at yesterday's funeral, uncomprehendingly.
The children don't understand the words the chaplain said , including "forever,"
"rest in peace" and "ashes to ashes."
When they are older, maybe 8 or 9, they will realize that death isn't like what they see
in cartoons. They will understand that a roadside bomb killed their father as he rode
in the passenger seat of a Humvee, near the town of Dawr, about 85 miles north of
Baghdad, and that unlike a cartoon character, he can't put himself back together
again. It will hit that he really won't be coming home. And they will grieve.
They will have photographs and a box of medals that he was awarded in his 15 years
in the Army -- the Bronze Star for valor, the Soldier's Medal and the Purple Heart.
And they will have the memories of others.
Perhaps someone will tell them that their father defied Army tradition and that at
monthly gatherings at Fort Benning -- not far from his home in Columbus, Ga. -when everyone was expected to leave children with babysitters, he organized a
rebellion among young officers.
"I remember him coming in, holding an adorable little girl in his arms, and another
one holding his hand," his friend Maj. Steve Warren said from Iraq. "He just said: 'I
decided to bring the girls. Every minute counts.' "
Cahill was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, and later moved to Nebraska. He joined
the Army out of high school and received an ROTC officer's commission while at the
University of Nebraska.
Cahill was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd
Infantry Division, the division in which Audie Murphy, the most decorated veteran of
World War II, served.
On Cahill's first tour, one of his squads helped support the rescue of Private First
Class Jessica Lynch. He had recently taken command of Bravo Company. His death
hit hard, said Warren, the brigade's public affairs officer.
"We were devastated. There was an absolute dark cloud over this base for probably a
week," he said. They flew two Chinook helicopters with more than 60 high-ranking
officers to another base for his memorial.
"We were taking some risks, but he commanded such respect . . . you've got to accept
some risks," Warren said.
At the funeral, as Cahill's coffin was lowered from the clattering horse-drawn caisson,
Brenna, standing in the front row, turned away. Standing tiptoe, she stretched her
arms overhead. Her mother lifted her, and the little girl laid her head on her shoulder.
Posted on Wednesday, 29 March 2006
Destined for greatness
Months after receiving the Army's most prestigious company command, Joel Cahill
was killed in Iraq
BY MICK WALSH
Courtesy of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Mary Cahill, widow of Captain Joel Cahill who was killed in Iraq, with the Flag Box
presented to her by the Army. Cahill, a former Army nurse, is living
with her two childern, Faith 5 and Brenna 3 in a Columbus surburb.
More photos
It wasn't her first visit to Arlington National Cemetery.
And it undoubtedly won't be her last.
She and her husband had made several visits there in 2002 while she was attending a
month-long nursing class at Walter Reed Hospital and he was enjoying leave time
from the Army.
"We loved that beautiful place," said Mary Cahill.
On this late autumn day in 2005, however, she was walking the rolling hills of this
sacred land with a casualty assistance officer, the person charged with handling
details of Captain Joel Cahill's funeral.
Resting place
From his first visit to Arlington, Joel had known it was the place he wanted to be
buried, just in case he didn't make it back from Iraq.
"Oh, we had two earlier conversations on that subject, and another when he came
home in July on R&R," said Mary Cahill. "He never wavered. He didn't want
anything special at his service, just a headstone like all the others buried there."
Just like the one marking the grave of Joel's old special ops buddy, Staff Sergeant
Joseph E. Suponcic, killed in Kosovo years ago.
Joel thought so much of Suponcic that he wore a silver bracelet on his wrist in
remembrance of his pal. Mary now wears the bracelet.
From that gravesite Mary could see workers digging a nearby grave. She told the
mortuary officer, "That's where Joel will be buried, I just know it."
He told her that was not a certainty, that there were several funerals scheduled at
Arlington on Friday, November 18, 2005.
But on the next day, when the family arrived for the services, they were taken to the
exact spot she had predicted.
Phone call
Just two weeks earlier, Mary Cahill had been speaking on the phone with an old
friend.
Sunday dinner with the neighbors had gone well, the girls had just been put to bed
and Mary could spend some quality time with her friend just as soon as she put away
a few things. Talking on her cell phone, she went into the garage.
That's when she heard the knock on the door.
"I peeked around the corner and saw two men in Class A's on the porch. My heart
sank."
As a former Army nurse, one married to a Ranger who had finally got himself an
infantry company command, Mary Cahill knew why they were at her doorstep.
"Are you sure?" were the only words she could get out.
She immediately called Barb Cahill, Joel's mother.
"She could tell I was nervous, scared," said Mary.
"Joel's dead, isn't he?" said Barb. Seconds later, Mary heard the screams of Joel's
sister Erin through the phone.
"It was a horrible night," Mary said.
Hand-picked
More than 30 soldiers with close ties to Fort Benning were killed in either Iraq or
Afghanistan over the past year and in each case, the next of kin were notified by
soldiers from the nearest Army installation.
Many of them died the same way Joel Cahill did, from injuries suffered when a
roadside bomb was detonated near their vehicles. Such a blast killed Cahill on
November 6, 2006, near Ad Dawr, Iraq.
This isn't how the Cahill story was supposed to end.
After all, Captain Joel Cahill was commander of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 15th
Infantry Regiment, the same company World War II's most decorated soldier, Audie
Murphy, had commanded.
Commanders of Baker Company were destined to become Army stars.
When 1-15 commander Lieutenant Colonel Gary Brito picked him from the 3rd
Brigade staff to head up B Company, Cahill knew immediately that it had once been
Murphy's outfit. In fact, he'd written a paper on the life of Murphy while earning his
commission through the Creighton University ROTC program.
"He pretty much knew all there is to know about Audie Murphy," said Mary.
"But what was important to Joel," she continued, "was that he was finally in charge
of his own company. And he had promised himself he'd be the best commander he
could be. He never really talked much about it being the same company that Audie
Murphy commanded."
"He was the finest Captain I've ever met," said 3rd Brigade commander Colonel
Steven Salazar. "He was incredibly competent, well grounded, very calm. Whenever I
had a special project that needed to be done, I went to Joel."
Salazar thought enough of Cahill to nominate him for the Army's MacArthur
Leadership Award, which will be presented to Cahill's family in May.
Love and marriage
There was little to link Cahill and Murphy when the Gretna, Nebraska, resident
joined the Army back in 1990, fresh out of high school, where he'd been an
outstanding football player. He and a pal had planned to enlist together, recalled
Cahill's mother, Barb.
"He passed his physical OK," she laughed. "But the other boy flunked his. So Joel
headed off to Fort Benning for basic training by himself, living in barracks not far
from where his grandfather (John Joseph Foley) had trained back during World War
II days. We were so proud of him the day he graduated. I asked him how he put up
with all the yelling and screaming of his drill instructor and he told me, 'Mom, I grew
up with you -- I'm used to it.' "
It didn't take young Cahill long to realize he would not climb very far, or very fast, in
today's Army without a college degree. So, after a few years as an enlisted man,
during which he completed Ranger School, he separated from the Army briefly,
enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Omaha to pursue his degree and immediately
joined nearby Creighton University's ROTC program.
It was there, in 1997, that he met a fellow ROTC cadet, Creighton nursing student
Mary Mentele.
"I really didn't have much interest in him until my junior year," she said this week at
the north Columbus home she shares with their daughters, Faith, 5, and Brenna, 3
1/2.
On May 15, 1999, the same weekend that Cahill completed his degree requirements
and earned his commission, the couple got married. Mary graduated the following
spring but delayed going on active duty until 2001 because of the birth of Faith.
Their first assignment as a couple: Fort Stewart, Georgia. "We loved it," said Mary.
"We lived 15 minutes from the beach."
Joel's goal at that time was to get into the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment,
stationed at Hunter Army Airfield.
"We studied together for months," said Mary. "The selection process is tough. One of
the problems was that he wasn't that strong a swimmer. And I am. So we worked
together to make him stronger. And he dedicated himself to getting better. He was a
perfectionist in everything he did."
Saying goodbye
As a member of the 1-75, Cahill was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, then to Iraq for
the 2003 invasion. One of his squads helped in the rescue of Pvt. Jessica Lynch, who
was held captive during the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom I.
While Cahill served with the Rangers, even extending for a year, Mary, also holding
the rank of captain, worked in the operating room at Fort Stewart's Winn Army
Hospital.
They came to Fort Benning in 2004, Joel for the advanced captains' course, Mary to
work at Martin Army Community Hospital. Upon completion of his course, Joel
joined Salazar's staff as a deputy operations officer and was named Baker Company
commander on Aug. 29, 2005.
Shortly after moving to Forward Operating Base Wilson, home of the 1-15, Cahill was
involved in a vehicle rollover. Though unhurt, he quickly e-mailed Mary, fearing that
other wives might tell her of the incident. "If it was up to him, he'd have kept that
news to himself," she said.
On the day he was killed, Cahill and several soldiers had completed a mission and
were headed home when their Humvee was rocked by a roadside bomb.
A memorial service was held days later at FOB Wilson, one attended by more than 60
3rd Brigade officers who flew from Baqouba aboard two giant Chinook helicopters.
Cahill was buried a week later at Arlington, not terribly far from the final resting
place of Audie Murphy.
2 A military horse-drawn caisson carrying the body of Army Capt. Joel Cahill makes its
way through Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, November 18, 2005
Major General Howard Bromberg, left, salutes Barbara Cahill, the
mother of
Army Captain Joel
Cahill, right, after presenting her with a flag as Cahill's widow, Mary, center,
holds his 4-year-old daugher, Faith,during burial services at Arlington National
Cemetery Friday, November 18, 2005
Photos & Valentine's Day Remembrance By Holly February 2006
Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson
Posted: 8 November 2005 Updated: 19 November 2005 Updated: 11 February 2006 Updated: 4 March
2006 Updated: 29 March 2006 Updated: 13 May 2008
TODAY'S NEWSPAPER
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To Child, Army Captain's Death Is Beyond Grasp
Ga. Captain Remembered As a Committed Father
A procession arrives for the Arlington funeral
of Army Capt. Joel E. Cahill, killed Nov. 6 in
Iraq. (By Lois Raimondo -- The Washington
Post)
By Brigid Schulte
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Yesterday, a cold, bright autumn day, 4-year-old Faith Cahill, bundled in a white hat and shiny black patent
leather shoes, climbed onto her weeping mother's lap. Red and gold leaves floated down and lay on the grass
of Arlington National Cemetery.
She watched from the front row as six somber soldiers folded the U.S. flag that had draped the shiny silver
coffin of her father, Army Capt. Joel E. Cahill, 34, who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 6. He was on his fourth
overseas tour -- after two in Afghanistan and one previous tour in Iraq. He had been gone for most of her life.
He was supposed to be home for good in January.
A military band slowly played "America the Beautiful." Maj. Gen. Howard B. Bromberg took the flag in his
crisp, white-gloved hands and held it out to her mother, Mary. Faith reached out for it with her little whitemittened hands.
A child giggled.
They say that very young children such as Faith and her sister, Brenna, 3, experience death at least twice -the first time, as at yesterday's funeral, uncomprehendingly. The children don't understand the words the
chaplain said , including "forever," "rest in peace" and "ashes to ashes."
When they are older, maybe 8 or 9, they will realize that death isn't like what they see in cartoons. They will
understand that a roadside bomb killed their father as he rode in the passenger seat of a Humvee, near the
town of Dawr, about 85 miles north of Baghdad, and that unlike a cartoon character, he can't put himself
back together again. It will hit that he really won't be coming home. And they will grieve.
They will have photographs and a box of medals that he was awarded in his 15 years in the Army -- the
Bronze Star for valor, the Soldier's Medal and the Purple Heart. And they will have the memories of others.
Perhaps someone will tell them that their father defied Army tradition and that at monthly gatherings at Fort
Benning -- not far from his home in Columbus, Ga. -- when everyone was expected to leave children with
babysitters, he organized a rebellion among young officers.
"I remember him coming in, holding an adorable little girl in his arms, and another one holding his hand,"
his friend Maj. Steve Warren said from Iraq. "He just said: 'I decided to bring the girls. Every minute counts.'
"
Cahill was born in Norwood, Mass., and later moved to Nebraska. He joined the Army out of high school
and received an ROTC officer's commission while at the University of Nebraska.
Cahill was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, the
division in which Audie Murphy, the most decorated veteran of World War II, served.
On Cahill's first tour, one of his squads helped support the rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch. He had recently
taken command of Bravo Company. His death hit hard, said Warren, the brigade's public affairs officer.
"We were devastated. There was an absolute dark cloud over this base for probably a week," he said. They
flew two Chinook helicopters with more than 60 high-ranking officers to another base for his memorial.
"We were taking some risks, but he commanded such respect . . . you've got to accept some risks," Warren
said.
At the funeral, as Cahill's coffin was lowered from the clattering horse-drawn caisson, Brenna, standing in
the front row, turned away. Standing tiptoe, she stretched her arms overhead. Her mother lifted her, and the
little girl laid her head on her shoulder.
Cpl. Donald E. Fisher II
Hometown: Avon, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 21 years old
Died: November 11, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, Transportation Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion, 593rd Corps Support Group,
Fort Lewis, Wash.
Incident: Killed when his convoy vehicle was involved in a collision in Kirkut.
This tattoo of Donald E. Fisher II is on his mother's right forearm.
Donald E. Fisher II
CPL. DONALD E. FISHER II DONALD E. FISHER II , son of DONALD E. and SHERYL A. FISHER, was a
graduate of Brockton High School in 2002, upon graduation he joined the Army. After completing
Basic Training and AIT in November of 2002, he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington. He was taken from us
while serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. He is survived by his parents, brother, and sisters. Spc. Robert F. Fisher
and Jamie (Frazier) Fisher of Tacoma, WA, Pfc. Sharlyne-Leilani Fisher of Dupont, WA, Dona-Nalani S. Fisher of
Olympia, WA, Kiesha-Kianna M. Fisher of Bonney Lake, WA, Pfc. Sheryl A. Kitchen and Pfc. Gabriel A. Kitchen of
Tacoma, WA. He is also survived by his grandmothers, Joan C. Fisher of Spanaway, WA and Beverly A. Wright of
Brockton, MA. He is survived by his grandfathers, Wayne A. Wright of Mt. Aukum, CA and James "RED" Watson of
Brockton, MA. He leaves behind 4 nephews and 5 nieces. Along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins located
across the United States, and many close friends to numerous to name. Though God has taken you, you will forever
be in our hearts, minds and souls. You were the light in our life and will be the light that guides us home to you. We
will miss you. Anyone wishing to contact the family may do so through the following email address:
Sgtdf@aol.com/Bebsher225@aol.com. Dec 3, 1983 - Nov 11, 2005 OUR HERO WAS CALLED HOME
Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on November 27, 2005
Lance Cpl. Nickolas D. Schiavoni
Hometown: Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 26 years old
Died: November 15, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Killed by a makeshift bomb while conducting combat operations against enemy forces
near Karmah.
Nickolas & his children.
Marine Lance Cpl. Nickolas D. Schiavoni
11.15.2005
Schiavoni, 26, of Haverhill, Mass., and the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C., died Nov. 15 from a suicide-vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device
while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Karmah, Iraq. His mother lives in Westerly.
US Marine Lance Corporal Nickolas David Schiavoni, 26, of Haverhill
"He was much more of a caller," his mother said. "He was a man of few words. When he'd call, he'd
always say, 'Don't worry, don't worry.' He'd always be upbeat, but then he'd tell me 'It's awful.' He knew I
could handle the truth. He was supposed to come home in February."
2006
Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond
Hometown: Suffolk, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 27 years old
Died: February 13, 2006 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army, Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in
Deh Rawod, Afghanistan.
Army Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond
27, of Suffolk, Mass.; assigned to Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg,
N.C.; killed Feb. 13 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat
operations north of Deh Rawod, Afghanistan. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Chad A. Gonsalves;
Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon and Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman.
N.C.-based soldier killed by land mine in Afghanistan
BOSTON — A U.S. soldier who immigrated to the United States from Cape Verde in 1996 and attended
high school in Boston was killed in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Friday.
Sgt. Alberto D. Montrand Jr., 27, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., was killed Monday when the
vehicle carrying him and two other soldiers hit a land mine during combat operations, according to a military
news release.
Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, Calif., and Staff Sgt. Edwin H.
Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Ill. Gonsalves and Dazachacon were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th
Special Forces Group, at Fort Bragg. Montrand was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special
Forces Group, also at Fort Bragg.
The Defense Department said a fourth soldier was also killed in the incident north of Deh Rawod,
Afghanistan, but didn’t say how he was involved. Staff Sgt. Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, was
assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade at San Antonio.
Montrand leaves his wife, Krystal, and their two young children, Nazereah and Kevyn.
“(Alberto) had finished his first term, but he re-enlisted because he felt he had a duty to serve the country,”
Alberto Montrand, a cousin, told the Boston Herald.
He recently had sat down with his father, Alberto Montrand Sr., to discuss his future, and expressed a great
desire to stay in the Army, the father said. He re-enlisted last December.
While attending Madison Park High School in Boston, he was enrolled in the school’s ROTC program.
Montrand will be buried in North Carolina, family members said. His parents plan to fly there for the funeral.
— Associated Press
Alberto D. Montrond
Sergeant, United States Army
NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense
No. 144-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb 17, 2006 Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000
Public/Industry(703)428-0711
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who
were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died north of Deh Rawod,
Afghanistan, on February 13, 2006, when an improvised explosive device
detonated near their HMMWV during combat operations.
Killed were:
Sergeant First Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock, California. Gonsalves
was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.
Staff Sergeant Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Illinois. Dazachacon was
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.
Staff Sergeant Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Newman was
assigned to the 321st Civil Affairs Brigade, San Antonio, Texas.
Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond, 27, of Suffolk, Massachusetts. Montrond was
assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg,
North Carolina.
For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at
(703) 692-2000.
Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond, 27, a Soldier assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th
Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died February 13, 2006,
when an Improvised Explosive Devise detonated near his Humvee north of Deh Rawod in
central Afghanistan.
A resident of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Montrond enlisted in the Army in
July 1998 as a quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer. After
completing his specialty and airborne training, he was assigned to Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, with the 307th Forward Support Battalion, 82nd Division
Support Command, 82nd Airborne Division.
In June 2002, Montrond was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to
the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (Airborne), U.S. Army Special
Operations Support Command. Two years later, he was assigned to the Group
Support Battalion, 7th SFG (A), where he served until his death.
Montrond’s military education includes the Primary Leadership Development
Course and Basic Airborne Course. His awards and decorations included the
Bronze Star for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the
Army Commendation Medal (3), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the Army
Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army
Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist Badge and Driver
and Mechanic Badges. He was posthumously awarded include the Bronze Star
Medal for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and
theCombat Action Badge.
He is survived by his wife Christl and his children Nazeraeh and Kevyn of
Fayetteville, North Carolina. His parents, Alberto and Maria Montrond of the
Republic of Cape Verde, also survive him.
February 17, 2006:
U.S. soldier who emigrated to the United States from Cape Verde in 1996 and
attended high school in Boston was killed in Afghanistan, the Defense
Department said Friday.
Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond Jr., 27, who was stationed at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina, was killed Monday when the vehicle carrying him and three other
soldiers hit a land mine during combat operations north of Deh Rawod,
Afghanistan, according to a military news release.
Also killed were Sergeant First Class Chad A. Gonsalves, 31, of Turlock,
California; Staff Sgt. Edwin H. Dazachacon, 38, of Belleville, Illinois; and Staff
Sergeant Clinton T. Newman, 26, of San Antonio, Texas. Gonsalves and
Dazachacon were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, at
Fort Bragg. Montrond was assigned to the Group Support Battalion, 7th
Special Forces Group, also at Fort Bragg, and Newman was assigned to the
321st Civil Affairs Brigade in San Antonio.
Montrond leaves his wife, Krystal, and their two young children, Nazereah and
Kevyn.
"(Alberto) had finished his first term, but he re-enlisted because he felt he had a
duty to serve the country," Alberto Montrond, a cousin, told the Boston Herald.
He recently had sat down with his father, Alberto Montrond Sr., to discuss his
future, and expressed a great desire to stay in the Army, the father said. He reenlisted last December.
While attending Madison Park High School in Boston, he was enrolled in the
school's ROTC program.
Montrond will be buried in North Carolina, family members said. His parents
plan to fly there for the funeral.
MONTROND, ALBERTO D
SGT US ARMY
DATE OF BIRTH: 04/22/1978
DATE OF DEATH: 02/13/2006
BURIED AT: SECTION 60 SITE 8452
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson
Posted: 11 March 2007 Updated: 14 April 2007
Photo Courtesy of Holly, April 2007
Cpl. Scott J. Procopio
Hometown: Saugus, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: April 2, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province.
Scott J. Procopio
Of the Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, killed in action in Iraq on April 2. Beloved husband of Kristal
(Cerbone) Procopio. Cherished son of Kevin and Mary (Shutt) Procopio of Saugus. Dear brother of Michael, Mark and
Greg Procopio, all of Saugus. Loving grandson of Frances (Brescia) Procopio of Saugus and the late S. Joseph Procopio,
Marta (Cline) Shutt of AR and the late Albert Shutt. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. A Funeral
Service will be held in the Veterans Memorial School, Hurd Ave., Saugus on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be
on Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial School. Burial will follow with full military honors in Riverside
Cemetery, Saugus.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o
Saugus Bank, P.O. Box 988, Saugus, MA 01906. For obituary www.bisbeeporcella.com. Arrangements by the BisbeePorcella Funeral Home, SAUGUS, MA.
Published in The Boston Globe on April 9, 2006
Video: A fitting honor for Cpl. Scott Procopio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcauzM4UIlw
A fitting honor for Cpl. Scott Procopio
By Mike Gaffney/mgaffney@cnc.com
Wed Jun 27, 2007, 04:41 PM EDT
Saugus - Scott Procopio paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life defending the country he loved. This
past weekend his hometown showed its appreciation by turning out in droves to witness the American
Legion post officially renamed the Marine Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Saugus American Legion Post 210.
Several hundred family members, enlisted military personnel, veterans, local officials and residents showed
up at the American Legion building Saturday morning to observe the historic rededication ceremony.
The bystanders were all on hand to honor Procopio, the Saugus native and Marine corporal who was killed in
April 2006 by a roadside bomb in the insurgent hotbed of Ramadi, Iraq. A veteran machine-gunner, he was
riding in the last vehicle of a convoy when the explosive detonated below the Humvee, killing him and three
fellow members of the Marine Corps Third Battalion, 8th Division.
Invited guests took their seats as the U.S. Navy Band Northeast entertained onlookers with patriotic songs
such as “God Bless America.” Before long Taylor Street was transformed into a sea of red, white and blue as
veterans and small children alike proudly held American flags that rippled in the strong summer winds.
A brand new sign, created by students at the Northeast Regional Vocational High School, is unveiled by Marines from
Scott Procopio’s unit during the rededication ceremony.
Matt Mattoon
The Marine Corps Ordinance Contact Team 1 got things started with a grand entrance featuring a marching
on of the colors. The Navy band followed with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem that led up to an
invocation offered by Cliftondale Congregational Church Pastor Bob Leroe.
In his welcoming remarks, Post 210 Commander Arthur “Butch” Cummings set the tone by touching on the
rich history of the 169-year-old building the American Legion now calls home. After serving as the original
Town Hall and many other functions during its first century of existence, the building was occupied by the
American Legion in 1931 and still houses that veterans organization today.
U.S. Navy Capt. Stephen Castinetti, who served as the keynote speaker, called the rededication a once-in-alifetime event that will be remembered by future generations.
Castinetti recalled how on April 2, 2006 the community was rocked with the news of Procopio’s death, an
event that triggered memories among residents about the sacrifices of past wars.
For those who didn’t know Procopio individually, Castinetti spoke a little bit about him as a person. He
shared how he attended Saugus public schools and joined the Marines in January 2004, a mere eight months
after graduating from high school.
One year later Procopio reported to duty at Camp Fallujah in Iraq. Castinetti recollected how exactly a year
before his death Procopio played a key role in repelling an insurgent attack at the Abu Ghraib prison and was
eventually decorated for his actions.
In March 2006 Procopio was redeployed to Iraq, Castinetti explained, this time to the dangerous city of
Ramadi 50 miles outside of Baghdad. It was a month into his second tour of duty when the Marine was killed
during the roadside bomb attack.
Tragedies such as this have been playing out in cities and towns across the country, Castinetti said. He
emphasized that the heroism these troops displayed must always be remembered, which is what he believes
the rededication of Post 210 in honor of Procopio accomplishes.
“In this small way he will not be forgotten,” Castinetti said. “Even if memories fade over time, his name will
be permanent, a constant reminder to Saugonians for generations to come.”
Through death, Castinetti said Procopio would bring life to Post 210, stressing the ceremony represents a
rebirth of the veterans’ organization.
‘Courage and Sacrifice’
Procopio’s unit commander in Iraq, Marine Maj. Andrew DelGaudio, praised his fallen comrade for his
character and resolve in the face of adversity.
Degrees of toughness are judged in the military depending on how comfortable troops are being around you,
and DelGaudio said Procopio personified that trait because Marines in his unit always felt safe when he was
close.
The major also credited Procopio for his tremendous leadership abilities. He harkened back to one morning
when he saw the then-lance corporal training riflemen on how to operate machine guns. He called Procopio a
natural leader and shortly after seeing him interact with fellow troops, promoted him to the rank of corporal.
“The smartest decision I’ve ever made was making that kid a corporal,” DelGaudio remarked.
By dedicating Post 210 in memory of Procopio, future generations will be able to look at the building and
understand the character, virtue and spirit the fallen Marine embodied, said DelGaudio.
At the conclusion of his remarks, DelGaudio introduced a few men who he described as his own personal
heroes. They were the soldiers who served with Procopio in Iraq and made the trip to Saugus for the
ceremony — Cpl. Donald Briere, Cpl. Justin Carlisle, Sgt. John Strobridge and Lance Cpl. Rex McKnight,
the latter the sole survivor in the Humvee explosion that killed Procopio.
‘We can’t forget them’
More than a year has passed since he lost his son, but Kevin Procopio said it still doesn’t seem possible Scott
died on those dusty streets in Ramadi, Iraq.
Kevin Procopio took a few moments to thank all of the military men and women who are fighting or fought
on foreign soil. He went on to lament that these heroes only seem to be memorialized when they come back
in a body bag.
When it comes to the troops, Kevin Procopio implored civilians to keep in mind the risks they willingly take
and to thank God many of them are still with us today.
“We owe them some sort of permanent expression of our gratitude, we can’t forget them and what they’re
doing,” Kevin Procopio said.
Following Kevin Procopio’s remarks the Lynn English High School Marine Corps ROTC drill team
impressed the audience with their ability to handle rifles in tandem.
State and local representatives of the American Legion then walked up to the podium to sign the new charter
bearing Scott Procopio’s name. Members of the Procopio family were invited to the table to take part in this
historic moment.
Another highlight came a few moments later when Marines from Scott Procopio’s unit pulled down a sheet
to unveil a brand-new blue and gold sign on the front of the American Legion building that reads “Cpl. Scott
J. Procopio Saugus Post 210.”
A flag emblazoned with the new colors was then presented and a gold star banner was hung in a window.
The ceremony concluded with Marines handing Scott Procopio’s widow, Kristal Procopio, a folded
American flag.
Once it was over, people took turns entering the American Legion building to look at a cabinet filled with
personal items that belonged to Scott Procopio, including medals, awards, boots, swords, helmets and
photos.
Many marveled over the exquisite detail in a painting Kevin Procopio created of his son in full military
uniform. The painting is destined to hang above the fireplace inside the American Legion post.
Family and friends congregated in the parking lot and enjoyed food and refreshments while they talked about
the ceremony. Scott’s brother Michael Procopio, for one, was very impressed.
“It turned out perfect, didn’t it?” Michael Procopio said. “I thought it was flawless, it was everything it
should have been.”
Scott Procopio
Thursday, April 06 2006 @ 07:26 AM EDT
Contributed by: tomw
Views: 2,627
Saugus Advertiser -- Returning to Iraq for a second tour of duty just a few weeks ago,
Scott Procopio of Saugus paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Procopio, an infantryman with the Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, was
killed when his armored Humvee was destroyed by a roadside bomb in the town of Ramadi, about 70
miles west of Baghdad. The 20-year-old was manning a machine gun atop the vehicle, the last
vehicle in the column, when a bomb detonated beneath it.
Speaking for the Procopio family on the steps of Saugus Town Hall Monday afternoon, Scott's oldest
brother, Michael, 22, said, "We're all extremely proud of Scott. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, and
we're proud of the job he did."
The flags flew at half-staff in Scott's memory as his brother described the challenges Scott sought by
enlisting in the Marines. "Scott always wanted the toughest job. He wanted the hardest service,"
added Michael Procopio, who called Scott "my best friend, my brother, and a Marine." Scott's father,
Kevin, was seated nearby as Michael spoke to the media.
In early March, the Saugus marine was promoted from the rank of lance corporal to corporal before
departing for his second tour of duty. He completed his first tour in Fallujah.
The Procopio family learned of Scott's death Sunday night when Marines came to their door.
Scott was a lifelong Saugus resident and a 2003 graduate of Saugus High School. He celebrated his
marriage to Kristal (Cerbone) Procopio on Sept. 15, 2005. Kristal, a member of the Saugus High
School Class of 2001, and Scott had lived off-base in Jacksonville, N.C. where he was stationed at
Camp Lejeune.
Scott also leaves behind his mother, Mary, and two younger brothers, Greg, 17, and Mark, 14. He is
survived by two grandmothers as well, Fran Procopio of Saugus, and Marta Shautt of Hindsville,
Arkansas.
Scott was deployed to Iraq the first time in January 2005, returning to the states in August of 2005
with a chest full of ribbons, including several for valor in combat. He was awarded the Navy and
Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat "V" for his actions during the Abu Ghraib prison
assault on April 2, 2005.
"Scott wanted to go into the service. He wanted to be an infantryman. He was excited and
challenged by the opportunity to serve," said his older brother. Family and friends say Scott was truly
committed to doing his part to bring about positive change in Iraq.
"Scott would send home e-mails about the long lines of people on voting day in Iraq," recalled
Michael Procopio, who noted that Scott was "buoyed up" to be there on such occasions.
Michael Procopio added that religion played a big role in his brother's life. "He came to have a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and he drew a tremendous amount of courage, security and
strength from that relationship, and knowing that whatever happened, his future was secure."
'Looking to help'
News of Scott's death sent shock waves throughout town. Word traveled quickly Monday morning at
the high school, where Principal Joseph Diorio made counselors available to both students and
teachers who had difficulty coming to grips with the tragedy. Scott's youngest brother Mark is a
student at SHS.
Diorio recalled Scott as an upbeat student who was well liked by his peers. "Everyone who knew him
enjoyed his company," Diorio said. "The young man always had a smile on his face and was looking
to help other people."
High School teacher Greg MacDonald had Scott as a student in both his U.S. history class junior year
and his economics class senior year. MacDonald struck up a friendship with Scott and remained close
to him after he graduated in 2003. He was one of several teachers who Michael Procopio met with
individually at the high school on Monday to break the news of his brother's death. MacDonald said
he was aware that Scott returned to Iraq earlier last month because Scott's cousin is currently
enrolled in one of his classes. Every time MacDonald saw a report of a Marine killed in action, he
immediately thought of his former student. "The other day when I heard about the roadside bomb in
the news I prayed that it wasn't Scott who was killed, but it was," MacDonald said. "I'm devastated it's tough to even talk about this."
In many ways, MacDonald said Scott was the typical teenager - a little mischievous but always
respectful to his classmates and teachers. He added that Scott was very religious and close to his
family, spending much of his free time working for his father's construction company.
MacDonald shared one story that he feels accurately reflects the type of person Scott was. He
remembered the year Scott showed up in his classroom after a vacation week sporting a tan. When
MacDonald found out Scott spent the week in Mexico, he asked him what resort he stayed at. Scott
replied that he spent the week building homes for underprivileged Mexican citizens, showing how at
a young age, Scott was already looking out for others.
When Scott had free time on his hands, he liked to work on classic cars and trucks. He really enjoyed
rebuilding quads and motorcycles with parts he found on eBay, then turning around and selling them
for a profit. Eventually Scott stepped up to tinkering with bigger vehicles.
Michael Procopio said his brother spent many lazy afternoons mudding around the Vinegar Hill
neighborhood in a Ford F250 pickup, and when he departed for the Marine Corps, he left a halffinished '78 Camaro sitting in the family garage.
Cliftondale Congregational Church Pastor Bob Leroe, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who
served as a chaplain in Operation Desert Storm and Bosnia, stressed the importance of honoring the
contribution this fallen Marine made to his country. Leroe said Scott is the first Saugus soldier to die
in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Due to the logistical complexities involved when a solider dies overseas, family members had yet to
make funeral arrangements by the Advertiser's deadline. Michael Procopio did say the family intends
to hold a full military service and burial in Saugus, the town Scott loved and gave his life to protect.
"There's no greater test of character than laying down your life for your country, and that's what my
brother did," Michael Procopio said.
In lieu of flowers the family has set up the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial Scholarship Fund in his
memory. The plan is to give the scholarship to a deserving Saugus High School student each year.
Anyone interested in making a donation can mail a check to the Cpl. Scott J. Procopio Memorial
Scholarship Fund, care of Saugusbank, PO Box 988, Saugus, Ma, 01906.
In Memoriam
Cpl. Scott Procopio
(reprinted from Boston.com, April 16, 2006)
A death in the family
Saugus mourns for native son killed on duty in Iraq
By Kathy McCabe, Globe Staff | April 16, 2006
On visits home, Marine Corporal Scott J. Procopio led new recruits through jumping jacks and sprints
up and down Route 1.
At Saugus High, where he was named Most Eligible Bachelor of the Class of 2003, Procopio brought
his favorite assistant principal a red-and-yellow Marine Corps T-shirt, thanking him for being a
mentor.
And he loved to don his beige-and-blue uniform for the ladies at Walnut Street Gospel Hall, a small
house of worship built by his grandfather, the late Joseph Procopio.
''They would all 'ooh and ah' at him," said Michael Procopio, 22, laughing at the memory of his
younger sibling. ''My brother could really turn the charm on. . . . As much as he loved being a
Marine, he also loved to come home."
Corporal Procopio, 20, returned to Saugus for the final time last week, when he was buried with full
military honors at Riverside Cemetery. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when his Humvee
struck a roadside bomb on April 2. He was the first Saugus resident killed in action since the Vietnam
War.
''His death opened a lot of old wounds," said Doug Cooper, president of the Saugus Veterans Council
and a Vietnam veteran.
In Saugus, pride runs deep for its native sons and daughters. World Series Park honors a Little
League team that nearly won it all three years ago. A memorial service for two former residents
killed on Sept. 11, 2001, drew an overflow crowd to Town Hall soon after the terrorist attacks. In
November, the rotary in Cliftondale Square was dedicated to residents in the armed forces now
fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. Veterans already are planning to honor Procopio next month on
Memorial Day.
''People in this town have a strong identity," said the Rev. Robert Leroe, head of the Saugus Clergy
Association and a retired Army chaplain. ''When something happens, whether it's good or bad, people
feel a need to do it all together."
In mourning a fallen son, Saugus joins small towns across America forever changed by the ongoing
war on terror. Haverhill, Marblehead, and Newburyport have all buried soldiers killed in combat in
Iraq or Afghanistan.
As of Thursday, the death toll for US military in Iraq was 2,364. Procopio was one of 139 soldiers to
die between March 19 and April 3, according to the Defense Department.
One historian noted that a military death can tear through the heart of a small community.
''They have a collective memory that often is not part of a big city," said Joe Boskin, a professor
emeritus at Boston University. ''And everyone feels a death like this more keenly, because of a small
town's communal nature."
Procopio was a fourth-generation Saugonian. His death prompted an unprecedented outpouring of
patriotism and grief. For the first time anyone can remember, Saugus schools were closed because of
a funeral. Hundreds attended his wake and funeral service at Veterans Memorial Elementary School,
the town's newest school.
Walnut Street Gospel Hall was too small to fit the crowd of more than 700 Marines, veterans, town
residents, and officials who turned out to honor Procopio. He was remembered during the funeral
service as a brave Marine who served God and country.
''This 20-year-old Marine was in Iraq because he believed in the mission," said Eugene Higgins, a
family friend who spoke at the funeral. ''We salute his courage. We honor his loyalty. We treasure his
sacrifice."
Procopio, who stood 6 feet tall, hails from a well-known Saugus family, which owns a local
construction company. Six months ago, he married his hometown sweetheart, Kristal Cerbone, now
22. Soon afterward, they moved to North Carolina, where Procopio was stationed at Camp Lejeune.
He is also survived by his parents, Kevin and Mary Procopio, and three brothers: Michael, 22; Greg,
17, a senior at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School in Wakefield; and Mark, 15, a
freshman at Saugus High.
As a teenager, ''Scotty" Procopio seemed happiest when he was tinkering with a car or pickup in his
driveway, friends said. He once painted a bright-blue Ford pickup with huge white flames and a
checkered racing flag on the side. And he was upset when this, his pride and joy, didn't fetch big
money at auction.
''He was livid," Michael said with a laugh. ''I remember driving home with him, and he was saying,
'Don't they know how many thousands of hours I spent on that?' He was so funny about it."
He didn't want to be a career Marine. He planned to serve his four years and then return to Saugus to
join the family business, Procopio Construction. ''He wanted very much to serve his time, settle
down, and raise a family in Saugus. He always talked about building a house here," Michael Procopio
said.
A solemn funeral procession drew hundreds of Saugus residents to Central Street. A Marine honor
guard and a riderless horse led mourners, who walked the milelong route from the school to the
cemetery. Children in Red Sox shirts clutched American flags. Residents watched from front porches
and sidewalks, many bowing their heads as Procopio's flag-draped casket passed.
''I don't know the family," said Jennifer McGrane, 34, standing with her husband and two young sons.
''But I thought it was only right that we come show our respect for a soldier who died for us."
At Riverside Cemetery, Corporal Procopio was laid to rest beside his grandfather. He received a final
solemn salute. Two Marines folded the flag from his coffin and presented it to his widow. A second
flag was given to his parents.
On a grassy knoll, seven Marine riflemen fired volleys. A Marine helicopter flew over. In the
distance, four fighter jets flew in the missing-man formation, and a lone bugler played taps.
Pvt. Michael E. Bouthot
Hometown: Fall River, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: April 22, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Squadron, 67th Armored Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division,
Fort Hood, Tex.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee causing a fire during combat
operations in Baghdad.
Michael E. Bouthot
BOUTHOT, MICHAEL E., age 19, of Fall River, April 22, 2006. Son of Larry J. and Susan A. (Leonard)
Bouthot.
Brother of Edward A., Leonard and Joseph L. and Amy L. Bouthot; newphew of Kathleen P. Leonard, Jean
L. Chapman, Ruth M. Leonard, Carol Vickers, Joyce Gaudreau and Kenneth Bouthot; grandson of Joseph
Bouthot.
Funeral friday, May 5, 2006 at 11:00 AM in Grace Gospel Church, 271 Sharp Lots Rd., Swansea, MA.
Relatives and friends invited. Visitation Thursday 4-8 PM at WARING-SULLIVAN HOME OF
MEMORIAL TRIBUTE at 'BIRCHCREST', 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea (north of Rt. 6 intersection).
Lighted parking area adj. to sheltered main entrance. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael
Bouthot Memorial Fund, c/o Webster Bank, 1450 Plymouth Ave., Fall River, MA 02721. Burial in Oak
Grove Cemetery, Fall River, MA. For directions: www.waring-sullivan.com
Private Michael Bouthot
Was born June 13, 1986 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and is the son of Larry and
Susan Bouthot from Fall River Massachusetts. He entered the military on August
10, 2005 and attended basic and advanced individual training as an infantryman
at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completion of training, he was assigned to B/167, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. PVT Bouthot was one of the newest
additions to Bushmaster Company, having joined us only exactly one month ago.
In that short time he gained a reputation as a funny guy with a
New England accent that wrote his own raps.
He is survived by his mother Susan and his father Michael. PVT Bouthot served
as a rifleman in 3rd platoon and a dismount for B203 on April 22, 2006.
PVT Bouthot’s awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on
Terrorism Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Memorial Service Program FOB Iskandariyah, Iraq
Lance Cpl. Michael L. Ford
Hometown: New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: April 26, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine
Palms, Calif.
Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar Province.
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
20 Black Brook Road, Aquinnah, MA 02535-1546
ph: (508) 645 9265
fx: (508) 645-3790
'Thank you for your service'
'Thank you for your service'
New Bedford Marine is laid to rest
By Curt Brown, Standard-Times staff writer
Originally posted at: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/05-06/05-10-06/03local.htm
BOURNE — Lance Cpl. Michael L. Ford — fondly remembered as a loving son who tried to make his
world a better place — was laid to rest yesterday as a brave, young hero who served his country when it
needed him most.
The 19-year-old Marine was buried with full military honors at the Massachusetts National Cemetery as a
wind-driven rain soaked and chilled attendees at the graveside services.
Lance Cpl. Ford was killed April 26, one day shy of a month into his tour of duty, when his tank struck an
improvised explosive device in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
Members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head performed a drum service beside the Marine's grave. The
corporal's late mother, Cheryl (Viger) Ford, and the five children are members of the tribe.
Sitting under a small pavilion that sheltered the family from the rain, Joseph M. Ford Sr., Michael's father,
watched as the Marines removed the U.S. flag that had covered his son's casket and then carefully folded it
for presentation to the family.
Mr. Ford clutched the flag to his chest, after receiving it from Marine 1st Sgt. Todd Parisi, while a 21-gun
salute sounded and a bugler played the mournful tune of "Taps."
As the notes sounded, Michael's older brother, Joseph Ford, Jr., tugged on his father's right arm for
emotional support.
The same courage and strength of character that the young Marine displayed during wartime was also
evident at the funeral service in the family's place of worship, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, North Dartmouth, where Michael's father sang a loving hymn to his departed son.
Mr. Ford, wearing an American flag necktie, stopped once during his singing of "I'll Go Where You Want
Me to Go," and then quickly asked to start again.
His deep voice remained strong and unwavering throughout the hymn.
"I knew if I didn't go first, I would not have been able to do it," he said later.
Michael's aunt, Mary Ford Braden, sang the final hymn at the church service, "God be with You Until We
Meet Again."
Gov. Mitt Romney headed a list of national, state and local dignitaries that included New Bedford Mayor
Scott W. Lang, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and state Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny.
Barbara Owen, a close family friend and church member, offered several unique remembrances of Michael,
or as she knew him, "Mikey." She said she watched him grow up and he was like another member of her
family and frequently would join them when they went out.
"He was like a son to us," she said. "It was very natural for us to say, 'Come on, Michael. Let's go.'" She
said she and Michael shared a special relationship. She said she would squeeze his cheeks together, give
him a kiss and tell him she loved him.
She said he loved his family and openly accepted the burden of life in a big family. She said he understood
that sometimes he had to play an extra game of checkers or chess with his siblings even if his heart wasn't
in it.
Michael was the second-oldest of five children born to Joseph and Cheryl Ford.
Ms. Owen said Michael had a caring heart and lived his life by treating everyone he met with respect.
When Michael's mother passed away, she said he followed his faith, which helped him through the tragedy.
She said she expressed her concerns for his safety when Michael told her he had enlisted in the Marines.
"Oh, Michael," she recalled telling him. "They are always out there first, clearing the way for others. Why
do you want to be a Marine?"
"I want to be the best of the best," she remembered him saying.
She said Michael told her he was going to join the Marines to fight terrorism so the nation didn't have to
fight it on U.S. soil.
"He knew he had to go over to a different country to protect us," she said.
She lauded his personal qualities of cheerfulness and trustworthiness and said there are "too few men like
Michael among us."
Then looking down at the Marine's casket, she said, "Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your
love. Thank you for your service.
"Good-bye, Mikey. You are the best of the best," she said.
Contact Curt Brown at cbrown@s-t.com
Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr.
Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: May 5, 2006 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army, 71st Cavalry Regiment,10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.
Incident: Killed when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed during combat operations east of Abad,
Afghanistan.
Pvt. Brian Moquin: A Young Soldier in Afghanistan
by Martha Bebinger
May 22, 2006
Army Pvt. Brian Moquin, 19, from Worchester, Mass., was one of 10 soldiers who died in the helicopter
crash in Afghanistan earlier this month. Martha Bebinger of member station WBUR in Boston offers a
remembrance of the young soldier and the "forgotten war."
Copyright © 2009 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For
other uses, prior permission required.
NOAH ADAMS, host:
In Afghanistan, the other front of the Bush administration's war on terror, fighting intensified over the
weekend.
MADELEINE BRAND, host:
The U.S.-led coalition conducted nighttime air strikes against Taliban rebels in southern Afghanistan. As
many as 80 suspected Taliban members were killed, along with more than a dozen civilians.
ADAMS: This past week has been one of the bloodiest since U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban back in
2001. More than 250 have been killed in the violence.
BRAND: Mean time, last week, an Army private from Worchester, Massachusetts, who was killed while on
duty in Afghanistan, was laid to rest.
ADAMS: Brian Moquin was one of 10 members of the 10th Mountain Division killed, when their helicopter
tumbled off a rugged mountain landing earlier in the month.
From member station WBUR, Martha Bebinger has more.
MARTHA BEBINGER, reporting:
Nineteen-year-old Brian Moquin was the youngest soldier killed when the Chinook helicopter burst into
flames. He joined the Army just over a year ago and was sent to Afghanistan last fall at the Scout for a
combat unit.
Outside St. Anne's Catholic Church, Moquin's friends huddled to share stories and comfort. Tasha Bara(ph)
grew up with Moquin.
Ms. TASHA BARA (Friend of Brian Moquin): I remember in the summers, going on the boat and tubing, and
having the tubes flip me over because he would always push me. He was a good kid. He had a good
personality. He always made you smile, no matter what.
BEBINGER: But friends describe strains on Moquin's generous and fun-loving spirit. He moved from one
high school to another before dropping out. He eventually got his GED at a local community college.
Patrick McGuire(ph) says Moquin joined the Army because it seemed like his only option at the time.
PATRICK MCQUIRE (Friend of Brian Moquin): Rent was due. He had no money to pay for it. He really
didn't have any place to go. So he decided that was the best place. He thought it was respectable, and died
doing something that he thought was good.
BEBINGER: Other friends say the Army seemed to fit Moquin's adventurous, daredevil personality.
During mass, Moquin's mother, Tracy Valencourt(ph), was too shaken to speak. Valencourt asked her
fiancé to read something she'd written about her fearless toddler, who grew up to be a teenager, defying
gravity on his skateboard.
Mr. PETER BISSONET(ph) (Fiancé of Tracy Valencourt): One day, he brought his bureau from his room
outside and made a ramp out of it, walked to the top of our very steep driveway, then down the driveway
and over the bureau he went. He had no fear. But the bravest choice of all was when he decided to join the
Army and fight for the freedom of our country.
He was determined. And I am proud of him.
BEBINGER: The fiancé, Peter Bissonet, is a Worchester police officer who had grown fond of Moquin.
Mr. BISSONET: Every day I wake up and step out my door, I'm going to strive to be as brave as Brian. He
was the real deal. He was the real deal.
BEBINGER: Many who knew Moquin described him as wise beyond his years. He wrote poetry and drew
pictures that amazed students and instructors, says his former art teacher, Gayle(ph) Fairbanks.
Ms. GAYLE FAIRBANKS (Former Teacher of Brian Moquin): He understood the enormities of life. And it
showed in his work. There was always a statement of how the way the world should be and how he'd like to
change it.
BEBINGER: Moquin was a guitarist and vocalist in a band called, Coordinates: Cartesia. Their music is
posted on the Internet. The remaining members of that group and a half dozen other bands are planning a
memorial concert for Brian Moquin.
For NPR News, I'm Martha Bebinger in Boston.
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Army Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr.
19, of Worcester, Mass.; assigned to the 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light
Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.; died May 5 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was traveling on
crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in the Kunar province. Also killed
were: Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., Spc. Justin L. O’Donohoe, Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp, Sgt. John C.
Griffith, Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick, Chief Warrant Officer 2
Christopher B. Donaldson, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten and Lt. Col. Joseph J. Fenty.
Worcester soldier was ‘too young’ to die, says mom
Associated Press
WORCESTER, Mass. — A 19-year-old Worcester man was among 10 soldiers killed when their helicopter
crashed during combat operations in eastern Afghanistan last week, the Army announced Wednesday.
Pfc. Brian M. Moquin Jr. died Friday in the remote mountains of Kunar Province, Afghanistan, after the CH47 Chinook transport helicopter crashed while on a mission to find al-Qaida and Taliban militants believed
to be hiding in the rugged terrain near the border with Pakistan.
Army officials said the helicopter was conducting operations on a mountaintop landing zone when it fell into
a ravine. All 10 soldiers aboard the helicopter were killed.
Military officials said the helicopter was not downed by hostile fire. An investigation into the cause of the
crash is continuing, Julie Curren, a spokeswoman for the Army, said Wednesday.
Moquin’s mother, Tracy Vaillancourt, said she was in Chicago on a business trip Sunday morning when an
Army officer called her on her cell phone and told her of the death of her only child.
“He was too young,” Vaillancourt told the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester. “He just wanted to do
something to make everybody proud. I’m very proud of him.”
Vaillancourt said that from a young age, her son had expressed interest in joining the military. Moquin
enlisted in the Army in March 2005 and attended basic training at Fort Knox, Ky.
He was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in August and deployed to Afghanistan in February. Moquin
had received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghan
Campaign Medal and Combat Action Badge.
FORT DRUM – Ten Soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division were killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan,
when their CH-47D Chinook helicopter, tail number 85-24349, crashed while conducting combat operations.
Six of the Soldiers were assigned to the division’s 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment. Four other
Soldiers killed in the accident were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, a unit within the
10th Mountain Division’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
The bodies of the Soldiers killed in the accident, along with the helicopter, were recovered on 8 May by
members of Combined Joint Task Force 76, the coalition military force charged with eliminating terrorist
forces from Afghanistan and fostering an environment for the foundation of a democratic Afghan
government.
Some 5,800 10th Mountain Division Soldiers based at Fort Drum, along with 1,300 Mountain Soldiers
based at Fort Polk, Louisiana, deployed to Afghanistan in January to serve as the core of Combined Joint
Task Force 76.
The Soldiers were:
Lieutenant Colonel
Joseph J. Fenty, Jr.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Fenty, Jr., was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while
conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Fenty, 41, was the commander of 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort
Drum, New York.
A native of New York, Fenty was commissioned an infantry officer in June 1986 after graduating from
Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., with a degree in business administration.
After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to the 506th Infantry Regiment at Fort
Kobbe, Panama. In 1990, Fenty was assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where he served as a company
commander and battalion staff officer. In June 1996, Fenty was reassigned to Fort Benning , Georgia, to the
14th Infantry Regiment and later to the 75th Ranger Regiment headquarters in July 1997.
Fenty was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in 1997 and deployed to Bosnia is support of multinational operations. In March 2000, he was assigned to the Division’s 2nd Brigade and later deployed with
2nd Brigade to Afghanistan. In June 2002, he was assigned to the U.S. Army’s Human Resources Command
in Alexandria, Virginia.
Fenty returned to the 10th Mountain Division in June 2004 and took command of the 3rd Squadron, 71st
Cavalry Regiment.
In 1994, Fenty was selected to serve for two years as an exchange officer with the British Army as an
instructor at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the United Kingdom ’s equivalent of the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point.
Fenty’s military education includes the Command General Staff College, Training Development Course,
Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Pathfinder Course,
Jumpmaster Course, Ranger School, Jungle Warfare School, Infantry Officer Basic Course and Infantry
Mortar Platoon Officer Course.
In 1998, Fenty received a master’s degree in education from Troy State University.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army
Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert
Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge and the Ranger Tab.
Fenty is survived by his wife, Kristin, his daughter Lauren and his parents.
Chief Warrant Officer 3
Eric W. Totten
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while
conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Totten, 34, was a CH-47 pilot assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th
Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of Minnesota, Totten enlisted in the Army in August 1993. He attended the Warrant Officer Basic
Course and became a qualified CH-47 pilot in 2000.
He deployed to Afghanistan with his unit in February 2006.
Totten’s military education includes the Air Assault Course, U.S Army Ranger School, Airborne Course,
Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Instructor Qualification Course, Warrant Officer Basic
Course, CH-47D Aircraft Qualification Course (AQC), Strategic Deployment Scheduler Course, Unit
Movement Officer Course, and the Action Officer Development Course.
His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement
Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War
on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer’s
Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon,, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Army Aviator
Badge, Driver/Mechanic Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.
Totten is survived by his stepmother, Tommie Totten, in Dallas, Texas.
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Christopher B. Donaldson
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher B. Donaldson, was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May
2006 while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Donaldson, 28, was a CH-47 Chinook helicopter pilot assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation
Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of Illinois, Donaldson enlisted in the Army in September 1997.
In April 2003, he began the Warrant Officer Candidate School to train as a helicopter pilot. He completed
training to be an Army Aviator in 2004 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division in November 2004.
In April 2005, Donaldson was reassigned to Fort Drum to serve in the 10th Mountain Division.
Donaldson’s previous overseas assignments include a 14 month tour in Korea from April 1998 to June
1999. He also served in Germany from October 2000 to September 2002.
Donaldson’s military education includes the Army Maintenance Management Course, Electronic Warfare
Officers Course, Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course, Rotary Wing Aviator Course and the Warrant Officer
Candidate School.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge and the Army Aviator Badge.
Donaldson is survived by his father, William, of Beecher City, Illinois, and his mother, Lynne, of Effingham,
Illinois.
Staff Sergeant
Christopher T. Howick
Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Howick was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while
conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Howick, 34, was a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment,
10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of Hamburg, New York, Howick enlisted in the Army in September 1991 and attended Basic
Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned as a helicopter
repairman with the 123rd Aviation Company at Fort Wainwright, Alaska in March 1993 until May 1996. He
served at Fort Drum from May 1996 to December 1997 as a helicopter repair team chief.
From 1997 to 2001, Howick served with the 123rd Aviation Maintenance Detachment at Fort Wainwright,
Alaska. From 2001 to 2004, he was assigned to the Aviation Center, at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as a helicopter
repair instructor. He was reassigned to Fort Drum in June 2005 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom in February 2006.
Howick’s military education includes the Basic Non-commissioned Officer’s Course, Warrior Leader’s
Course, Aviation Life Support Equipment Training, Air Assault and Mountain Warfare training.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Aviator Badge and the Air
Assault Badge.
Howick is survived by his wife, Una, at Fort Drum and a daughter Noel. He is also survived by his parents
Charles and Lola Howick, of Hamburg, New York.
Sergeant
Bryan A. Brewster
Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting
combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Brewster, 24, was a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment,
10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of Fontana, California, Brewster enlisted in the Army in September 2000 and attended Basic
Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee,
Virginia, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in August 2001.
He deployed to Afghanistan from January to July of 2002. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from
February 2003 to February 2004.
Brewster’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, Transportation of Hazardous Material
Course, Strategic Deployment Scheduler Course and the Unit Movement Officer Course.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army
Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer’s Professional
Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global
War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Aviator Badge.
Brewster is survived by his wife Kati, and his parents Louis and Linda Brewster, of Victorville, California.
Sergeant
John C. Griffith
Sgt. John C. Griffith was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting combat
operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Griffith, 33, was a light wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation
Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
Originally from Wisconsin, Griffith enlisted in the Army in May 1991 and attended Basic Combat Training
and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
Following basic and advanced training, Griffith was assigned to the 56th Air Ambulance Company at Camp
Humphries, Korea, in July 2004. In July 2005 Griffith was reassigned to Fort Drum.
Griffith is a graduate of the Warrior Leader’s Course.
His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge and Driver/Mechanic Badge.
Griffith is survived by his wife, Christa; their children Hunter, Spencer and Kailynn; and his parents, Robert
and Barbara.
Sergeant
Jeffery S. Wiekamp
Sgt. Jeffery S. Wiekamp was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting
combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Wiekamp, 23, was a CH-47 flight engineer assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment,
10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of South Dakota, Wiekamp enlisted in the Army in August 2001 and attended Basic Combat
Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was also assigned to Fort Eustis,
Virginia, and with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
He deployed to Afghanistan with his unit in February 2006.
Wiekamp’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the
Army Aviator Badge.
Wiekamp is survived by his wife Ashley, who also deployed to Iraq, and his parents Randy and Kathleen
Wiekamp, of Utopia, Texas.
Specialist
Justin L. Odonohoe
Spc. Justin L. Odonohoe was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting
combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Odonohoe, 27, was a cavalry scout assigned to A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th
Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
Odonohoe, from San Diego, California, enlisted in the Army in April 2004 and attended Basic Combat
Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he
was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in September 2004 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom in February 2006.
Odonohoe’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghan Campaign
Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge.
Odonohoe is survived by his parents, Joseph and Pamela Odonohoe, of San Diego, California, and his
brother, Kyle.
Specialist
David N. Timmons Jr.
Spc. David N. Timmons Jr., was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting
combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Timmons, 24, was a cavalry scout assigned to A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th
Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of Lewisville, North Carolina, Timmons enlisted in the Army in January 2004 and attended Basic
Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing Advanced Individual Training at Fort Knox,
Kentucky, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division in June 2004.
He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in February 2006.
Timmons’ awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense
Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal,
Combat Action Badge and the Driver Badge.
Timmons is survived by his father, David Timmons and sister, Shalante Timmons, of Lewisville, North
Carolina.
Private First Class
Brian M. Moquin, Jr.
Pfc. Brian M. Moquin, Jr., was killed in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 5 May 2006 while conducting
combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Moquin, 19, was a Cavalry Scout assigned to A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 10th
Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, New York.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Moquin enlisted in the Army in March 2005 and attended Basic
Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. After completing Advanced Individual Training, he was assigned to
the 10th Mountain Division in August 2005 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom in February 2006.
Moquin’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service
Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Combat
Action Badge and the Driver Badge.
Moquin is survived by his father, Brian Moquin, Sr., and his mother, Tracy Vaillencourt, of Worcester,
Massachusetts. He is also survived by his grandmother, Elsie Moquin, of Millbury, Massachusetts.
Sgt. Benjamin E. Mejia
Hometown: Salem, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 25 years old
Died: May 31, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort
Wainwright, Ala.
Incident: Died of non-combat related causes in Marez.
Benjamin E. Mejia
Friday, June 02 2006 @ 04:33 PM EDT
Contributed by: River97
www.ecnnews.com -- SALEM — The day he left for Iraq, Benjamin Mejia left message on the dry erase
board in his family's Mason Stree home
"Be good to each other," he wrote. "Know everything will be OK, and I'll be back."
Kathy Khan will never erase that message. It's the last one her son left.
Mejia died in Iraq on Wednesday after collapsing while working out. He was 25.
"Every time I talked to him he said, 'Don't worry, everything's going to be fine,'" his mother said yesterday.
"He always told me, 'I'll get through anything.' "
It was easy to believe him. He was a young man who always managed to achieve his goals, no matter the
obstacles, his family and friends said yesterday.
"Whatever he wanted, he got," his best friend Sandra Mulvany said. "He was very determined."
Mejia joined the Army in June of 2003, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He knew
right away he would be heading to Iraq.
"I looked at him and said, 'Are you crazy?' " his mother recalled. "He said, 'Mom, I want to help my country.'
"
Mejia, an Army specialist, wanted to serve on the front lines — to "earn the right to call himself a combat
veteran," Mulvany said — but instead he was assigned to a unit flying unmanned spy planes. He was due to
come home in August.
A sharp dresser with a keen sense of style, Mejia was proud of the weight he had lost since joining the Army.
He spent much of his free time there in the gym — where he went on Wednesday for a routine workout.
"He was in the gym working out (and) he collapsed," said Sgt. 1st Class Richard Guzofski, an Army
spokesman. "They tried to revive him. He was evacuated to the hospital," where he died.
Guzofski said the Army will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
"I still can't believe he's not here," Khan said.
'The kid you want in an emergency'
Although he grew up in Salem, Mejia did not attend Salem High School. The only boy in a house full of
women — his mother, grandmother and three sisters — Mejia was, his mother recalled fondly, a "terror."
In need of a male role model, he moved to Florida at 15 to live with his father.
After high school, Mejia stayed in Florida and came to consider the state home. But he remained close to his
Salem family; when his mother fell ill several years ago, he moved from Florida to Salem to be with her.
"He left all his friends, his father, everything," Khan recalled. "That kid moved and left everything he knew
as home in three days."
Mejia had always been there when his family needed him. He once saved his mother's life with the Heimlich
maneuver and twice rescued his sister from drowning in a swimming pool.
"This is the kind of kid you want in an emergency," his mother said.
But he also had another side. He would get down on the floor and play with his nieces and nephews. He was
funny, with a dry sense of humor and an eye for irony. He talked about wanting to meet a woman he would
love for her intelligence, not her looks.
"He was the guy all the girls wanted," Mulvany said.
'Making a difference'
Mejia's friends and family were surprised by his decision to join the Army, but Mulvany said he found
himself in Iraq.
"When he went over to Iraq, that's when it really became (clear) in his eyes what the mission was about,
meeting the Iraqi people and the children," Mulvany said. "I think he felt like he was making a difference,
and that's him. He wants to make a difference. He wants to leave his mark."
Mulvany urged his younger sister to do the same.
"He wanted me to do something with my life," his sister Siobhan said. "He wanted me to follow what he
did."
Mejia's own goals were simple. He planned to leave the Army when his commitment ended and return to
Florida to start a business with his father. He wanted to get married and have children. Mulvany said he
seemed ready to settle down.
"I watched him go from being a boy to being a man in the last three years," she said. "Once he went over to
Iraq, it was just amazing to watch him grow up."
Mejia himself was aware of the change.
"I have grown up so much over the last few years," he wrote on his Web site last month. "I remember when I
was 18 thinking I was grown up. Not quite. I am 25 years old now and more self aware than ever before. I
think I have done more than I was ever expected to, and I'm not done yet. As a matter of fact, I'm just getting
started."
Spec. David J. Babineau
Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 25 years old
Died: June 16, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Incident: Killed while manning a checkpoint when he came under enemy small arms fire south of
Baghdad.
COALITION FORCES TRACK DOWN TERRORISTS RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING MND-B
SOLDIERS
Release Date: 6/26/2006
Release Number: 06-06-02PE
Description: Editor’s note – this provides additional information beyond that which was provided in press
release 20060620-01. A clarification to that release – the one KIA mentioned during the search was Spec.
Babineau. No other Soldiers died during the search efforts. The information in this release will be briefed in
detail by MG Thurman at the press conference tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.
BAGHDAD, Iraq – While military medical examiners officially confirmed the identities of two Soldiers
found dead near Yusufiaya Thursday, Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces intensified efforts to track down
and bring to justice the terrorists responsible for murdering three Multi-National Division – Baghdad troops
June 16.
Spec. David J. Babineau was killed during an attack on a three-man security team manning a checkpoint
before the terrorists overwhelmed the position, taking Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker to
an unknown location and later killing them.
The attack occurred south of Yusufiyah where the Soldiers were guarding a canal crossing next to the
Euphrates River. Within one hour of the attack, the immediate area was cordoned off by both air and
ground forces and search operations began.
A combined and joint force of more than 8,000 Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces assembled to take part in
the search. The force included three MND-B brigade combat teams, Iraqi army, national and local police,
adjacent units from Multi-National Force – West, Navy and Air Force aircraft and other Coalition Forces.
The Coalition and ISF used all available resources including, air, ground and water to locate the Soldiers.
While Air Force para-rescue dive teams searched the canals, engineers patrolled the Euphrates River and
Coalition unmanned aerial vehicles and helicopters patrolled from the sky.
Twenty-five military operations were conducted, including 11 air assault missions. More than 12 villages and
an old power plant were searched. In the massive effort to locate the missing Soldiers, 12 CF Soldiers were
wounded.
Six caches were discovered. Two of the weapons caches were found in the power plant. Some of the
contraband found in the caches included a suicide vest, gun powder, plastic explosives with detonation cord,
grenades, AK-47s, and homemade rocket launchers with several rockets.
Throughout the process, Iraqi citizens from across Baghdad provided almost 80 tips, which were all
investigated. Coalition Soldiers engaged local religious, community and political leaders to maintain support
and gain information.
In an attempt to thwart the search effort, the enemy conducted a series of harassing attacks with
improvised-explosive devices and indirect fire, all of which failed to stop the search. Ten IEDs detonated
and 17 were found by searchers before detonation.
Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces detained 36 suspected anti-Iraqi forces involved in the murders and
killed two enemy fighters. Coalition Forces surged interrogation operations around-the-clock for three days
while the search for the Soldiers continued.
Acting on a tip from a local Iraqi tribal leader and another one from a detainee, MND-B Soldiers discovered
the two sets of remains June 19 at approximately 7:50 p.m. next to a road near the village of Mufaraji,
northwest of Yusufiyah. The local Iraqi also informed the Soldiers to watch for explosives.
To ensure the safety of the Soldiers, the commander established security and cordoned the area to wait until
daylight to approach the bodies. An explosive ordnance disposal team arrived on site to clear the route. At
first light, the engineers cleared the route up to the site of the bodies, fighting their way through three
roadside bombs in the process.
The two bodies, severely traumatized, were found bound together with an IED between one of the Soldiers'
legs. The engineers successfully cleared the IED and the surrounding area to allow recovery of the remains.
The remains were airlifted to a Coalition morgue near Baghdad International Airport by 8:25 a.m. Tuesday
before they were sent to Dover Air Force Base, Del.
A formal investigation has been directed by Maj. Gen. James D. Thurman, the commanding general of
MND-B, to determine the facts surrounding the attack on the Soldiers.
Two Al Qaeda in Iraq terrorists were killed in this operation, to include a senior AQI lieutenant.
The search continues for additional terrorists responsible for the barbaric attack. Forty detainees from
previous operations have been interrogated about their connection with individuals linked to the murder of
the Soldiers. Of the 36 detainees taken during the search, 13 are providing intelligence of value to the
Coalition. Military specialists have conducted more than 92 interrogations. Two of the detainees have
admitted to being Al Qaeda members and were captured in the vicinity of the remains.
"Precision direct action operations will continue as a result of the intelligence gleaned from those detained
and the information gained from increased operations south of Baghdad," said Thurman. "MND-B, with the
ISF, will continue to actively target terrorists and criminals who operate outside of the rule of law."
Iraq Court Convicts Killer of 2 Soldiers
Slaying of Americans A Pivotal Legal Case
By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
BAGHDAD, Oct. 28 -- In the first case of its kind, an Iraqi judge Tuesday convicted an Iraqi man of
abducting, torturing and killing two American soldiers in the summer of 2006.
Ibrahim Karim Muhammed Salih al-Qaraghuli was found guilty and sentenced to death after expert
testimony that his fingerprints matched photos of bloody prints found on the front panel of the pickup truck
used to drag the soldiers, Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker. Citing lack of evidence, Judge
Munther Raouf Haadi acquitted Qaraghuli's two co-defendants.
The proceeding cast a spotlight on the Iraqi court system, which has come under scrutiny in recent weeks as
Iraqi and American officials have argued over whether Iraq should have the right to prosecute U.S. soldiers
under certain circumstances as part of a yet-to-be-signed agreement regarding the presence of American
troops in Iraq after 2008. The case decided Tuesday was the first in which an Iraqi investigative judge filed
charges in the slaying of U.S. soldiers.
Insurgents abducted Menchaca, 23, of Houston and Tucker, 25, of Madras, Ore., on June 16, 2006, while the
two soldiers were manning a checkpoint in Yusufiyah, a village south of Baghdad, in a then-volatile area
known as the Triangle of Death. Their bodies were tied to the back of a pickup truck and dragged through
town. One of the soldiers was beheaded.
Col. Rafael Lara Jr., the chief of a U.S. military task force advising Iraqi court officials, said he was
disappointed by the acquittals but satisfied by the way the case was handled.
"I'm very pleased to see the Iraqi judiciary exercise discretion and the rules of procedure," he said. "Iraqi
courts have taken a good step today."
In Iraq's legal system, investigative judges interview witnesses, collect evidence and issue arrest warrants. A
three-judge panel acts as the American equivalent of a presiding judge and jury.
The prosecutor assists with the investigation but plays a largely passive role during the proceeding. Defense
lawyers are appointed to represent defendants.
The three defendants were escorted into the courtroom by Iraqi police officers and led into a wooden cage,
where they stood facing the bench during the proceeding.
Haadi read summaries of statements from a half-dozen witnesses. One had died since he was interviewed;
the rest ignored summons to appear in court.
The statements included somewhat contradictory accounts about the defendants and the abductions. The men
who dragged the soldiers through the streets wore hoods, according to the witness statements. Nevertheless,
some witnesses said they were able to identify some of the defendants.
Defense lawyers questioned the trustworthiness of accounts from witnesses who were unwilling to show up
in court. One argued that the fingerprint evidence was suspect because American investigators handled the
forensics in the case and may have digitally produced the match.
The three defendants said they were innocent. A Sunni insurgent group linked to the group al-Qaeda in Iraq
asserted responsibility for the slayings and said they were retaliation for the rape and killing of a 14-year-old
girl by an American soldier.
U.S. officials said they found DNA evidence on a head scarf recovered from the crime scene that tied a
second defendant to the crime. But the DNA evidence was not addressed during the proceeding because Iraqi
judicial officials didn't want to use an American DNA expert and were unable to find an Iraqi expert, U.S.
advisers said.
After issuing his verdict, Haadi ordered the other two defendants, Whalid Khalid Daydan Ibrahim al-Kartani
and Kazim Fadhil Jasim Harbi al-Zowbai, released immediately.
Tucker and Menchaca were with the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne
Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Ky. Spec. David J. Babineau, 25, a third soldier who was
with them when they were abducted, was fatally shot on the spot. U.S. military officials found the two
soldiers' bodies three days later. They were laden with explosives.
Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti
Hometown: Raynham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 30 years old
Died: June 21, 2006 in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Unit: Army, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light
Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Incident: Killed when he encountered enemy forces using small arms fire and rocket-propelled
grenades during combat operations Gowardesh, Afghanistan.
Jared C. Monti
Killed in action, June 21, 2006, in Afghanistan, of Raynham, age 30 years, U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division, Fort
Drum, NY. Son of Paul Monti of Raynham and Janet E. (Ross) Monti of Winterville, N.C.; brother of Niccole T. Monti of
Winterville, NC, and Timothy J. Monti of Taunton; grandson of Marjorie Ross, the late Urvin A. Ross, Joseph B. Monti
Sr. and Mary A. (Salverio) Monti; uncle of Carys E Monti of Winterville, NC. Also survived by many aunts, uncles,
cousins and friends. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 8 am in St. Ann's Church, Raynham. Followed by
burial in Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne, at 10 am. Visiting hours are Thursday and Friday 2-4 and 7-9 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jared C. Monti Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Bristol County Savings Bank,
108 N. Main St., Raynham, MA 02767. Arrangements are by the Prophett Funeral Home, 98 Bedford St (Rt 18)
BRIDGEWATER Visit www.prophett-wales.com for condolences & directions
Published in The Boston Globe on June 29, 2006
Another Hero: Sgt 1st Class Jared C. Monti
Jared Monti - Medal of Honor awardee
The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring
Freedom. They died in Gowardesh, Afghanistan, on June 21, 2006, when they encountered enemy forces
using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned
to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort
Drum, N.Y.
Killed were:
Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti, 30, of Raynham, Mass.
Staff Sgt. Patrick L. Lybert, 28, of Ladysmith, Wis.
DoD
Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jared C. Monti, a Military Occupational Specialty 13F Fire Support Specialist,
was a Targeting NCO assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 10th
Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York. He distinguished himself by acts of conspicuous gallantry above
and beyond the call of duty against an armed enemy in Gowardesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.
On 21 June 2006, SFC Monti, then a staff sergeant, was the assistant patrol leader for a 16-man patrol tasked
to conduct surveillance in the Gowardesh region. The patrol was to provide up-to-date intelligence, interdict
enemy movement and ensure early warning for the squadron’s main effort as it inserted into the province. As
nightfall approached, the patrol was attacked by a well organized enemy force of at least 60 personnel.
Outnumbered four-to-one, SFC Monti’s patrol was in serious danger of being overrun.
The enemy fighters had established two support-by-fire positions directly above the patrol in a densely
wooded ridgeline. SFC Monti immediately returned fire and ordered the patrol to seek cover and return fire.
He then reached for his radio headset and calmly initiated calls for indirect fire and close air support (CAS),
both danger-close to the patrol’s position. He did this while simultaneously directing the patrol’s fires.
When SFC Monti realized that a member of the patrol, Private First Class (PFC) Brian J. Bradbury, was
critically wounded and exposed 10 meters from cover, without regard for his personal safety, he advanced
through enemy fire to within three feet of PFC Bradbury’s position. But he was forced back by intense RPG
fire. He tried again to secure PFC Bradbury, but he was forced to stay in place again as the enemy intensified
its fires.
The remaining patrol members coordinated covering fires for SFC Monti, and he advanced a third time
toward the wounded Soldier. But he only took a few steps this time before he was mortally wounded by an
RPG. About the same time, the indirect fires and CAS he called for began raining down on the enemy’s
position. The firepower broke the enemy attack, killing 22 enemy fighters. SFC Monti’s actions prevented
the patrol’s position from being overrun, saved his team’s lives and inspired his men to fight on against
overwhelming odds. SFC Monti epitomizes what it means to be an NCO. Because of his personal sacrifice
and selfless service to the Army, the men of his patrol are alive today and continue the fight.
SFC Monti’s name will adorn our new Fort Sill Call for Fire Training Center. The “Monti Call for Fire
Training Facility” will be used to train future joint fires observers. Sudents will be trained on jointly
approved tactics, techniques and procedures in support of Artillery, Naval Surface Fire Support and
Aviation. Upon graduation, the students will take with them the knowledge, skills and inspiration the Monti
Call for Fire Training Facility provided to fight effectively and win on today’s modern battlefield.
Marker honoring Jared Monti at COP Monti
This guy is my son, SFC Jared C. Monti. He died 6-21-06 trying to save the lives of 3 of his fellow soldiers.
Brian Bradbury would have survived if the cable lifting him up to the helicopter didn’t snap..he fell to his
death. The helicopter pilot lost control due to that mishap & he crashed & died. Jared was shot twice while
trying to save his comrades. Patrick was dead before he hit the ground, Jared was killed while trying to
retrieve his body. The medic trying to save his life was also killed. He managed to save one soldier his name
is Derek. My son did what he does best looking out for his “boys” as he called them. He gave his life to save
another and it’s not the first time he risked his life saving his platoon. He received 2 Bronze Stars for both
instances, the first one on his first tour in Afghanistan. I miss him more than words can express, will grieve
his loss till the day I die but I have never been so proud.
That’s who this guy was!
Janet Monti
Gold Star Mother
Someone You Should Know: Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti
Tonight was a special Father’s Day edition of Someone You Should Know. Bruce McQuain from QandO, a
Vietnam veteran with 28-years experience in the U.S. Army, does a wonderful job with this series because
he knows of what he speaks and he is an incredible writer and narrator.
This week, Bruce told us about Raynham, Mass. native Jared C. Monti. He did so not through media
accounts, but from the comments of Jared’s fellow soldiers. It is an amazing testimonial.
Immediately following Bruce’s moving tribute, we were honored to welcome Paul Monti, Jared’s father.
This was a difficult night for Paul. Father’s Day was the last time he spoke to his son, who was killed three
days later, on June 21, 2006.
Paul spoke movingly about Jared, the determined kid, how he made the varsity basketball team on his third
try, and ended the season as one of the team's best players. Jared was always sticking up for the little guy. He
was the kind of man that every father would be busting with pride to call their son.
Last night Jared’s family and friends held a poker tournament and raised $17,000 for a scholarship fund in
his honor benefiting students from Bridgewater-Raynham high school.
You can send a donation to:
Jared C. Monti Scholarship Fund
Bristol County Savings Bank
Main Street
Raynham, MA 02767
Our hearts go out to Paul, the Monti family and his many friends. We thank him for letting us know why Sgt.
1st Class Jared C. Monti is Someone You Should Know.
WELCOME
JARED AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR
White House announced on July 24th, 2009....read
more...
Please join us in honoring our friend and fallen hero, Sergeant
First Class Jared C. Monti of Raynham, MA. Jared was killed in
action on June 21st, 2006, while deployed with the 10th
Mountain Division for Operation Enduring Freedom in
Afghanistan. Jared was a most accomplished soldier who was
respected and loved by everyone who knew him.
Monti was decorated with numerous awards including the
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, five Army Commendation medals,
four Army Achievement medals, three Good Conduct medals
and three National Defense medals, to name a few.
A scholarship in his honor will be awarded annually to a local
student through a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated
to the Jared C. Monti Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc.
-Family and Friends of Jared Monti
ABOUT JARED
SFC Monti enlisted in the U.S. Army March 1993, and attended basic training and
advanced individual training at Fort Sill, OK, earning his Military Occupational
Specialty of 13F (Forward Observer). He is a graduate of Joint Firepower Controller
Course, basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Warrior Leader Course, Airborne and
Air Assault.
SFC Monti was assigned as a Forward Observer in headquarters and headquarters
troop, 3rd squadron, 71st Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division (light infantry). He was
deployed to Afghanistan with Task Force Spartan in Feb. 2006. He was an outstanding
leader who constantly motivated his soldiers and ensured that his unit was always
ready to fight and win.
His career culminated with Task Force Spartan while conducting combat operations in
the mountains near Gowardesh, Afghanistan. His recon team occupied a surveillance
position when they were attacked by a large enemy force on the afternoon of June 21.
SFC Monti was killed in action by enemy fire in the subsequent engagement.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Purple Heart, Army Commendation
Medal (4OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Good Conduct Medal (2), National
Defense Service Medal (2), Korean Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces
Expeditionary Medal (2), Kosovo Campaign Medal (2), Noncommissioned Officer
Professional Development Ribbon (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon,
NATO Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
SFC Monti was a graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham High School, Class of 1994. He
was in the Iron Man Triathalon, competed in various competitions in the Army and
was the N.E. Weightlifting Champion at age 17. Jared loved fishing, hunting, camping,
sports and enjoyed spending time with his cousins and his niece, Carys.
http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/monti/news.html
Sgt. 1st Class Monti in Afghanistan
A personal photo of Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti in Afghanistan, 2006.
AREA OF OPERATION
HTTP://WWW.ARMY.MIL/MEDALOFHONOR/MONTI/BATTLESCAPE.HTML
In June of 2006, the 3rd Squadron of the 71st Cavalry Regiment (Recon), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, prepared to execute Operation Gowardesh Thrust, a Squadron size operation in the
Gremen Valley, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. The operation was designed to disrupt enemy operations in
the Gremen Valley by denying the enemy freedom of movement and the use of critical staging areas near
the border with Pakistan. The initial phase of the operation required a 16-man patrol to infiltrate into the area
of operations in advance of the Squadron's main effort. The patrol, consisting of snipers, forward observers
and scouts, would maneuver north along a high ridgeline overlooking the Gremen Valley. From the high
ground of the ridge, the patrol would provide real-time intelligence and help direct fires against enemy
forces attempting to oppose the Squadron's main effort.
2610 RIDGE LINE
Staff Sgt. Cunningham and Staff Sgt. Monti selected a flat area on top of the ridge approximately 50 meters
long and 20 meters wide, with a trail running along the eastern edge. At the southern end of the position,
there were several large rocks, a portion of an old stone wall and a few small trees. The terrain sloped
gradually upward to the north. At the northern end of the patrol's position there was a line of dense
vegetation composed of trees, heavy brush and smaller rocks. In between the large rocks to the south and
the tree line to the north was a clearing approximately 40-50 meters in length. The terrain dropped off
steeply on the eastern and western sides of the position. The rocks and trees around the position provided
concealment and protection for the patrol as they observed the valley more than 1,000 meters below. The
patrol spent the night of June 20, 2006, observing from their position on Mountain 2610. The following
morning the patrol was dangerously low on both food and water. A re-supply mission was scheduled for that
day. The re-supply was originally coordinated to occur in conjunction with the Squadron's main effort, which
included a large air assault into the Gremen Valley. The heavy helicopter traffic associated with the air
assault mission would have provided distraction for the re-supply; reducing the risk that the drop would
compromise the patrol's position. However, on the morning of June 21, 2006, Monti and Cunningham
learned that the Squadron operation had been pushed back until June 24, 2006. The delay extended the
patrol's mission by several days, making re-supply critical; however, the absence of other aerial traffic
increased the risk that the re-supply would compromise the patrol. Because of the critical shortage of water,
it was determined that the re-supply would go forward as planned despite the risk of compromise.
Battlescape
Sgt. 1st Class Monti, 30, was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,
10th Mountain Division, when he was killed in Gowardesh, Afghanistan, in a battle with enemy
forces using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He displayed immeasurable courage
and uncommon valor when he sacrificed his own life in an effort to save his comrade.
Profile
Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti
3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry (Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Target Acquisition), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Parents: Mr. Paul Monti and Ms. Janet Monti
Siblings: Timothy Monti and Niccole Monti
Born: Sept. 20, 1975 in Abington, Mass.
Hometown: Raynham, Mass.; graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, 1994.
Assignments: Before coming to Fort Drum, he served assignments at Fort Riley, Kan.; Camp
Stanley, Korea (1st Battalion, 506th Infantry); Fort Bragg, N.C.; and Camp Casey, Korea.
Deployments: Kosovo and a previous tour in Afghanistan from 2003 to 2004. Afghanistan,
February 2006.
Citation
Official Citation
Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti
United States Army
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and
beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop,
3d Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in
connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on
June 21, 2006.
While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and directing fire
against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters. On the
verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive
position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the
rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire,
Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully
disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one of his Soldiers
was lying wounded in the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol’s position.
With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from
behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade.
Determined not to leave his Soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open
terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his
own life in an effort to save his fellow Soldier.
Staff Sergeant Monti’s selfless acts of heroism inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy
force. Staff Sergeant Monti’s immeasurable courage and uncommon valor are in keeping with the
highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Headquarters and
Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
Mountain Division, and the United States Army.
Citation
Official Narrative
In June of 2006, the 3rd Squadron of the 71st Cavalry Regiment (Recon), 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 10th Mountain Division, prepared to execute Operation Gowardesh Thrust, a Squadron size
operation in the Gremen Valley, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.
The operation was designed to disrupt enemy operations in the Gremen Valley by denying the
enemy freedom of movement and the use of critical staging areas near the border with Pakistan.
The initial phase of the operation required a 16-man patrol to infiltrate into the area of operations in
advance of the Squadron’s main effort.
The patrol, consisting of snipers, forward observers and scouts, would maneuver north along a
high ridgeline overlooking the Gremen Valley. From the high ground of the ridge, the patrol would
provide real-time intelligence and help direct fires against enemy forces attempting to oppose the
Squadron’s main effort.
On the evening of June 17, 2006, a convoy transported the patrol to a pre-established mortar firing
position south of the village of Baz-Gal near the Gowardesh Bridge. The following morning, the
patrol infiltrated on foot from the mortar firing position into their area of operation. For three days,
the patrol moved north up the ridgeline through rugged mountain terrain. Due to the difficulty of the
climb and temperatures near 100 degrees, the patrol moved mostly at night or in the early morning
hours; stopping during the heat of the day to observe the valley below.
On June 20, 2006, the patrol leaders, Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Cunningham and Staff Sgt. Jared
C. Monti, halted the patrol on the ridgeline of Mountain 2610, approximately 5 kilometers northwest
of the village of Gowardesh. With an elevation of over 2600 meters, Mountain 2610 commanded a
view of several enemy known areas of interest, including insurgent safe houses and the summer
residence of Hadji Usman, an HIG commander, who was a vetted Combined Joint Task Force 76
insurgent target.
Staff Sgt. Cunningham and Staff Sgt. Monti selected a flat area on top of the ridge approximately
50 meters long and 20 meters wide, with a trail running along the eastern edge. At the southern
end of the position, there were several large rocks, a portion of an old stone wall and a few small
trees. The terrain sloped gradually upward to the north. At the northern end of the patrol’s position
there was a line of dense vegetation composed of trees, heavy brush and smaller rocks. In
between the large rocks to the south and the tree line to the north was a clearing approximately 4050 meters in length. The terrain dropped off steeply on the eastern and western sides of the
position. The rocks and trees around the position provided concealment and protection for the
patrol as they observed the valley more than 1,000 meters below.
The patrol spent the night of June 20, 2006, observing from their position on Mountain 2610. The
following morning the patrol was dangerously low on both food and water. A re-supply mission was
scheduled for that day. The re-supply was originally coordinated to occur in conjunction with the
Squadron’s main effort, which included a large air assault into the Gremen Valley. The heavy
helicopter traffic associated with the air assault mission would have provided distraction for the resupply; reducing the risk that the drop would compromise the patrol’s position. However, on the
morning of June 21, 2006, Monti and Cunningham learned that the Squadron operation had been
pushed back until June 24, 2006. The delay extended the patrol’s mission by several days, making
re-supply critical; however, the absence of other aerial traffic increased the risk that the re-supply
would compromise the patrol. Because of the critical shortage of water, it was determined that the
re-supply would go forward as planned despite the risk of compromise.
The drop zone was located approximately 150 meters from the patrol’s position. Staff Sgt.
Cunningham and Staff Sgt. Monti brought the majority of their patrol to the re-supply drop zone to
provide security and to transport the supplies back to the patrol’s position. A smaller group
remained at the observation position to provide security and to continue to survey the valley below.
At approximately 1:30 in the afternoon, a UH-60 Black Hawk delivered food and water to the patrol.
The patrol secured the supplies and began transporting them back to their observation position.
Spc. Max Noble, the patrol’s medic, was one of the Soldiers who remained at the observation
position while the majority of the patrol picked up the re-supply. Spc. Noble was using a spotting
scope to look down into the valley. Prior to the patrol’s return from the re-supply drop, Noble
observed a local national male in the valley using military style binoculars to look up towards at the
patrol’s position. Spc. Noble informed Cunningham and Monti as soon as they returned. They
watched the man observing the patrol’s position for several minutes before he picked up a bag and
walked away.
As dusk approached, the patrol established a security perimeter around their position and
scheduled guard rotations. The patrol members then divided up the supplies and prepared for the
night. Staff Sgt. Cunningham, Staff Sgt. Monti, and Sgt. John R. Hawes sat behind one of the large
rocks at the southern end of the patrol’s position and discussing courses of action in the event that
their position had likely been compromised. Pfc. Brian J. Bradbury, Pfc. Mark James, Pvt. Sean J.
Smith, Spc. Matthew P. Chambers, Spc. Shawn M. Heistand, and Spc. Franklin L. Woods were at
the northern end of the position, near the wood line. Sgt. Chris J. Grzecki, Spc. Noble, and Spc.
John H. Garner were along the trail on the eastern edge of the position using spotting scopes to
monitor the valley below.
At approximately, 6:45 in the evening, Spc. Woods heard the shuffling of feet in the wood line
immediately to the north. Before he could react, the patrol’s position was hit by a barrage of rocketpropelled grenades (RPGs), medium machine gun (PK) fire, and small-arms fire from the wood
line. An enemy force of approximately 50 fighters was moving in under cover from two support-byfire positions above the patrol to the north and northwest. Members of the patrol could hear enemy
fighters giving commands as they moved through the wood line at the northern end of the patrol’s
position.
At the time of the attack, the six patrol members at the northern end of the patrol’s position
immediately dove for cover as the enemy opened fire. The attack came so quickly and with such
ferocity, that many of the patrol members at the northern end of the position were unable to
maneuver to get to their weapons. Others had their weapons literally shot out of their hands by the
intense fire.
Spc. Heistand and Pfc. Bradbury were both near the wood line when the enemy opened fire.
Heistand was armed with an assault rifle and Bradbury was a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)
gunner. Both hit the ground and began to return fire. However, they soon realized that their fire
was drawing the enemies’ attention to their dangerously exposed position in the open area near
the wood line. Spc. Heistand told Pfc. Bradbury that they had to fall back to the south where the
large rocks would provide better cover. Spc. Heistand then jumped up and sprinted back towards
the large rocks at the southern end of the position. Pfc. Bradbury was directly behind Spc.
Heistand as they headed for the rocks, however, Pfc. Bradbury did not make it back to the rocks.
Pfc. James, Spc. Chambers, Spc. Woods, and Pvt. Smith were also in the area near the wood line
when the enemy attacked. They also fell quickly back towards the large rocks to the south.
Chambers, Woods, and Smith successfully made it to cover without injury; however, Pfc. James
was hit by small arms fire in the back and wrist as he ran for cover to the south. Although
wounded, Pfc. James was able to crawl back towards the rest of the patrol on the southern end of
the position. As soon as he was close enough, other members of the patrol grabbed James and
drug him to better cover behind the rocks. Spc. Chambers, who lost his weapon in the initial volley,
then took Pfc. James to a safe position further back from the rocks and administered first aid.
From behind the rocks at the southern end of the patrol’s position, Staff Sgt. Monti, Staff Sgt.
Cunningham, and Sgt. Hawes returned fire, attempting to cover for the patrol members falling back
from the north. However, the intensity of the enemy small arms fire and frequent volleys of RPGs
made it dangerous for the patrol members to expose themselves in order to accurately aim their
return fire.
Sgt. Patrick L. Lybert was in a prone position beside the small stone wall which was slightly out in
front of the larger rocks at the southern end of the patrol’s position. Although his position did not
provide complete cover, it did provide the best vantage to place accurate fire on the enemy. From
his position, Sgt. Lybert used aimed shots and controlled bursts to effectively slow the approaching
enemy while other members of the patrol consolidated their position behind the rocks at the
southern end of the position.
As the patrol fell back behind the large rocks, Staff Sgt. Cunningham and Staff Sgt. Monti took
charge of the defense. They quickly set up a perimeter, posting Soldiers to guard potential
approaches on their flanks. They directed return fire and cautioned their Soldiers to control their
fires to conserve ammunition. Staff Sgt. Monti grabbed his radio handset and cleared the network
to call for fire. He calmly informed headquarters that the patrol was under attack, heavily
outnumbered, and at risk of being overrun.
Staff Sgt. Monti provided accurate grid coordinates of the enemy’s current positions and likely
avenues of approach as RPGs skipped off of the rock above his head. Due to the proximity of the
enemy forces, Staff Sgt. Monti’s call for fire was ‘danger close.’
While Monti was calling in the fire support mission, Staff Sgt. Cunningham moved along the rocks
towards the eastern edge of the patrol’s position to take charge of the defense at that end of the
position. Sgt. Hawes remained on the western side of the position to defend the western approach
and to provide cover for Monti as he worked the radio calling for indirect fire. Sgt. Lybert was still
out in front of the larger rocks returning fire from behind the stone wall. At some point, members of
the patrol saw Lybert’s head slump forward and blood began to pour from his ears. Members of the
patrol called out to Sgt. Lybert, but he did not respond. Spc. Noble, the patrol’s medic was on the
western side of the position, near Sgt. Lybert, but was unable to get to Lybert to provide treatment
due to the volume of enemy fire. However, Spc. Daniel B. Linnihan crawled out just far enough to
grab Sgt. Lybert’s weapon and drag it back behind the rocks for use by the members of the patrol.
The enemy used support by fire positions to fix the patrol as they split into two groups to flank the
patrol from the east and west. One group of approximately 15 fighters moved through the wood
line towards the patrol’s western flank while a smaller group maneuvered across the trail to attempt
to flank the eastern side of the position. The patrol members on either end of the position
redirected their fires to protect their flanks. Patrol members with weapons traded off with unarmed
members to ensure that the Soldier in the best position had a weapon to defeat the flanking
maneuver. Pvt. Smith was along the trail on the eastern edge of the patrol’s position. From a
covered position he killed several enemy fighters attempting to move up the trail to flank the patrol.
While still communicating with the Squadron headquarters, Staff Sgt. Monti periodically dropped
the handset to engage the enemy with his rifle. At one point, he noticed a group of fighters closing
in on the western flank and disrupted their attack with several bursts from his M-4. As the enemy
closed within ten meters of the patrol’s defensive perimeter, Monti threw a grenade into their path.
Although the grenade was inert, it’s presence disrupted the enemy advance and caused them to
scatter and fall back, denying the enemy a position on the patrol’s flank. Staff Sgt. Monti then went
back to the radio and continued to call for fire.
At this time, the initial volley of mortar fire began to fall on the advancing enemy, driving them back
to a wood line north of the patrol’s position. The mortar firing position asked Staff Sgt. Monti to
adjust the incoming rounds, however, the enemy fire from the wood line was so extreme that Monti
was unable to even raise his head up to observe the incoming rounds.
As the enemy was driven back into the wood line, Staff Sgt. Monti and Staff Sgt. Cunningham took
accountability of their Soldiers. They quickly realized that one Soldier, Pfc. Bradbury, was
unaccounted for. Monti called for Bradbury several times and received no response. Finally, over
the din of near constant enemy fire, they heard Pfc. Bradbury weakly reply that he was badly
injured and unable to move.
Pfc. Bradbury, who was a SAW gunner on Staff Sgt. Monti’s team, lay severely wounded in a
shallow depression approximately 20 meters in front of the patrol. The shallow depression
prevented the patrol from actually seeing Bradbury, but it also protected him from enemy view.
Other than the shallow depression, there was no other substantial cover near the wounded Soldier.
The enemy in the wood line was as close as 30 meters on the other side of Pfc. Bradbury.
Staff Sgt. Monti recognized that Pfc. Bradbury was not only exposed to enemy fire, but also to the
incoming indirect fire. He called out to Bradbury to reassure him that he would be alright and that
they were coming to get him. Staff Sgt. Cunningham yelled across the rocks to Monti, that he
would go for Pfc. Bradbury. However, Monti insisted that Bradbury was his Soldier and that he
would go and get him.
Staff Sgt. Monti then handed the radio handset to Sgt. Grzecki and said, “you are now Chaos
three-five,” which was Monti’s call sign. After tightening down his chin strap, Staff Sgt. Monti,
without hesitation or concern for his own safety, moved out from behind the protection of the large
rocks into the open, and into the face of enemy fire.
The wood line immediately erupted as dozens of enemy fighters focused their fire on Staff Sgt.
Monti running towards his wounded Soldier. Patrol members reported hearing the distinct report of
PK machine guns as soon as Monti left the protection of the rocks. Moving low and fast, Monti
approached to within a few meters of Bradbury before heavy enemy fire forced him to move back
and dive behind the small stone wall where Sgt. Lybert was located.
After pausing briefly to verify that Sgt. Lybert was dead, Staff Sgt. Monti again rose from his
covered position and again moved out into a wall of enemy fire in his second attempt to save Pfc.
Bradbury. This time, the fire was even more intense and Monti only made it a few steps before a
volley of small arms fire and RPGs drove him back behind cover of the stone wall.
Unwilling to leave his Soldier wounded and exposed, Staff Sgt. Monti prepared to make a third
attempt to get to the wounded Pfc. Bradbury. This time, Monti yelled back to the patrol members
behind the rocks that he needed more cover fire. He coordinated with Sgt. Hawes to fire 40mm
grenades from his M203 launcher onto the enemy position, while other members of the patrol
would provide cover fire. Timing his movement to the sound of the exploding 40mm rounds, Staff
Sgt. Monti, for a third time, rose from his covered position and moved into the open, knowing he
again would be the focus of the enemy fire.
On his third attempt, Staff Sgt. Monti took several lunging steps through withering fire towards his
wounded Soldier before an RPG exploded in his path. Before he could reach cover, Monti fell
mortally wounded only a few meters from Pfc. Bradbury. Staff Sgt. Monti attempted to crawl back
towards the stone wall, but was unable to move far due to the severity of his wounds. The patrol
called out to Staff Sgt. Monti and tried to encourage him to remain conscious. Monti spoke briefly
with the members of the patrol, telling them that he had made his peace with God. He then asked
Staff Sgt. Cunningham to tell his parents that he loved them. Shortly thereafter, he fell silent.
By this time it was getting dark and the incoming mortar and howitzer rounds were falling with
accuracy on the enemy position. Close air support was on station and the aviators dropped several
500lb bombs as well as two 2000lb bombs with direction from Sgt. Grzecki. The patrol members
redoubled their efforts to beat back the superior enemy force. Under the weight of the accurate
indirect fire, the enemy effort began to slacken.
As the enemy fire slowed, Sgt. Hawes low-crawled out from behind the rocks and made his way to
Sgt. Lybert’s body. He took Sgt. Lybert’s ammunition and handed it back to one of the Soldiers
fighting behind the rock. He then moved out to Staff Sgt. Monti’s body and confirmed that Monti
had been killed while attempting to save Pfc. Bradbury. Sgt. Hawes took Monti’s weapon and
ammunition and passed them back to the patrol.
Staff Sgt. Cunningham and Pfc. Smith then moved up along the trail to the east and made their
way towards Pfc. Bradbury. They found Bradbury approximately 20 meters in front of the rocks.
Pfc. Bradbury was alive, and although seriously wounded, he was able to communicate. Pfc.
Bradbury reported that there were approximately 40 enemy fighters in the wooded area to the
north. He was able to hear them talking and giving commands during the engagement.
It was completely dark by the time Staff Sgt. Cunningham brought Pfc. Bradbury back behind the
rock so he could be treated by Spc. Noble.
The patrol remained in their position for the rest of the night. The next morning, they assessed the
enemy position and found several blood trails and a bloody shoe, but no bodies. Later estimates
put the enemy death toll at 15-20. The patrol moved on that day and made their way off of the
mountain on foot.
Staff Sgt. Monti was posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class on June 22, 2006.
Citation
Presidential Remarks
September 17, 2009
2:00 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House.
Of all the privileges serving as President, there's no greater honor than serving as Commander-inChief of the finest military that the world has ever known. And of all the military decorations that a
President and a nation can bestow, there is none higher than the Medal of Honor.
It has been nearly 150 years since our nation first presented this medal for conspicuous gallantry
and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. And in those nearly
150 years -- through civil war and two world wars, Korea and Vietnam, Desert Storm and Somalia,
Afghanistan and Iraq, and countless battles in between -- tens of millions of Americans have worn
the uniform. But fewer than 3,500 have been recognized with the Medal of Honor. And in our time,
these remarkable Americans are literally one in a million. And today we recognize another -Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti.
The Medal of Honor reflects the admiration and gratitude of the nation. So we are joined by
members of Congress -- including from Sergeant Monti's home state of Massachusetts, Senator
John Kerry and Congressman Barney Frank. We're joined by our Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, and leaders from across the
Armed Forces.
We are joined by the leaders of the Army to which Sergeant Monti dedicated his life: Secretary
Pete Geren; our incoming Secretary -- confirmed by the Senate last night -- John McHugh; Chief of
Staff General George Casey; Sergeant Major of the Army Ken Preston; and Jared's fellow soldiers
and commanders from the legendary 10th Mountain Division. And we are joined by those who now
welcome Sergeant Monti into their storied ranks -- members of the Medal of Honor Society.
But today is not about high officials and those with stars on their shoulders. It's a celebration of a
young soldier and those who loved him, who made him into the man he was and who join us today.
His mother Janet; his father Paul; his brother Tim; and his sister Niccole -- and from his
grandmother Marjorie to his six-year old niece Carys, and cousins and aunts and uncles from
across America -- more than 120 proud family and friends.
Duty. Honor. Country. Service. Sacrifice. Heroism. These are words of weight. But as people -- as
a people and as a culture, we often invoke them lightly. We toss them around freely. But do we
really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand the nature of these virtues? To
serve, and to sacrifice. Jared Monti knew. The Monti family knows. And they know that the actions
we honor today were not a passing moment of courage. They were the culmination of a life of
character and commitment.
There was Jared's compassion. He was the kid at school who, upon seeing a student eating lunch
alone, would walk over and befriend him. He was the teenager who cut down a spruce tree in his
yard so a single mom in town would have a Christmas tree for her children. He even bought the
ornaments and the presents. He was the soldier in Afghanistan who received care packages,
including fresh clothes, and gave them away to Afghan children who needed them more.
There was Jared's perseverance. Cut from the high school basketball team, he came back the next
year, and the next year, and the next year -- three times -- finally making varsity and outscoring
some of the top players. Told he was too young for the military, he joined the National Guard's
delayed entry program as a junior in high school. And that summer, while other kids were at the
beach, Jared was doing drills.
There was Jared's strength and skill -- the championship wrestler and triathlete who went off to
basic training, just 18 years old, and then served with distinction as a forward observer, with the
heavy responsibility of calling in air strikes. He returned from his first tour in Afghanistan highly
decorated, including a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for valor.
And there was Jared's deep and abiding love for his fellow soldiers. Maybe it came from his mom,
who was a nurse. Maybe it came from his dad, a teacher. Guided by the lessons he learned at
home, Jared became the consummate NCO -- the noncommissioned officer caring for his soldiers
and teaching his troops. He called them his "boys." And although obviously he was still young
himself, some of them called him "grandpa." (Laughter.)
Compassion. Perseverance. Strength. A love for his fellow soldiers. Those are the values that
defined Jared Monti's life -- and the values he displayed in the actions that we recognize here
today.
It was June 21st, 2006, in the remotest northeast of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan.
Sergeant Monti was a team leader on a 16-man patrol. They'd been on the move for three days -down dirt roads; sloshing through rivers; hiking up steep mountain trails, their heavy gear on their
backs; moving at night and in the early morning to avoid the scorching 100-degree heat. Their
mission: to keep watch on the valley down below in advance of an operation to clear the area of
militants.
Those who were there remember that evening on the mountain -- a rocky ridge, not much bigger
than this room. Some were standing guard, knowing they had been spotted by a man in the valley.
Some were passing out MREs and water. There was talk of home and plans for leave. Jared was
overheard remembering his time serving in Korea. Then, just before dark, there was a shuffle of
feet in the woods. And that's when the treeline exploded in a wall of fire.
One member of the patrol said it was "like thousands of rifles crackling." Bullets and heavy
machine gunfire ricocheting across the rocks. Rocket-propelled grenades raining down. Fire so
intense that weapons were shot right out of their hands. Within minutes, one soldier was killed;
another was wounded. Everyone dove for cover. Behind a tree. A rock. A stone wall. This patrol of
16 men was facing a force of some 50 fighters. Outnumbered, the risk was real. They might be
overrun. They might not make it out alive.
That's when Jared Monti did what he was trained to do. With the enemy advancing -- so close they
could hear their voices -- he got on his radio and started calling in artillery. When the enemy tried
to flank them, he grabbed a gun and drove them back. And when they came back again, he tossed
a grenade and drove them back again. And when these American soldiers saw one of their own -wounded, lying in the open, some 20 yards away, exposed to the approaching enemy -- Jared
Monti did something no amount of training can instill. His patrol leader said he'd go, but Jared said,
"No, he is my soldier, I'm going to get him."
It was written long ago that "the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is
before them, glory and danger alike, and yet, notwithstanding, go out to meet it." Jared Monti saw
the danger before him. And he went out to meet it.
He handed off his radio. He tightened his chin strap. And with his men providing cover, Jared rose
and started to run. Into all those incoming bullets. Into all those rockets. Upon seeing Jared, the
enemy in the woods unleashed a firestorm. He moved low and fast, yard after yard, then dove
behind a stone wall.
A moment later, he rose again. And again they fired everything they had at him, forcing him back.
Faced with overwhelming enemy fire, Jared could have stayed where he was, behind that wall. But
that was not the kind of soldier Jared Monti was. He embodied that creed all soldiers strive to
meet: "I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never
leave a fallen comrade." And so, for a third time, he rose. For a third time, he ran toward his fallen
comrade. Said his patrol leader, it "was the bravest thing I had ever seen a soldier do."
They say it was a rocket-propelled grenade; that Jared made it within a few yards of his wounded
soldier. They say that his final words, there on that ridge far from home, were of his faith and his
family: "I've made peace with God. Tell my family that I love them."
And then, as the artillery that Jared had called in came down, the enemy fire slowed, then stopped.
The patrol had defeated the attack. They had held on -- but not without a price. By the end of the
night, Jared and three others, including the soldier he died trying to save, had given their lives.
I'm told that Jared was a very humble guy; that he would have been uncomfortable with all this
attention; that he'd say he was just doing his job; and that he'd want to share this moment with
others who were there that day. And so, as Jared would have wanted, we also pay tribute to those
who fell alongside him: Staff Sergeant Patrick Lybert. Private First Class Brian Bradbury. Staff
Sergeant Heathe Craig.
And we honor all the soldiers he loved and who loved him back -- among them noncommissioned
officers who remind us why the Army has designated this "The Year of the NCO" in honor of all
those sergeants who are the backbone of America's Army. They are Jared's friends and fellow
soldiers watching this ceremony today in Afghanistan. They are the soldiers who this morning held
their own ceremony on an Afghan mountain at the post that now bears his name -- Combat
Outpost Monti. And they are his "boys" -- surviving members of Jared's patrol, from the 10th
Mountain Division -- who are here with us today. And I would ask them all to please stand.
(Applause.)
Like Jared, these soldiers know the meaning of duty, and of honor, of country. Like Jared, they
remind us all that the price of freedom is great. And by their deeds they challenge every American
to ask this question: What we can do to be better citizens? What can we do to be worthy of such
service and such sacrifice?
Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti. In his proud hometown of Raynham, his name graces streets
and scholarships. Across a grateful nation, it graces parks and military posts. From this day
forward, it will grace the memorials to our Medal of Honor heroes. And this week, when Jared
Monti would have celebrated his 34th birthday, we know that his name and legacy will live forever,
and shine brightest, in the hearts of his family and friends who will love him always.
May God bless Jared Monti, and may He comfort the entire Monti family. And may God bless the
United States of America. (Applause.)
Janet, Paul, would you please join me at the podium for the reading of the citation.
The citation is read: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress,
March 3rd, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Staff Sergeant
Jared C. Monti, United States Army.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Staff Sergeant Jared C. Monti distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and
beyond the call of duty while serving as a team leader with Headquarters and Headquarters troop,
3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, in
connection with combat operations against an enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on June
21st, 2006. While Staff Sergeant Monti was leading a mission aimed at gathering intelligence and
directing fire against the enemy, his 16-man patrol was attacked by as many as 50 enemy fighters.
On the verge of being overrun, Staff Sergeant Monti quickly directed his men to set up a defensive
position behind a rock formation. He then called for indirect fire support, accurately targeting the
rounds upon the enemy who had closed to within 50 meters of his position. While still directing fire,
Staff Sergeant Monti personally engaged the enemy with his rifle and a grenade, successfully
disrupting an attempt to flank his patrol. Staff Sergeant Monti then realized that one of his soldiers
was lying wounding on the open ground between the advancing enemy and the patrol's position.
With complete disregard for his own safety, Staff Sergeant Monti twice attempted to move from
behind the cover of the rocks into the face of relentless enemy fire to rescue his fallen comrade.
Determined not to leave his soldier, Staff Sergeant Monti made a third attempt to cross open
terrain through intense enemy fire. On this final attempt, he was mortally wounded, sacrificing his
own life in an effort to save his fellow soldier. Staff Sergeant Monti's selfless acts of heroism
inspired his patrol to fight off the larger enemy force. Staff Sergeant Monti's immeasurable courage
and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great
credit upon himself, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment,
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, and the United States Army.
(Editor’s Note: The remarks above represent the president’s prepared remarks as taken directly
from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Presentation-of-the-Medalof-Honor-to-Sergeant-First-Class-Jared-C-Monti/)
Cpl. Paul N. King
Hometown: Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 23 years old
Died: June 25, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marine Reserves, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Reserves,
Ayer, Mass.
Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province.
Cpl. Paul Nicholas King
23, Tyngsboro, Class of 2001, Greater Lowell Technical High School, died in Combat, June 25, in Iraq. US Marine Corps
2001, serving in Iraq since March 2006. Worked at Rosie's Diner N. Chelmsford, enjoyed his nieces, his motorcycle,
and was a proud, active member of the United Native American Cultural Center, Ayer. Loving husband to Rebecca
(Brown) King since May 2003; son of Watertown's Paul C. King who worked for Davio's, Cambridge and Julie
(Murphy) King who works at Beth Israel Deaconess Hosp, Lexington; brother to Dianna King of Dracut and Daniel,
Julie, and Victoria King, all of Tyngsboro; grandson of Gordon King of Watertown; uncle to Krista Leduc and Anna
King; nephew of Gordon "Chuck" King of Jamaica Plain, John "Jay" King of Dorchester, Ann Farrel of Hopkinton, and
Deborah King of Watertown; son-in-law of Denise Gamester of Tyngsboro and Michael Brown of Dracut; and also
leaves his wife's grandparents Gloria Brown and Cleo Surprenant, and Joseph and Maydelle Gamester; and many
friends and associates. You are invited to His Calling Hours 3 until 8 PM on Wednesday at the McDonough Funeral
Home, 14 Highland St, LOWELL (978 or 800) 458-6816 followed by His Funeral Service at 8 PM at the Funeral Home.
Memorials in his name to the United Native American Cultural Center, PO Box 711, Ayer MA 01432. E-condolence
site www. McDonoughFuneralHome.com.
Published in The Boston Globe from July 2 to July 4, 2006
Paul N King
Wednesday, June 28 2006 @ 07:53 AM EDT
Lowell Sun -- TYNGSBORO -- The knock came about 8:30 Sunday night, and when the door swung open
to reveal Marines, Paul C. King knew exactly what had happened.
His son, decorated Marine Cpl. Paul "Nick" King, 23, had been killed in Iraq.
"It was complete devastation," said his mother, Julie King.
"Opening the door, seeing them there and knowing exactly why they were there is something I will never
forget," Paul C. King said.
That same moment came about a half-hour later for Becky King, Nick King's wife.
She was at a party at her father's house to celebrate her recent graduation from the Massachusetts
College of Pharmacy when her mother-in-law called and told her to go home and listen to what the
Marines had to say.
She already knew what it was going to be as she made that drive home alone.
"It was a long ride," she said.
Becky King last saw her husband in March.
She went to Twentynine Palms, Calif., to see him just before he deployed to Iraq. He had been activated
in December and sent to California for desert training.
Nick had five days off. The couple drove from the base and visited Seaworld and the San Diego Zoo.
No one knew it would be the last time Becky would see her high-school sweetheart alive.
Paul Nicholas King, who went by "Nick" since his father is also Paul King, was a mortarman with the 1st
Battalion, 25th Marine Weapons Company, Regimental Combat Team 5. He was killed Sunday while
serving with a mobile assault platoon, a group patrolling the notorious city of Fallujah to weed out
insurgents, according to a biography released by the Marine Corps.
King had gotten out of his Humvee and was maintaining a security perimeter when he was killed. No other
Marines were hurt in the incident, according to the Marine Corps.
King is the first Tyngsboro resident killed in action since Vietnam, when two men were killed, according to
Veterans' Agent and Selectman Kevin O'Connor.
"He was the boy next door," Becky said last night, recounting how her family moved next door to King on
Cannongate Road in August of 1998. King helped her mother move in.
By November of that year, the two were a couple. They married on May 20, 2003.
King graduated from studying electronics at Greater Lowell Vocational High School in 2001. Becky
attended Dracut High through the school-choice program, and before she graduated in 2002 King wore his
uniform to her prom.
He had enlisted in the Marine Reserves while still in school and went to boot camp after graduation.
"He wanted to do something he could be proud of," a tearful Becky King said last night. "My mother's
father is a Marine and (King) started listening to him about the respect and whatnot, so he wanted to be a
part of it."
"He loved being a Marine."
Nick King certainly earned the respect he sought when he joined the Corps.
His father said last night that it was not just the service to country that made him proud of his son,
though.
"I'm proud of everything he did," Paul C. King said. "There is no prouder person in this world than me right
now."
His younger sister, Dianna King, felt the same, and pointed out that her brother volunteered for his
dangerous duty.
"I couldn't be any more proud of my brother, and even if he never went to Iraq I'd be just as proud,"
Dianna King said. "Nick volunteered because not everyone had a choice. He feared something would
happen that he could have prevented."
King had volunteered for deployment. His unit had been deployed to Korea, Japan and Thailand in support
of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003, so unit members had an option to stay home from Iraq.
"It was not for political purposes, he just didn't want to make his comrades feel abandoned or lost," Becky
King said. "It made me proud to know that's what kind of person he was."
He rarely spoke of his experiences when he called from Iraq.
"Whenever we'd talk, he'd assure me he loved me and couldn't wait to be home," Becky King said.
His mother also said Nick King was homesick.
Becky King last talked to her husband Thursday night.
He mentioned that he couldn't wait to get home and get a Playstation 3.
He was also looking forward to fixing up a motorcycle the couple had bought. They have several bikes and
loved to go riding together.
Nick was outgoing, happy, and quick with a joke, Becky said. He would rarely judge others.
A good cook, his pizza and ribs were "the best."
Becky said she fell in love with the man that her husband was.
"He had a really great take on life," she said. "He would try anything, and he always encouraged people to
try anything."
King stayed out of trouble growing up, although his energy was never spent.
His sister, Julie King, said her brother, a delivery boy for The Sun, would Rollerblade from the family's
condominium off Dunstable Road in Tyngsboro deep into Westford.
He would watch out for Julie in those years.
"Half the knowledge I have I learned from him," Julie said, clutching her baby, Anna, in her arms.
It was Paul and Becky's love for Anna that made them want to have kids as soon as he got back.
The couple also planned to start looking for a home, Becky said.
Dianna King said her brother was always faithful to his friends. Once he made a friend he kept a friend.
King's brother, Daniel King, 19, just graduated and was also enlisted to enter the Marines on July 10.
Those plans are on hold.
Julie and Paul C. King told him they could not let him go in light of what has happened. The Marine Corps
agreed to give him the option since he is the only surviving male child in the family.
Nick King was last in Tyngsboro in February. He had a long weekend off and flew home to see his family.
O'Connor, the town's veterans agent, said Nick King was his paperboy while growing up.
"He was a quiet, unassuming kid," O'Connor said. "Nick was a great kid."
O'Connor described the loss as tragic and emotional, and said the town is deeply sorry for the family.
Becky King's father, G. J. Brown, owns the Century 21 in Tyngsboro, O'Connor said.
U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan called the family last night to let them know the entire community would be
behind them as they grieve.
"He was a brave young man, having served valiantly in one of the most volatile regions in Iraq," Meehan
said. "Cpl. King answered his call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of the United
States, Iraq, and the world. We all owe him a debt of gratitude."
The Marine Corps told King's family his remains would be flown to Maryland within days, but it is still not
clear how much longer it will take the body to return to Massachusetts.
As a result, funeral plans have not yet been made.
No matter how long it takes to set up those arrangments, Nick King's memory will not fade.
"Before he left he told me he wasn't worried about himself. He said he'd be fine," said his sister Dianna,
her voice low. "He promised me he'd come back home. He will be in our hearts and thoughts forever."
Massachusetts Marine Killed In Iraq
King Was 23
POSTED: 2:31 pm EDT June 27, 2006
UPDATED: 4:58 pm EDT June 27, 2006
BOSTON --
A Tyngsboro, Mass., Marine was killed in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday.
Cpl. Paul N. King, 23, died on Sunday while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar. He was
assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division,
Ayer, Mass. It was King's second deployment to Iraq.
King is survived by his wife, Rebecca King, and his parents, Paul and Julie King.
NewsCenter 5 and TheBostonChannel.com will have more information as it becomes available.
Lance Cpl. Geofrey R. Cayer
Hometown: Fitchburg, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: July 18, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Incident: Killed in a non-hostile incident in Anbar Province.
Geofrey Cayer
FITCHBURG -- U.S. Marine Corp. Lance Corporal Geofrey Robert Cayer, 20, of 28 Jeffrey Keating Road, was killed at
“Outpost Falcon” in Habbabiyah, Iraq, Tuesday, July 18, at 12:10 p.m. E.S.T.
He was born on Feb. 15, 1986, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the second of four children of Robert N. and Joan
M. (Saulnier) Cayer. He came to Fitchburg as an infant when his family returned from his father’s business
assignment in late 1986. He graduated from Julie Country Day School in Leominster in 2000 and Fitchburg
High School in 2004.
As a child, he enjoyed local team sports, including soccer and Pop Warner football. As a teen, he focused his
athletic interests in football and tennis, enjoying varsity play on his high school teams. He was a member of
St. Joseph’s Parish.
Geofrey was a kind, quiet, yet pensive young man. In addition to his sport interests, he enjoyed reading and
movies. His friends describe him as soft-spoken, with a dry and subtle wit, a modest person and loyal friend.
After high school graduation, Geofrey enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. He completed his basic training in
April of 2005 at Parris Island, S.C., and his infantry training at Camp Le Jeune, N.C. He received his special
training in communications at 29 Palms, Calif., before being stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Geofrey’s
Iraq tour began in January of 2006. He was scheduled to conclude his tour at the end of this month. His
letters to family described a confident young man committed to his role as a U.S. Marine with a goal of
securing a better world for his country, community and family.
Besides his parents, he leaves two brothers, Charles “Chase” Cayer, of Sacramento, Calif. and Alexander
“Alex” Cayer of Fitchburg; one sister, Abbigail “Abby” Cayer of Fitchburg; his paternal grandparents,
Norman R. and Claire F. Cayer of Mattapoisett; and several uncles, aunts and cousins. He was predeceased
by his maternal grandparents, Dr. Mark A. and Christine (Lucas) Saulnier of Fitchburg.
CAYER -- On July 18, U.S. Marine Corp. Lance Corporal Geofrey Robert Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg. A Full
Military Funeral will be held Wednesday, July 26, with a Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, 49
Woodland St., Fitchburg. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. His
wake will be held Tuesday, July 25, from 3 to 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Fitchburg High School, 140 ArnHow Farm Road, Fitchburg.
The family requests to please omit flowers, and ask that memorial contributions be made to the Lance Cpl.
Geofrey R. Cayer Memorial Fund, c/p Beth Slattery, I.C. Federal Credit Union, 300 Bemis Road, Fitchburg,
MA 01420. The Smith-Mallahy-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 243 Water St., Fitchburg, is directing
arrangements. See www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net for information.
Published in Sentinel & Enterprise on July 24, 2006
Geofrey Robert Cayer
Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps
NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense
No. 694-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2006
Media Contact: Marine Corps Public Affairs - (703) 614-4309 Public/Industry(703)4280711
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, died July
18, 2006, from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was
assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
The incident is under investigation.
Media with questions about this Marine can call the Camp Pendleton Public
Affairs Office at (760) 725-5044.
21 July 2006:
Lance Corporal Geofrey Cayer died as the result of a "non-hostile incident,"
the Department of Defense confirmed Thursday.
Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg died Tuesday while stationed in Iraq.
The DOD statement didn't provide further details about the incident, but said it
is still under investigation.
"It might've been an accident, such as a car accident," said Corporal Jonathan
Santiago, of Camp Pendleton, California, where Cayer was based in the U.S. "It
wasn't a firefight. It wasn't combat-related."
The family of the fallen Marine plans to have his casket lie in the auditorium at
Fitchburg High School next week to allow for public recognition.
A funeral Mass will follow the next day at St. Joseph's Parish in Fitchburg.
The family has received permission to bury Cayer at Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, according to Chris LeBlanc, a spokesman for
the family.
LeBlanc said none of the details are finalized. Cayer's body will first have to be
transported to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, he said.
The family didn't wish to make another statement Thursday, but was grateful
for the "outpouring of support" from the community, LeBlanc said.
"It's just sinking in to us how important this is to the community," he said.
People will be allowed to file by the casket at Fitchburg High, and the Northern
Central Marine Corps League will perform a ritual to honor Cayer, the first
Fitchburg soldier to die in the Iraq war.
Mayor Dan H. Mylott said he doesn't recall a ceremony of this scale in
Fitchburg's history.
Cayer had served in Iraq since January and would have departed by the end of
the month.
The family says he died in Habbaniyah, a large town 50 miles west of Baghdad.
Habbaniyah is located between Ramadi and Fallujah, two cities where the U.S.
military has struggled to calm the militant insurgency, according to Jane Arraf,
CNN's senior Baghdad correspondent who is on a leave of absence.
Nicholas Wanner, 20, says he had been friends with Cayer through much of
high school.
Wanner is now training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, with the Army
National Guard. He says there's a "good chance" he will be sent to Iraq by the
end of the year -- especially since he's an auto mechanic, which is in high
demand.
"It's scary, I can't lie," Wanner said during a telephone interview, on a break
from training. "It's hard not to be worried, especially now that I know someone
personally who died."
"You hear stories all the time. But this makes it real."
The number of U.S. soldiers killed in the Iraq war remained at 2,554 Thursday,
according to the Department of Defense.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is expected to attend next week’s funeral
Mass for Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer, the city’s first casualty in
the Iraq war.
A wake for Lance Corporal Cayer, 20, will be held at Fitchburg High School
with a funeral service the next morning at St. Joseph Church on Woodland
Street. The dates for the arrangements had not been finalized as of late
yesterday.
The governor is scheduled to pay his respects during the funeral Mass, his
spokesman said.
Secretary of Veterans Services Tom Kelley, a Medal of Honor recipient, also is
expected to pay his respects during the observances, Fitchburg Commissioner of
Veterans Services T.J. Blauser said.
Chris LeBlanc, a close friend of the Cayer family and its spokesman, said the
public venue was selected for the wake in response to the outpouring of support
from the community.
“People who don’t know us are concerned about Geofrey and want to pay their
respects,” Mr. LeBlanc said.
The fallen soldier’s family also has requested that he be buried in Arlington
National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
“His brothers in particular thought it was an honor for Geof,” Mr. LeBlanc
said. “We are carrying out those wishes.”
Mr. Blauser said the city’s last death from a theater of war was during Vietnam.
The last military funeral in the city was held in 1992, for Marine Lance
Corporal Eric A. Rantakyto, 20, who died at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Mr. LeBlanc said the investigation into Lance Corporal Cayer’s death is
continuing.
“We know only that Geofrey was killed in a non-hostile incident and it was a
gunshot wound,” he said yesterday. “Any speculation further than what has
been offered to us as fact is inappropriate.”
Lance Cpl. Cayer was a field radio operator assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force based at
Camp Pendleton in California.
A news release from the base said Lance Corporal Cayer had been awarded the
National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Lance Corporal Cayer is survived by his parents, Robert N. and Joan M.
(Saulnier) Cayer, along with two brothers, Charles “Chase” Cayer of
Sacramento, Calif., and Alexander “Alex” Cayer of Fitchburg; and one sister,
Abbigail “Abby” Cayer of Fitchburg, as well as grandparents, uncles, aunts and
cousins.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from Fitchburg High
School in 2004. He completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, in
April 2005, his infantry training at Camp Lejeune, NorthCarolina, and received
special training in communications at 29 Palms in California before being
stationed at Camp Pendleton, California.
Mr. LeBlanc said he joined members of the Cayer family in California over the
Christmas holiday to visit with him before his deployment to Iraq.
“We created some wonderful memories,” he said. Lance Corporal Cayer was
due to end his tour in Iraq this month.
The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to
the Lance Cpl. Geofrey R. Cayer Memorial Fund, c/o Beth Slattery, I.C. Federal
Credit Union, 300 Bemis Road, Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420.
Lance Corporal. Geofrey Cayer of Fitchburg, Massachusets, died from a bullet wound, a
spokesman for his family said Friday.
Cayer, 20, lost his life Tuesday while serving with the Marine Corps in Iraq.
"We have had an incident report given to us. He died as the result of a bullet
wound," said Chris LeBlanc, a family friend.
But the military has said the 20-year-old didn't die in combat.
The Department of Defense says Cayer died in a "non-hostile incident," but
hasn't offered further details.
LeBlanc says the family isn't guessing how the incident may have happened.
"We know that (the military) is working diligently to provide us with every
answer," LeBlanc said Friday. "In a theater of war, it's a very difficult process
to get a full explanation."
Cayer served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division,
1st Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, California.
Cayer would have left Iraq by the end of the month. He lost his life in
Habbaniyah, a large town 50 miles outside Baghdad.
A spokesman for Camp Pendleton, Corporal Patrick Carroll, declined to
comment on whether the incident involved other soldiers.
Cayer's death remains under investigation, Carroll said.
His grandparents remembered him Friday as a caring young man who "had his
head on straight."
"I know he did, otherwise he could not have achieved the rank of lance corporal
in that short period of time," said his grandfather, Norman Cayer, of
Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. "He had a good intellect and knew exactly where
he was headed."
His grandmother, Claire Cayer, also of Mattapoisett, said her grandson was
"just thrilled" with entering the Marine Corps.
"He could call his mother every two weeks -- and never a complaint," she said.
"The sadness is that he was coming home in a couple weeks. But he liked what
he was doing. He was very proud of what he was doing."
A Marine Corps statement says Cayer was a field radio operator who earned
two medals during his term of duty, which began in January.
One of his awards, the National Defense Service Medal, is given for "honorable
active service," according to the Marine Corps.
Cayer also earned the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for his
participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cayer, of 28 Jeffrey Keating Road, is the first Fitchburg soldier to die in the
war.
A wake for Cayer will take place in the Fitchburg High School Auditorium next
Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m.
A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph's Church, 49
Woodland St., Fitchburg.
Burial will take place an undetermined date in Arlington National Cemetery,
Arlington, Virginia.
There have been 2,559 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq since 2003, according to the
DOD.
George Barnes Barnestorming
Courtesy of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette
24 July 2006
Lance Corporal Geofrey Cayer of Fitchburg was a Marine who grew up in
northern Central Massachusetts. His war is now, in a hot, dusty country in the
Middle East. My father fought in the often cold hills of Korea, but they both
went off voluntarily to serve their country, looking to make a difference, not
knowing if they would return home.
Lance Corporal Cayer died last week, leaving behind a grieving family and
generations of Marines who know that had it not been for luck or some higher
power, they could have been in his place.
The circumstances of Geofrey’s death are not completely clear, but some things
are certain. He died serving his country. He was a volunteer, as are all the
people serving today. He did not have to sign on with a combat unit, either, and
when he went overseas, he went with his eyes open, knowing the branch of the
service he was with was often in the thick of the fighting.
You can die many ways in a war zone. There are insurgents in Iraq who look for
every opportunity to kill American soldiers. They are not looking to win over
land or even win battles. They are just looking to kill soldiers.
You can get killed in an accident as well. There are motor vehicle and other
types of accidents over there all the time.
There are also suicides and murders.
But no matter what the circumstances, because the circumstances in the long
run do not matter, the end result is that someone’s kid, in this case a kid from
Fitchburg, is lost in war. Lost with him is a bundle of potential, of dreams, of
hopes, lost because he chose to serve his country, to go overseas with the
Marines, looking to be a part of the solution to a seemingly endless war tearing
Iraq apart.
It will take more than a lifetime to explain to the family of Lance Corporal
Geofrey Cayer why he had to be the one who died in Iraq. It may take longer
than that, because for every Marine who dies over there, many more return
home.
It doesn’t seem fair to the families of the casualties. It doesn’t seem fair to their
friends and it is confusing to Marines who survive, wondering why they, and not
their friends, lived.
No adequate explanation will be heard at his wake tomorrow in the auditorium
in Fitchburg High School or the following morning at a service in St. Joseph’s
Church in Fitchburg memorializing the young Marine.
No adequate explanation will be given when he is later buried at Arlington
National Cemetery.
The only thing that will be clear is that he died serving his country, fighting in a
war that has taken several terrible twists and too many good lives and that he
left behind people who loved him and who will keep his memory with them as
long as they live.
25 July 2006:
A large number of people are expected to attend today's wake for Lance
Corporal Geofrey Cayer, a 20-year-old Fitchburg,Massachusetts, Marine who
died last week while serving in Iraq.
The wake will take place at the Fitchburg High School auditorium from 3 to 7
p.m.
Those who attend may acknowledge the family, but the family wishes to keep
people flowing through the auditorium, said Chris LeBlanc, a family friend.
There will be a short pause every 15 minutes so the Marine Honor Guard can
change members, LeBlanc said.
There will also be a brief ritual performed by the Marine Corps League for five
minutes at some point during the wake, he said.
A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church, 49
Woodland St., Fitchburg.
Burial will take place on August 2, 2006 in Arlington National Cemetery.
27 July 2006:
Family and friends gathered in Fitchburg Wednesday to honor a fallen Marine.
Lance Cpl. Geofrey Cayer was killed last week in Iraq.
Many of the mourners knew Cayer as a classmate and friend. The 20-year-old
graduated from Fitchburg High School in 2004, and joined the Marines a short
time later.
"We can't thank the exFITCHBURG -- Geofrey Cayer was the "most unique
and wonderful person" in the world, his younger brother Alex said Wednesday.
"He would've been a great husband, uncle, father and grandfather," 18-yearold Alex Cayer said, while giving the eulogy at his brother's funeral.
Lance Corporal Cayer, 20, died on July 18, 2006, while serving with the Marine
Corps in Iraq.
He is the first Fitchburg soldier to die in Iraq.
More than 300 mourners packed every pew at St. Joseph's Parish, 49 Woodland
St., for the 90-minute funeral Mass Wednesday.
Governor Mitt Romney and numerous local officials attended the ceremony.
Six Marines brought Cayer's casket into the high-arched sanctuary, where
Cayer had attended church for much of his life.
Prayers spoken during the ceremony focused on the Christian vision of life
continuing after death.
Father Thomas Sickler said he hopes people take comfort that Cayer is now
with Jesus Christ in heaven.
"Anyone who believes in him will never die, but will go to a place that is better,
a place of never-ending joy," Sickler said.
Sickler thanked the fallen Marine for sacrificing himself to help secure a better
world.
Cayer died from a bullet wound in a non-combat situation, but military
authorities haven't released further details.
Cayer graduated from basic training in April 2005, and began his tour with the
Marines in Iraq last January.
But he wasn't always such a disciplined young man, his brother Alex said in his
eulogy.
As a youngster, Geofrey Cayer and his best friend, Matt Moran, once thought a
neighbor's garage would "look better" without all its siding.
The two peeled off all the siding, Alex Cayer fondly recalled. Later, after getting
in trouble, they had to pool all their savings to replace it.
"I guess $5.80 was enough," Alex Cayer said with a smile.
People's first impression was often that Geofrey Cayer was shy, but "this could
not have been further from the truth," Alex Cayer said.
"He had a sharp wit," Alex Cayer said. "He could bring ease and humor to any
situation."
Geofrey Cayer would grow to develop a refined cultural taste, adoring literary
works such as "The Divine Comedy" and films such as "The French
Connection," his brother recalled.
The proudest moment of his life was graduating from basic training at Paris
Island, South Carolina, Alex Cayer said.
He had dreamt of becoming a Marine since childhood, his brother said.
Though the death leaves a void, Alex Cayer said he knows his brother is safe in
heaven.
The crowd broke into spontaneous applause after the eulogy.
Attendees clapped again after hearing a resounding version of "Bring Him
Home" from the musical "Les Miserables," sung by longtime family friend
Chris LeBlanc and accompanied on the harp by former Fitchburg City
Councilor Rosemary Reynolds.
The six Marines rolled the casket out to the church foyer, where a group of
family members and officials had assembled.
Two Marines covered the casket with an American flag while the others held
their hand in salute to their fallen comrade.
Flags will remain at half-staff until Monday, according to Mayor Dan H.
Mylott.
Burial for Cayer will take place next Wednesday at Arlington National
Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
tended community here in Fitchburg and around the state enough for
supporting the family," said family friend Christopher LeBlanc.
Current and retired Marines attended the funeral service. Governor Mitt
Romney also came to pay respects to the first serviceman to die from Fitchburg
in the Iraq war.
"Unfortunately before this, Iraq was over there and now it has hit home in
Fitchburg and it affects us," said the Rev. Tom Sickler, of St. Joseph Church.
Cayer was killed last week while on duty in Iraq. So far, the Marines have only
said he died of a gunshot wound during a non-hostile event. Cayer's death
remains under investigation.
The family friend and others described Cayer as quiet, but quick with a laugh.
"You always knew when Geofrey was around that there was a smile pending, it
was coming and it was going to be great. We are going to remember that smile
forever," LeBlanc said.
Cayer's mother is a teacher and his father is a former Marine. At the service,
Cayer's brother, Chas, carried the Marine's dress hat, brother Alex gave the
eulogy and sister Abby accepted condolences from the bishop.
Cayer will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Courtesy of Sentinel And Enterprise
3 August 2006:
It was a celebration poem, written to welcome a best friend home from the war.
It looks forward to the time that a young Marine can sit "for a while and share
a smile."
Instead the poem served as a final farewell.
Marine Corps Lance Corporal Geofrey Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts,
died on July 18, 2006, killed by a gunshot in an incident military officials have
called "non-hostile."
Matthew Moran, 20, read the poem at Cayer's gravesite in Arlington National
Cemetery Wednesday. Moran wrote it six weeks before the death of Cayer, his
best friend.
"It wasn't meant to be used in this respect," Moran said of the poem after the
funeral. "But he did come home, it was his homecoming."
Earlier, as six marines stood rigid, holding an American flag over Cayer's
casket, Moran cried as he finished reciting the poem's final verse.
"Stay and sit for me for a while and share a smile," it says.
Days before Cayer died, he called home with happy news: His redeployment
stateside would come two days early, said Chris LeBlanc, a close friend of the
family. His parents, Robert and Joan, missed his call, so he left a message.
"We've got the message on the machine that we can play 100,000 times,"
LeBlanc said. "We can hear the anticipation in his voice. It's nice."
Arlington cemetery is just across the Potomac River from the nation's capital. It
is a place where the family, split between Massachusetts and Virginia, can visit
Cayer's grave in perpetuity.
Military officials have not released details about how Cayer died.
The Cayers are willing to be patient as an ongoing investigation continues into
their son's death, LeBlanc said.
"It's very hard to understand what happened on the ground. We have to be
patient with that," he said of the investigation. "We're dealing with the
inconclusiveness."
Cayer's place amid the rolling hills in Arlington is on the edge of a thousand or
more white headstones, contained by quiet, internal roads and surrounded by
300,000 other burial sites on the sprawling grounds dotted with old trees.
He is the 255th American killed in Iraq to be buried there. He is the first
Fitchburg native to die in the Iraq war.
After seven marines each fired three shots into the air, and a singular marine
breathed a rendition of Taps into his trumpet, Master Sergeant Barry Baker of
the 8th and I Marine Barracks knelt in his white pants to solemnly hand Joan
Cayer the American flag that had draped her son's casket.
He stood and saluted her. She saluted back.
Slowly, Massachusetts' two Democratic senators approached the casket, on
which they placed white roses. Senator Edward Kennedy went first, followed by
Senator John Kerry. Both of them made the sign of the cross.
"Stories like this break your heart -- so young, so brave, so dedicated and so
close to coming home," Kerry said in a statement afterward.
Joan Cayer, mother of Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey Cayer receives an
American flag during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery
Tributes to Sacrifice, Dedication
Soldier, Marine Fatally Wounded in Iraq Are Laid to Rest
By Arianne Aryanpur
Courtesy of the Washington Post Staff Writer
August 3, 2006
A motorcade led the funeral procession for Corporal Matt Wallace at Arlington
National Cemetery yesterday. Six uniformed men carried Wallace's black coffin
to a gravesite in Section 60, where service members killed in Iraq and
Afghanistan are laid to rest.
During the service, Army chaplain Lane Creamer spoke solemnly of sacrifice:
"For the soldier, it is always duty, honor, country." Soldiers then fired a threevolley salute while a bugler stood among the rows of white headstones and
played taps.
It was a fitting end for a man who wanted nothing more than to be a "soldier
man" his whole life.
Wallace, 22, of St. Mary's County, died July 21, 2006, at Landstuhl Regional
Medical Center in Germany of burns sustained when an improvised explosive
device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad on July 16, 2006.
He was assigned to the Army's 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
As a child growing up in St. Mary's County, Wallace played with empty toilet
paper rolls and clothes hangers, pretending they were toy guns. Family
members said he went through a "self-discovery phase" and dropped out of
Great Mills High School after his sophomore year. In 2001, he earned a General
Educational Development diploma, and he joined the Army in 2004.
Wallace was 5 feet 10 inches tall and 135 pounds of "pure muscle," his sister
Abigail said. He played soccer and dabbled in karate. In Iraq, he trained on
every weapons system possible, becoming a highly skilled soldier, she said.
Wallace's mother, Mary, said he sounded weary the last time they spoke on the
phone. "They were just working and working with little relief," she said. But
that was where he wanted to be, she added, her voice perking up. "He felt like
he was doing what God thought he should do."
Wallace is also survived by his father, Keith, and siblings Jessica and Micah.
A light breeze blew through the cemetery about 3 p.m. yesterday when
mourners gathered at a gravesite next to Wallace's to honor Marine Lance
Corporal Geofrey Robert Cayer. The crowd included U.S. Senators John F.
Kerry (D-Mass.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who went to pay respects
to the man from Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Military officials said Cayer, 20,
died July 18,2006, in a nonhostile incident in Iraq's Anbar province. He was
assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I
Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California.
Cayer graduated from Fitchburg High School in 2004, where he played football
and tennis. Principal Richard Masciarelli remembered him as focused and
quiet. But when Cayer returned to visit the school after basic training, he
appeared to be a different person, Masciarelli said. "He had really come into his
own and was confident in himself as a young man," he said.
Friends recalled Cayer as a great observer with a dry wit. "He always found
humor in the oddest places," said Chris LeBlanc, a family friend. "He would
watch everything going on, and just when you were least expecting it, he'd say
something funny."
Those who knew Cayer spoke of a characteristic resolve. "He was there to do a
job, and he took it very seriously," LeBlanc said. "He was so happy to be a
Marine."
Cayer was scheduled to return from Iraq this month, according to news reports.
When Cayer's service ended, Kerry and Kennedy offered condolences to his
parents, Joan and Robert, and siblings, Charles, Alex and Abbigail.
Kerry placed a bouquet of white flowers on Cayer's coffin and made the sign of
the cross before walking back to his car, past the long rows of tombstones at
Section 60.
Wallace and Cayer are the 254th and 255th service members killed in Operation
Iraqi Freedom to be buried at Arlington.
7 August 2006:
The family of Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer may never know the
full circumstances surrounding his death in Iraq on July 18, 2006, a family
spokesman said Saturday, but they are confident a full investigation is under
way.
“It appears it may just have been a freak accident,” Christopher LeBlanc, a
longtime family friend, said in an interview Saturday.
Lance Corporal Cayer, 20, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in
Virginia on Wednesday, a week after hundreds of mourners paid their respects
at St. Joseph’s Church to the family of the city’s first casualty of the war in
Iraq.
The Marine Corps has said he was killed in a non-hostile incident July 18, 2006,
while no other official details have been released. An investigation into the
circumstances of the death is continuing.
“Geofrey’s parents are determined to allow the process to continue without
making it anything adversarial,” Mr. LeBlanc said. “We’ve been very, very
satisfied with the kind of attention, the kind of fairness we’ve been shown.”
Joan and Robert Cayer were overwhelmed by the support shown by the
community, from the hundreds who attended the wake at Fitchburg High
School to the crowd the next morning at St. Joseph’s, Mr. LeBlanc said.
The trip to Virginia gave the Cayer family the opportunity to speak with Lance
Corporal Cayer’s Master Sergeant, who was on the ground in Iraq when the 20year-old was killed by a gunshot July 18, 2006.
“We don’t have any more answers than we had previously,” Mr. LeBlanc said.
The Master Sergeant told the Cayers he did not witness the shooting, but said
Lance Corporal Cayer was a proficient soldier who had been on post when the
fatal injury was inflicted.
While the family was buoyed by the master sergeant’s determination to get to
the bottom of what happened that day, Mr. LeBlanc said it may be difficult to
know for sure.
“There’s a possibility it could remain undetermined,” Mr. LeBlanc said.
The Sergeant told the Cayers that in the hazardous environment where Lance
Corporal Cayer was that day, his finger would have been on the trigger of his
weapon almost constantly. An accidental discharge is a possibility, he said.
The Cayers, joined by Lance Corporal Cayer’s best friend Matthew Moran and
Mr. LeBlanc, spent 20 minutes with U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy and U.S.
Senator John F. Kerry before the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Mr. Kennedy had called the family before the funeral, Mr. LeBlanc said, and
was on the same plane as the Cayers when they made the trip from Boston to
Washington.
The fallen soldier was buried alongside more than 200 others killed in Iraq.
Mr. and Mrs. Cayer plan to attend a memorial ceremony August 18, 2006, at
Camp Pendleton in California, where the seven fallen members of their son’s
battalion will be honored.
The last of Lance Corporal Cayer’s battalion returned home from Iraq on
Saturday, Mr. LeBlanc said.
As the family has journeyed through its grief in the past weeks, he added, talk
has never turned to the topic of the war in Iraq and its toll.
“There has been absolutely no discussion with regard to those issues,” Mr.
LeBlanc said Saturday, “because that’s not the tone that Geofrey set.”
The war was on when Geofrey Cayer enlisted in the Marine Corps, Mr. LeBlanc
said, and he was committed to his course of public service. It is one of the many
positive traits they will always remember about him, he said.
Area marine's family looking for answers
By Kyle Alspach
15 August 2006
The parents of Lance Corporal Geofrey Cayer will travel to his former Marine
base this week, where they hope to find out how their son died while serving in
Iraq.
Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg,Massachusetts, died from a gunshot nearly one month
ago, but family members have yet to receive a full explanation.
A family friend, Chris LeBlanc, said several family members will travel to
Camp Pendleton, California, where they will attend a joint memorial service for
Cayer and six other fallen Marines.
The family plans to sit down with a company commander during the visit,
LeBlanc said.
"Hopefully while they are there, they will get a little bit more definition as to
what happened," he said.
Cayer was the first Fitchburg solider to die while serving in Iraq, but few details
have emerged about his death.
Cayer died from a bullet wound in a non-combat situation, according to a
report provided to the family.
But the report did not detail who was responsible for the fatal gunshot.
The U.S. Department of Defense has said only that the death involved a "nonhostile incident" and is under investigation.
The incident occurred in Anbar, a volatile province west of Baghdad, on the
morning of July 18, 2006.
Cayer's parents, Robert and Joan, and siblings will leave for California on
Wednesday, LeBlanc said.
Camp Pendleton will hold a memorial service on Friday for Marines who have
died while serving as members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in
Iraq.
Cayer would have returned with that unit at the end of July.
"The unit has fully returned," said Marine Corps Captain Amy Malugani.
"Once everybody has been back for a few weeks, we do a memorial service for
the Marines who were lost."
Cayer was one of seven Marines from the unit to die in Iraq during the most
recent deployment, LeBlanc said.
He was the only Marine from his company, Kilo Company, to lose his life,
LeBlanc noted.
"The family is hoping to get as definitive (an explanation) as possible," LeBlanc
said.
Cayer was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, on August 2, 2006.
He was a graduate of Fitchburg High School who had lived with his parents at
28 Jeffrey Keating Road.
Cayer joined the Marine Corps in January 2005, and began serving in Iraq in
January of this year.
There had been 2,596 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq as of Monday, according to the
Department of Defense.
15 June 2007:
A Fitchburg, Massachusetts, park will be dedicated Friday to a Marine who was
killed in Iraq last year.
Lance Corporal Geofrey Cayer was killed on July 18. He was laid to rest with
full military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Officials will dedicate the Geofrey Cayer Memorial Park at 2 Boulder Drive. at
noon. Cayer was born in 1986 in San Juan Puerto Rico. He moved to Fitchburg
as an infant and was a resident of the city until he entered the United States
Marine Corps in January 2005.
Cayer graduated from Parris Island Marine Recruit Training Center in April
2005, where he received infantry and communications training before being
stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.
Cayer's parents said that he always had a positive attitude toward his time in
Iraq and his duties as a Marine.
Cayer was a graduate of the Julie Country Day School in Leominster of the
Fitchburg High School class of 2004.
The mother of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts,
Joan Cayer, center, is handed the flag that draped her son's coffin, by Master Sergeant Barry Baker, left,
during a funeral ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006
Senator Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., says his prayer and touches the coffin of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal
Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, after placing flowers during a funeral ceremony at
Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Joan Cayer, center, the mother of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg,
Massachusetts,
looks at Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., as he greets her family during a funeral ceremony for her son at
Arlington National Cemetery
Democratic Massachusetts Senators Edward Kennedy, left, and John Kerry , back left, greet Joan Cayer,
the mother of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, right,
during a
funeral ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006
Democratic Massachusetts Sensators Edward Kennedy, left, and John Kerry, right, pay their respects to
U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, during a funeral
ceremony at
Arlington National Cemetery, Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Posted: 21 July 2006 Updated: 22 July 2006 Updated: 24 July 2006 Updated: 26 July 2006 UpdatedL: 27
July 2006 Updated: 3 August 2006
Updated: 7 August 2006 Updated: 15 August 2006 Updated: 21 August 2006 Updated: 1 October 2006
Updated: 18 February 2007
Updated: 15 June 2007
Photo Courtesy of Holly, October 2006
Spec. Edgardo Zayas
Hometown: Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 29 years old
Died: August 26, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne
Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his dismounted patrol during combat
operations in Baghdad.
Edgardo Zayas "Gardy"
29, of Dorchester, died August 26, 2006 while serving his country as a soldier in
Iraq. He was the beloved husband of Suheil (Campbell) Zayas whom he married
on April 17, 1998. Born June 6, 1977 in Boston, he was a cherished son of Victor
and Gloria (Rivera) Zayas of Dorchester. Spc. Zayas was a member of the 61st
Calvary Regiment, 1st Airborne Division stationed in Ft. Campbell, KY. In addition
to his wife and parents survivors include a son, Alexander X. Zayas and a
daughter, Alexia Zayas; his brother, Heriberto "Eddie" Zayas of Quincy; two
nephews, Christopher and Ralph; and several cousins and aunts. A Funeral will be
held on Friday morning at 11 a.m. in the Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church,
108 Seaver Street, Dorchester, followed by burial with full military honors in the Massachusetts National Cemetery,
Bourne. Visiting hours will be Thursday evening, September 7 from 5:30 until 9 o'clock p.m. in the McHoul Funeral
Home, 354 Adams Street, DORCHESTER.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Edgardo Zayas Memorial Fund, 50 Corona St., Apt 1, Dorchester, MA
02124. For directions to McHoul Funeral Home or to sign an online guestbook for Spc. Zayas, please visit
www.mchoulfh.com. McHoul Funeral Home 617-282-1409
Published in The Boston Globe on September 7, 2006
Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas
Hometown: Seekonk, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 21 years old
Died: September 4, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marine Reserves, Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine
Division, Ayer, Mass.
Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province.
A 21-year-old Marine reservist from Seekonk who had been studying engineering at the University of Massachusetts
has been killed in Iraq, military officials announced Tuesday.
Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas died Monday when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in the Al Anbar province
in Iraq, according to the Defense Department. Two other servicemen were killed in the attack.
Valdepenas was a machine gunner in the 1st Battalion 25th Marines reserve unit, based in Devens, the Marine Corps
said. The unit, activated in December 2005, is scheduled to return home next month.
Valdepenas had received numerous honors, including a Purple Heart, the Marine Corps said.
Valdepenas graduated in 2003 from Bishop Hendricken, an all-boys Catholic school in Warwick, R.I., and was a fulltime engineering student at UMass-Amherst before his unit was called up. Brother Thomas Leto, president of Bishop
Hendricken, said Valdepenas was an honors student and the co-captain of the school's lacrosse team. He also played
basketball.
"He was always upbeat and positive, always had a smile on his face," Leto said. "He was conscientious, a hard worker
and always willing to help others." Valdepenas was the youngest of eight children. He is survived by his parents, Dr.
Jesus Bernal Valdepenas and Anne-Marie Valdepenas, two brothers and five sisters.
"He was very proud to be a Marine," a sister, Nora, said on Wednesday at a family news conference outside the
family's Seekonk home. "He has always lived by a strong code of honor, duty and courage."
Another sister was critical of the war in Iraq. "I believe that the U.S. government's orders for military presence in Iraq
is oppressive and unjust," said Edna Valdepenas.
"By all accounts, Eric Valdepenas was a brave Marine, a bright young man, and an outstanding leader," said U.S. Sen.
Jack Reed, D-R.I. "We are forever indebted to Eric for his service, sacrifice, and dedication to serving our nation."
Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty said Valdepenas "will serve as an example of bravery and dedication for
generations of Rhode Islanders."
A 21-year-old Marine reservist from Seekonk who had been studying engineering at the University of Massachusetts
has been killed in Iraq, military officials announced Tuesday.
Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas died Monday when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in the Al Anbar province
of Fallujah in Iraq, according to the Defense Department. Two other servicemen were killed in the attack.
Valdepenas was a machine gunner in the 1st Battalion 25th Marines reserve unit, based in Devens, Mass., the Marine
Corps said. The unit, activated in December 2005, is scheduled to return home next month.
Valdepenas had received numerous honors, including a purple heart, the Marine Corps said.
Valdepenas graduated from Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, R.I., and was a full-time engineering student at UMassAmherst before his unit was called up.
Valdepenas was the youngest of eight children. He is survived by his parents, Dr. Jesus Bernal Valdepenas and AnneMarie Valdepenas, two brothers and five sisters.
The family's phone number is not listed. The Marine Corps said the family planned to meet with the news media
Wednesday at their home.
Eric P. Valdepenas
VALDEPENAS, LANCE CORPORAL ERIC P., 21, of Seekonk, MA was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq
serving on Active Duty in the USMC.
Born in Providence, he was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Jesus B. Valdepenas of Seekonk.
Besides his parents, he is survived by his brothers and sisters: Edna-Anne Valdepenas of Newtown,
PA, Marie-Ines Drury of North Providence, Sean J. Valdepenas of Columbia, SC, Neil P. Valdepenas of
Phoenix, AZ, Nora-Jean V. Lough of Warwick, Karen B. Ing of Randolph, MA, Teresa J. Valdepenas of Brookline, MA
and seven nieces and nephews.
Raised in Seekonk, Eric attended George R. Martin School, St. Margaret's School, and Bishop Hendricken High School.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Seekonk. Eric was studying for an engineering degree
at UMASS-Amherst, but postponed his studies to join the Marine Corps to fight for his country.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, September 13, 2006 from 3-7 p.m. at the PERRY-McSTAY FUNERAL HOME, 2555
Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 14, 2006 at the
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence at 11 a.m. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lance Corporal Eric P. Valdepenas Memorial Scholarship Fund at
Bishop Hendricken High School, 2615 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889. Condolences may be sent to the
Valdepenas family at P.O. Box 95, Seekonk, MA 02771.
Published in The Providence Journal on September 11, 2006
Photo by Cpl. Brian Reimers
Three Marines assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5,
kneel in front of their fallen brothers' memorials. Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class
Christopher G. Walsh and Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker were killed in action Sept. 4, while conducting combat operations
in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Hundreds of Marines and sailors from the battalion met at a memorial service held at
Camp Baharia to remember their friends and fellow service members.
Photo by Cpl. Brian Reimers
Two Marines and one sailor assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat
Team 5, were killed in action Sept. 4, while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Lance Cpl. Eric
P. Valdepenas, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher G. Walsh and Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker were memorialized
at a cermony held at Camp Baharia Sept 16. Hundreds from the battalion showed up to pay their respects and
remember their fallen brothers.
Marines pause to remember three of their own
View Related Story
.
Photo by Cpl. Brian Reimers
Cpl. Corey S. Robbins, assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat
Team 5, pays his respects to Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas. Valedepenas was killed in action Sept. 4 in Al Anbar
Province, Iraq. Hundreds of Marines and sailors from the battalion met a memorial service Sept. 16 to pay respects to
the 21-year-old from Warrick, R.I.
Eric P. Valdepenas
Wednesday, September 06 2006 @ 01:09 AM EDT
WHDH.com -- BOSTON -- A 21-year-old Marine reservist from Seekonk who had been studying
engineering at the University of Massachusetts has been killed in Iraq, military officials announced
Tuesday.
Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas died Monday when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in the Al
Anbar province of Fallujah in Iraq, according to the Defense Department. Two other servicemen were
killed in the attack.
Valdepenas was a machine gunner in the 1st Battalion 25th Marines reserve unit, based in Devens, Mass.,
the Marine Corps said. The unit, activated in December 2005, is scheduled to return home next month.
Valdepenas had received numerous honors, including a purple heart, the Marine Corps said.
Valdepenas graduated from Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, R.I., and was a full-time engineering student
at UMass-Amherst before his unit was called up.
Valdepenas was the youngest of eight children. He is survived by his parents, Dr. Jesus Bernal Valdepenas
and Anne-Marie Valdepenas, two brothers and five sisters.
The family's phone number is not listed. The Marine Corps said the family planned to meet with the news
media Wednesday at their home.
Spec. Jared J. Raymond
Hometown: Swampscott, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: September 19, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Tex.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his M1A2 Abrams Tank during combat
operations in Balad.
Raymond's mother, Jaclyn Raymond, has said he was motivated by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to
join the Army after graduating from Swampscott High School in 2004. He was deployed to Iraq in
January. "He didn't complain about boot camp. He didn't complain about the 135-degree heat in
Iraq," friend Jarred Wiedenroth said. "He was glad to do it because he thought it was the right thing
to do." Wiedenroth said Raymond loved fast cars and wanted to become a Boston police officer.
Martha Kelleher, an assistant principal at Swampscott High School, where Raymond graduated with
the class of 2004, called Raymond a respectful student, who got along well with his classmates.
About a half-dozen students in his class joined the armed forces, and many current students have
siblings serving oversees. "They feel the effect of not only the loss of one of their brothers'
classmates, but also the fact that it drives home the risk their own brothers are facing when they do
a tour of duty," she said.
Jared Raymond
Of Swampscott, Sept. 19, age 20. Son of Jaclyn Raymond of Swampscott. Grandson of Agnes J. Raymond of
Swampscott & the late John F. Raymond. Nephew of James & Suzanne Raymond of Lexington, MA, and Marcella &
John P. Perotti of Topsfield. Cousin of Justin Mooers of San Antonio, TX, John Perotti & Jeremy Perotti, both of
Topsfield & Jimmy Raymond of Lexington, MA. Great nephew of Leo & Jerry Powers. Funeral with Full Military
Honors will be held from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., LYNN, Thurs. at 9 AM. Funeral Mass in St.
John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott Thurs. at 11 AM. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting
Hours Weds. 4-8 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations in Jared' s name be made to the Jared Raymond Fund c/o Eastern
Bank, 405 Paradise Rd, Swampscott, MA 01907.
Published in The Boston Globe on September 26, 2006
Lance Cpl. Edward M. Garvin
Hometown: Malden, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: October 4, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province.
During her husband''s funeral, Melissa Garvin recalled her wedding day when she caught Edward
M. Garvin wearing his favorite green shorts, singing to himself in the mirror, "Going to the chapel
and I''m going to get married." "I strongly believe he is with us today," she said. If he could say
something, "he''d say something silly to make us laugh," she said. "That''s what he would have
wanted." Garvin, 19, of Malden, Mass., was killed in combat Oct. 4 in Anbar province. He was a
2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Camp Lejeune. "He liked people, he liked the other
kids in school, and he was very popular," said school superintendent Patricia Cronin. His wife said
he made a selfless decision to go overseas, despite her pleas for him to stay home with other
Marines in his unit who were not deployed. "I was mad at him when he told me, because I knew
that there were only 150 slots to go over there and there were 200 people in his unit, so I asked
why he wouldn''t stay here," she said. "And he told me that if he didn''t go over there, then
someone else would have to go and be away from their family." He also is survived by a son, Grant.
Edward M. Garvin
Late of Jacksonville, NC, October 4 at 19 years old. Born and raised in Malden, killed in action defending his country,
after less than a month in Iraq. Attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from the Culinary Arts Program,
Northeast Vocational High School. Active Boy Scout, working summers at boy scout camp. Survived by devoted wife
and best friend Melissa (Rabideau) Garvin. Son of Catharine Edwards of Malden. Brother of Lawrence Edwards and
Catharine Price, all of Malden. Father of Brent Mathew of Saugus. Son of Marcell Garvin of CA. Also survived by other
siblings residing in CA. Funeral from the E.E. Burns and Son Funeral Home, 204 Main St., MALDEN, Friday at 9 AM.
Funeral Mass in the Church of the Sacred Hearts at 10 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours
Thursday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Committal Service will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Edward M. Garvin Scholarship Fund, c/o Boston Minuteman Fund, Boy
Scouts of America 411 Unquity Rd, Milton, MA 02186
Published in The Boston Globe on October 12, 2006
Widow says Marine didn't want her tears
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff | October 7, 2006
By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff | October 7, 2006
MALDEN -- Before he went to Iraq, Marine Lance Corporal Edward M. Garvin, 19, told his family that if he
did not return, they should laugh, not cry, in his memory.
``He didn't want people crying over him," his widow, Melissa Garvin, said yesterday at her family's home as
she talked about ``the love of her life," who died in combat in Iraq. ``He wanted funny stories and everybody
laughing. That's who he was."
Melissa Garvin, 20, who was married May 26 in a private ceremony, strained to hold back tears yesterday,
trying to follow her husband's wishes that smiles mark his passing. He had been in Iraq for four weeks.
She recalled how she and her husband had a heated discussion when she learned he was going to war.
But some of that tension abated when he explained that there were 150 Marines being deployed out of a
pool of 200.
``He looked at me, and he told me that if he went over there, it kept one of those other guys here with their
families," she said.
Garvin was a lanky man who loved being a Marine.
He studied culinary arts at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School in Wakefield, where he
was a member of the class of 2005.
School superintendent Patricia Cronin easily recalled Garvin, who was among 10 members of the class of
2005 who joined the military after graduation, because he was always smiling. ``He liked people, he liked
the other kids in school, and he was very popular," she said.
Cronin said Garvin is the first student to make the ultimate sacrifice since the school opened in 1970.
Relatives said Garvin was drawn to a military life because an older cousin with whom he was close,
Stephen Edwards, is also in the Marines. The 25-year-old Edwards is currently assigned to Iraq, relatives
said.
``He was a good kid, a real good kid," said Allan Edwards, the father of Stephen and uncle of Garvin.
Stephen Edwards ``didn't tell him to join the military. He did it on his own. He wanted to follow in Stephen's
footsteps."
Garvin's mother, Catherine Edwards, of Malden, was too distraught to be interviewed yesterday.
In a statement, the Department of Defense said Garvin and Corporal Benjamin S. Rosales, 20, of Houston
were killed Oct. 4 while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province, Iraq. The two men were assigned
to the Second Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, headquartered at Camp Lejeune.
Sitting on the couch in her living room, Melissa Garvey and Garvin's younger brother and older sister traded
tales about Garvin.
Melissa Garvin recalled how the couple spent an hour arguing about the time zone in New Hampshire;
Garvin insisted there was a one-minute difference once you crossed the border, she said, chuckling.
Garvin, according to his younger brother, 16-year-old Lawrence Price, ``was mad confident about himself."
``He would know absolutely nothing about something -- and think he knew it all," Price said.
That attitude played itself out when the two were younger and had a battery-powered toy car. Garvin would
demand to drive, but only in a circle because he did not know how to steer straight, said Melissa Garvin,
who had known him since second grade.
The couple planned a public celebration of their private marriage for which Melissa Garvin had purchased a
wedding gown. She said she will now sell the dress and send the proceeds to the Boy Scout camp in
Barnstead, N.H., where he spent many summers.
Melissa Garvin would not discuss the political controversy about the war in Iraq.
``All the politics doesn't matter," she said. ``It's not going to bring him back. What matters now is his
memory."
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.
http://turbine.legacy.com/Legacy/MT/Tribute.aspx?TributePerso
nID=86441791&download=&TributeDownload=&Cobrand=LEGA
CY
Tributes
This Memorial Page Established by Sarah and Brent Garvin
In Honor Of Marine Lance Cpl. Edward M. Garvin
******************************************
"Fighting Thru and Thru"
By Sarah Garvin
-This poem was written for my hero, my love, my life, my sons
amazing daddy.
I fought for my country
and took my pride to the grave
I stood amongst the ranks
A Tribute to the Brave
I'm in my final resting place
I am forever free
I'm proud to be a Hero
For all the world to see
Remember me forever
For I'll remember too
How i died an American Hero
Fighting Thru and Thru
*****************************************
October 4th. To some it meant nothing, to others it means
everything. It is the day we lost a
father, son, brother, friend. It is the day our world stopped. It is a day
that changed our lives.
Some more than others, but everyone was touched by this day.
October 4th was the day we
lost Edward Garvin. He was a father to a little boy, a son to a mother,
a brother of two, an
uncle of a couple and a friend of many. Eddy died a Hero for his
country but was a Hero
before then. He saved many before he was taken from us. Eddy will
live on in our hearts
forever.
******************************************
Eddy was a one in a million kinda guy. He loved everything you could
think of. He was a
boyscout since he was a kid, and then became a counselor at TL
Storer Scout Camp in the
summer with his long time best friend Andrew. He'd sneak outta the
cabin and go down to the
docks for fun. He always had more girl friends than guy friends and
he thought he was GOD.
not even just Gods gift, nope he was GOD. He loved every minute of
it too. He was sweet,
compassionate, loving, and the funniest guy you could have come
across. No matter how
you were feeling there was a way that he would make you smile and
he wouldn't stop until he
made you. He grew up in Malden with a brother, Lawrence and his
sister Catherine with his
mom Cathy. His sister had a son and a daughter so he was an uncle
early and then he
became a daddy himself. Brent Mathew Garvin February 3, 2005, 8lbs
7 oz at 6:37 in the
morning. People also know him as EJ for Eddy Jr. Eddy then joined
the Marines. He was
fighting for hi!
s country from September 1st until October 4th when the worst
happened. We got the news
that he had passed away. He died for his country. It hurts everyone
til this day but we smile
at the thought of his face and his jokes. Not a day goes by that hes
not on our minds.
******************************************
Eddy - you were and still are the one i will love. You are the father to
our beautiful son and an
american hero. You are my love, my heart, my hero. I Love you
forever. You are the only one
that knows whats really happening. You are still alive in everyones
thoughts, forever apart of
me, forever in our hearts.
******************************************
We love you Edward Marcell, you will never be forgotten. Rest
Sweetheart, We'll see you
soon but until then watch over us and keep us safe.
******************************************
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one
remembers to turn on the
light" - Eddy you are my light. I Love you.
2nd Lt. Joshua L. Booth
Hometown: Fiskdale, Massachusetts, U.S.
Age: 23 years old
Died: October 17, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar Province.
When he was 7 years old, Joshua L. Booth _ a recent transplant from Virginia to Massachusetts _
hopped on the bus and went to his elementary school dressed as Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
"They had a class on American history and the teacher encouraged him to present the other side,"
said his father, Jack. "So Josh dressed up and went in school as Robert E. Lee." "Josh was too little
and did not realize that the bus would be a vicious place for someone dressed as Robert E. Lee," his
mother, Debra, said with a laugh. Booth, 23, of Sturbridge, Mass., was shot dead Oct. 17 while on
foot patrol in Haditha. He graduated from The Citadel Military College in 2005 and was assigned to
Kaneohe Bay. In Iraq, he led three patrols a day to glean intelligence from Iraqi citizens. He is
survived by his wife, Erica, and a 1-year-old daughter, Grace. Erica is pregnant with a boy to be
named Tristan Joshua. Booth was buried in a family plot in Bedford, Va., even though he qualified
to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. "He felt if anybody should be buried there, his men
should be buried there," Debra Booth said.
Joshua Booth
BOOTH, Joshua Second Lieutenant Joshua Loren Booth, 23, United States Marine Corps, of Kaneohe Bay,
HI, died Tuesday, October 17, 2006, of combat injuries received while on active duty in Haditha, Iraq. He
was a devoted husband and father, a loving son, brother, and uncle, and a proud Officer who loved his country and
was devoted to his Marines. He leaves his wife, Erica Rust Booth, a daughter Grace Mackenna Booth, both of
Kaneohe Bay, HI and an unborn son, Tristan Joshua Booth. Second Lt. Booth was born May 20, 1983, in Virginia
Beach, VA, son of John Edwin Jack Booth and Debra Lynne Guell Booth of Sturbridge, MA. He was a 2001 graduate of
St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, MA where he was on the soccer, football, wrestling and track teams. In 2005,
he graduated from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina in Charleston, SC where he earned a degree in
Criminal Justice and was a high-scoring member of the pistol team. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the
U. S. Marine Corps in May of 2005. He then attended TBS, followed by Infantry Officer School in Quantico, VA and
was subsequently stationed at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He was Third platoon leader in Echo
Company, Second Battalion, Third Marine Regiment, that was deployed to the Al AnBar Province in September of
2006. In addition to his wife, children and parents, Second Lt. Booth is survived by his sister, Melissa Long DeVera and
her husband, Michael of Fredericksburg, VA; grandparents, Loren James Hanson Guell of Independence, OH and the
late Betty Rogers Guell, James Edwin Ed Booth of Virginia Beach and Bedford, VA and the late Peggy Gentry Booth,
and uncles and aunts, William Fitzpatrick Rick Booth, Col. USMC (Retired) and his wife, Karen of Fredericksburg, VA,
Blackburn Jordan Booth and his wife, Linda of Virginia Beach, Robert Blackburn Booth of Greensboro, NC, David
Hanson Guell of St. Cloud, FL and Amelia Grace Guell of Independence, OH; nieces and nephews, Nicholas Kyle,
Noelle Debra, and Isabella Lauren DeVera all of Fredericksburg, VA and cousins, Second Lt. William Fitzpatrick Booth,
Jr., USAF and Thomas Paul Booth of Fredericksburg, VA and Edwin Stuart Booth of Norfolk, VA. A celebration of
Second Lt. Booth's life will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 26, 2006, at Bedford Baptist Church,
Bedford, Virginia. Burial will follow in Longwood Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the U.S. Marine
Corps. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2006, at Tharp Funeral Home &
Crematory, 320 North Bridge Street, Bedford, VA, 540-586-3443. Condolences should be sent to THARP FUNERAL
HOME or please visit www.tharpfuneralhome.com. There will also be a service held to honor Second Lt. Booth in
Sturbridge, Massachusetts at a date to be determined. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.
Published in Charleston Post & Courier on October 23, 2006
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Mother of 2nd Lt. Joshua Booth Asks John Kerry to Make Amends
John Kerry called the parents of Joshua Booth on Sunday. On Monday Kerry said the troops in Iraq were
stupid. Today The mother of Second Lt. Joshua Booth, a marine who lost his life in Iraq, is asking Senator
Kerry to learn more about the military.
Joshua's parents said they wanted Booth to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but he didn't
believe he was worthy of it and wished to be buried in a family plot in Bedford, Va.
In this undated photo released by his family, U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Joshua L. Booth, 23, of Sturbridge,
Mass., is shown. Booth was killed Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006, by a single sniper shot in Haditha, Iraq. Born in
Virginia Beach, Va., Booth leaves his wife, Erica, and an 18 month old daughter. (AP Photo/Booth Family
via Worcester Telegram & Gazette)
The parents of Joshua Booth said they did not appreciate Senator Kerry calling one day to offer
condolences and the next day slamming the troops in Iraq:
Second Lt. Joshua Booth died on Oct. 17. His mother said that what makes Kerry's words so offensive is
that they come one day after Kerry called the family to offer condolences.
"We did appreciate the call. I am appreciative of anyone who reaches out to me and to then turn around
and say something that is so totally incorrect," Booth said.
As to whether Kerry should apologize, Booth said that Kerry needs to do more to make amends.
"In addition to apologizing, he needs to learn a little bit about what our men and women in the military
are actually made up of," Booth said. "We don't want to send that kind of signal, that you only go into the
military if you are not good at anything."
2nd Lt. Joshua Booth leaves behind his wife, Erica, 21, who is expecting a second child, and their 1½year-old daughter, Grace M. Booth.
November 21, 2006 Update
The final meeting for volunteers will be held on Monday, November 27th at 7 p.m. at the
American Legion Hall on Main Street. Anyone wishing to help at the memorial service is
welcome to attend!
November 17, 2006 Update
PRESS RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
CONTACTS: THOMAS A. CHAMBERLAND
Thomas.A.Chamberland@nae02.usace.army.mil
LORRAINE MURAWSKI
lmurawski@town.sturbridge.ma.us
LAURANCE S. MORRISON
lsm@morrcomm.com
PLANS ADVANCE IN MEMORIAL
FOR IRAQ COMBAT DEATH OF LT. BOOTH
STURBRIDGE—A few volunteer opportunities remain as Sturbridge Veterans Agent Thomas
A. Chamberland organizes a memorial service for Marine 1st Lt. Joshua L. Booth, whose
death in Iraq marked this community’s first combat fatality since World War II. The memorial
service is set for 2 P.M. Saturday, December 2, at the Tantasqua Regional District High
School Field House.
Mr. Chamberland announced that volunteers may take part in the hosting of the Booth family
and dignitaries, in greeting the visiting public and in handling the physical arrangements.
Volunteers are invited to meet at 7 P.M. Monday, November 27, at the American Legion Post
109 Hall, 507 Main Street.
Meanwhile, eight collection boxes have been placed for nonperishable supplies that
townspeople may donate for delivery to the 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd
Marine Regiment, which Lt. Booth led. The boxes are located at the Town Hall, Senior
Center, Joshua Hyde Public Library, Tri-Community Area Chamber of Commerce office,
ReMax Professional Real Estate Office at 49 Main Street, Sturbridge Curves at The
Boardwalk, American Legion Post 109 and the Old Sturbridge Village Visitors Center.
Memorial donations to cover the shipping costs for the supplies are welcomed, Mr.
Chamberland said. He added that any remaining funds will be deposited as a trust for the
children of Lt. Booth and his wife, Erica. Checks should be made payable to the “Town of
Sturbridge, Booth Memorial Fund.”
Among the dignitaries who have confirmed their participation in the memorial service are the
Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Arnold P. Wilson; Town Clerk, Lorraine Murawski;
Congressman Richard E. Neal; State Senator Stephen M. Brewer; and Michael Welch, the
Headmaster of St. John’s Preparatory School, from which Lt. Booth graduated.
Participating in the program are the Quaboag Highlanders Pipe and Drum Unit, Marine Corps
Town of Sturbridge, MA - 1st Lieutenant Joshua Booth Memorial 12/04/2006 12:44 AM
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League of Massachusetts, Sturbridge Patriot Fife and Drum Unit, Massachusetts State Police
Honor Guard, Tantasqua Choraleers and St. John’s Chorus.
Fatally shot by a sniper in Haditha, Lt. Booth, age 23, was schooled in Sturbridge. He was the
son of John E. and Debra L. Booth, of Sturbridge.
November 2, 2006 Update
The Town of Sturbridge has announced plans to hold a memorial service for 1st Lt Joshua L.
Booth USMC on Saturday, December 2nd, 2:00 p.m. at the Tantasqua Regional High School
Field House. Lt Booth was killed in Iraq on October 17th, by a snipers bullet while on patrol.
Raised in Sturbridge, he graduated from St Johns High School and received his College
degree from the Citadel. Lt Booth is the first Sturbridge resident to die in battle, since World
War II. Lt. Booth leaves behind his wife, Erica, who is seven months pregnant, his daughter
Grace, and unborn son, Tristan, his sister Melissa L. De Vera, his parents Debra and Jack,
and a grateful community, proud and respectful of his sacrifice for our country.
Tom Chamberland, Director of Veteran Services, is in charge of the event. In making the
announcement Mr. Chamberland said “We are proud and honored that the family is
encouraging the community to come together to celebrate the life of Joshua. The family is
very grateful that there will be this opportunity for them to tell Joshua’s story. We are
anticipating a very large turnout for this memorial event. The Town is accepting donations to
help make this memorial service a respectful, proud, and memorable event.”
Anyone wishing to help contribute to this service is asked to contact either Tom Chamberland
at tchamberland@town.sturbridge.ma.us or 508-347-3386, or Town Clerk Lorraine Murawski
at lmurawski@town.sturbridge.ma.us or 508-347-2510. Contributions for printing, flowers,
refreshments, as well as volunteers to assist with the memorial service are needed. A
volunteer meeting is set for Wednesday, Nov 8th 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 507
Main Street. Sturbridge.
The Town is also collecting items to be sent to the Marines of Lt Booth’s unit still in Iraq.
Collection boxes are set up at the Town Hall, Senior Center, Library, Tri-Community Chamber
of Commerce, ReMax Professional Real Estate Office at 49 Main Street Sturbridge, Arland
Tool & Die Manufacturing, the Sturbridge Curves and American Legion Post 109. Items may
also be brought to the memorial service. A list of needed items is available at each collection
site or online at: www.town.sturbridge.ma.us
The Town of Sturbridge has set up a Memorial Fund in Lt. Booth’s name. Contributions to
this fund will be used to cover the cost of the memorial service and the cost of shipping the
collected items to Iraq. Any remaining contributions will be turned over to the trust that is
being set up for Joshua’s children. Checks should be made payable to the Town of Sturbridge
and mailed or dropped off to the Town Hall, 308 Main Street Sturbridge MA 01566. Please
note Booth Memorial Fund on your check.
October 25, 2006 Update
The Town of Sturbridge has established a drop-off for care packages for military personnel in
Town of Sturbridge, MA - 1st Lieutenant Joshua Booth Memorial 12/04/2006 12:44 AM
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Iraq as a response to the recent news that a Sturbridge resident, 1st Lieutenant Joshua Booth
was killed in action on 10-17-06. For more information on the items that can be donated,
please see below. Items may be dropped off at the Sturbridge Town Hall, 308 Main Street in
Sturbridge. If your office or business wishes to be a drop off site, please contact Tom
Chamberland, Veteran's Agent at tchamberland@town.sturbridge.ma.us
A memorial service is in the planning stages for 1st Lieutenant Joshua Booth the date will be
announced once final arrangements have been made.
For more information, please contact Tom Chamberland, Sturbridge Veteran's Agent at
tchamberland@town.sturbridge.ma.us or Lorraine Murawski, Town Clerk at
lmurawski@town.sturbridge.ma.us
Sturbridge Marine dies in Iraq
By David Abel, Globe Staff | October 19, 2006
The single black bar on his vest made the tall man with bright blue eyes stand out among his camouflaged
charges.
A few weeks ago, he told his wife not to worry. ``The insurgents aren't good shots," he said in a phone call.
At 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, after just 36 days in Iraq, Marine Second Lieutenant Joshua L. Booth was leading
his platoon on foot patrol in Haditha when he crossed one with deadly aim. A sniper fired one lethal shot that
hit the 23-year-old father from Sturbridge in the head.
``I'm sure they could tell he was a leader," said Erica Booth, the spouse he left behind on Sept. 11 with their
14-month-old daughter, Grace, and an unborn son due in January. ``He knew it was getting violent, but he
didn't express any concern. He was really strong."
Born in Virginia Beach, Va., Booth moved to Massachusetts as a child and graduated in 2001 from St. John's
High School in Shrewsbury, where he had grown to 6-foot-2 and developed a reputation as a fierce wrestler.
He had wanted to be a Marine from an early age, at least since meeting a family friend who had served in the
Marines, his wife said. He even wore his hair ``high and tight" in high school.
``If they ever made fun of him, that would have been the end of it," she said. ``He was a hard-core Marine -100 percent. It was all he ever wanted to do."
Booth attended The Citadel military college in South Carolina, where in 2005 he graduated at the top of his
class with a degree in criminal justice, became a nationally ranked pistol shooter, and earned his commission
as a second lieutenant. ``He was a bit of an overachiever," she said.
He and his wife had met two years before at The Citadel, when she came to visit the school from Dighton.
``It was two weeks before spring break," she said. ``He came home, and the rest was history."
They married the month he graduated. He then spent several months in the infantry officers' course in
Quantico, Va., before he and his family moved to the Marine base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where the
couple went snorkeling and kayaking and napped with their daughter in a hammock.
JOSHUA L. BOOTH
``He was really proud of his platoon," she said. ``He talked about the progress they were making," arresting
insurgents and confiscating weapons.
When his service was up, he wanted to work as either a police officer or a border control agent, his wife said.
The two talked about settling in Charleston.
In addition to his wife and daughter, Lieutenant Booth leaves his parents, John E. and Debra L. of
Sturbridge; a sister, Melissa L. DeVera of Fredericksburg, Va., and a large extended family.
He will be buried in Bedford, Va., next to relatives.
David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.
© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.