Taji pavilion dedicated to fallen Soldier

Photo By Lt. Col. Allen Hing | Sgt. Steven Walters Jr., a native of Wichita, Kan. and Sgt. Antwan Scales, a native of Bellwood, Ill., drop the covering of the placard officially naming the Camp Taji pavilion in honor of Sgt Jon M. Schoolcraft, III, April 15. Both Soldiers are assigned to 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.  

TAJI, IRAQ

04.15.2008

Story by Canadian Forces LCol Allen Hing 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Maj. Al Hing
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, IRAQ – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers from 3rd Platoon Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, MND-B, stood on the front stage of the Taji pavilion, pulled the lanyards that dropped the covering over the commemorative memorial to Sgt. Jon M. Schoolcraft, III, April 15.

Schoolcraft died of injuries when the vehicle he was riding was destroyed by an improvised explosive device, Jan. 18. He was the first Soldier lost for this deployment of the 2nd SBCT.

"This was absolutely the right thing to do," said Col. Brian Harris of Loganville, Ga., and Camp Taji garrison commander. Harris' comments honoring Schoolcraft who meant so much to his comrades and the command.

First Lt. Richard Pace from Brawley, Calif., and Schoolcraft's platoon leader was amazed at how quickly the memorial came together.

"It shows how much this means to the brigade and it shows how much the Army cares about the impact of one Soldier," he said. "This means a lot, to the platoon, and to me."

Staff Sgt. Adam Lane from Sparta, N.C. agreed.

"It's amazing, I don't know what to say," Sparta, a platoon sergeant for 1st Bn. 27th Inf. Regt. said.

After a pause he continued, "I'm honored and the platoon is honored to have one of our Soldiers memorialized in this way."

The memorialization of Schoolcraft also meant remembering a friend.

"This is about remembering a good friend, so all future Soldiers when they come here, they will see who came before them to pave the way to where they are now," said Spc. Michael Jacobs a native of Fort Washington, Ky., and infantryman assigned to 1st Bn. 27th Inf. Regt. "(Mike) was more than a platoon member, he was a friend. We spent lots of time together after our (duty) day was over. I'll miss Mike forever."

Lt. Col. David Davidson, from Lewisberg, Tenn., and deputy commanding officer for 2nd SBCT said he wants to ensure there is a memorial in a more permanent place.

"This is a dichotomy, as we want to memorialize a Soldier, but we realize this is a temporary place, Camp Taji is not an enduring post, and someday, we won't be here. There has to be a plan, that someday that memorial will find its way back to Schofield Barracks, back home with the Wolfhounds."

For now, the most permanent memorial is in the hearts of the Soldiers who knew and served beside him.

• Date Taken: 04.15.2008
• Date Posted: 04.17.2008 09:22
• Story ID: 18506
• Location: TAJI, IQ