Remember sacrifices, honor fallen

Photo By Lt. Col. Jackie Guthrie | Maj. Andy Ratzlaff, a former member of the 2nd Bn., 127th Inf. pays tribute to the unit's fallen heroes at Camp Navistar Sept. 30.  

10.04.2005

Courtesy Story

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Two empty pairs of boots, two Kevlar helmets, dog tags, rifles and two photographs represented Sgt. Andrew Wallace and Spc. Michael Wendling in a memorial service Friday.

2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, Wisconsin Army National Guard, remembered the two Soldiers of Company C, who died Sept. 26 when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on a routine convoy in southern Iraq.

"This is about honoring Sgt. Wallace and Spc. Wendling," said Capt. Eric Schack, Co. C commander. "This is about honoring their commitment to this deployment. It's about honoring their commitment to their fellow Soldiers. This is about honoring their contributions to the freedom of our country and Iraq."

Three Soldiers, childhood friends of the fallen, spoke words of tribute.

"I've come to the conclusion that it is not easy to sum up a man's life with a few feeble words," said Sgt. Jake Paulson about his comrade Sgt. Andrew Wallace.

"I know I will never do him justice but I will do my best," He added, "Andrew to some, Wally to his friends and Sgt. Wallace to us here, asked me about the National Guard about seven years ago."

This conversation marked the beginning of Wallace's military career. To the ranks of the Wisconsin Guard Wallace brought a positive attitude, a strong work ethic and a corny sense of humor. He also brought his best friend, Sgt. Dan Kelm.

Wallace and Kelm, with Paulson and Sgt. Mathew Mabee, traveled side by side on the roads of Iraq, escorting military and civilian convoys filled with essential equipment and supplies to U.S. and Coalition Forces in the north.

Paulson and Mabee gave testimonies of Wallace's self-sacrifice, but Wallace made the ultimate sacrifice when he passed his brothers-in-arms and took point position on the convoy.

"It seems unfortunate for Andrew that he passed us that morning not knowing what lay ahead," Mabee said. "But I know that he would not have wanted it any other way. He would have wanted to go through that entrance before any of us if it meant we could live."

"We just need to keep him and his team's sacrifices in our hearts as we continue forward on this deployment and in life," Mabee said.

"All we can do now is carry out our mission, because that is what Andrew and Michael Wendling would want us to do," Paulson said. "We cannot let our cowardly enemy shake our core values. They want to win by throwing fear into our hearts. We need to stand up a little bit taller now and let them know you don't mess with men from Wisconsin, men from the United States of America, men who are not afraid to lay down their lives for their country like Wally and Wendling."

"Gentlemen, I know we will never be able to hear "Taps" or see an American flag again without thinking of the sacrifices these men gave. We will always remember how brave Andrew and Michael were and how proud we are of them," Paulson said.

Describing Michael Wendling, Spc. Justin Schmidtquist recalled words that other Soldiers used to portray him: "Funny, great sarcastic sense of humor, morale booster, always smiling, very smart, hard worker and good Soldier.

"I first met him in seventh grade at one of our first football practices together. Little did I know that that was the start of all the fun we would have," he said.

Schmidtquist said Wendling was remembered for his made-up songs and dances, pranks and sense of humor.

"He was one of a kind and will truly be missed by all of us," Schmidtquist said. "It seems comforting to know that he was in a truck with his best friend Jeremy Roskopf." Roskopf, the third Soldier in the vehicle that struck the IED, is receiving medical treatment for his injuries.

"They were together and making people laugh on the radio right up to the end. They signed up for the National Guard together, they played golf together and it is only fitting that they ran this mission together.

"Let's honor his memory and dedication by keeping him in our hearts as we drive on and continue our mission the way he would have wanted us to," Schmidtquist said.

"Your death has created a void in our lives that I cannot explain," wrote Wendling's father, Randall Wendling in an e-mail read by Chap. (Maj.) Chad Maxey. Struggling through the grief of his son's death, he captured his feelings in a letter to Michael and sent it to the Soldiers of the battalion. "It is with great respect and deepest love I say to you, you are a hero to all of us."

The service continued with words of scripture, a memorial message and a prayer.
Brig. Gen. Charles Barr, 143rd Transportation Command commander, then read from a poem he and his aide, Capt. Noah Brusky, wrote to commemorate the deaths.

Silence followed as 1st Sgt. David Christianson conducted roll call, noting the two fallen Soldiers" absence.

Salutes were fired and the notes of "Taps" hung in the desert air. The men of 2nd Bn., 127th Inf. joined leaders, fellow Soldiers and friends to say goodbye to Sgt. Andrew Wallace and Spc. Michael Wendling.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2005
• Date Posted: 10.04.2005 11:06
• Story ID: 3161