Soldier Remembered at Fort Hunter Liggett, Army Reserve Center Dedicated to Slain Patriot

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hudson | The 91st Division Honor Guard presents arms saluting Master Sgt. Robb Needham's courage and sacrifice. The seven-man team was part of the hour-long ceremony dedicating a new Army Reserve Center in his name.  

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, UNITED STATES

09.11.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Jason Hudson 

91st Training Division (Operations)

For the past nine years the date of Sept. 11 has filled Americans with emotion. Every year, people gather throughout the nation to publicly remember those who lost their lives in the attacks of 2001 and also to remember the military men and women who lost their lives in the wars that followed.

Thousands have given their lives to secure our freedom and to keep our country, and others, safe from harm. One such individual was Master Sgt. Robb G. Needham.

In January 2006, Needham, who had already served one tour in Iraq, volunteered to return to Iraq as an advisor training the Iraqi National Police. When the Iraqi National Police unit received a new mission in Baghdad, Needham’s team decided to embed themselves with their counterparts to lend support and guidance during combat operations.

Needham died of wounds on Sept. 20, 2006, in Tel Afar, Iraq, when his team came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire.

In honor of his sacrifice and dedication to the betterment of humanity, the 91st Training Division has dedicated their new, Fort Hunter Liggett based, Army Reserve Center to Needham. An hour long ceremony was held Sept. 11 at the building which now carries Needham’s name.

Several of Needham’s family and friends traveled to Fort Hunter Liggett to witness and be a part of the event. The overwhelming sentiment of those closest to him was that he was a man who honestly cared about others and consistently put their needs above his own.

“Robb was the kind of guy you never had to look back for, because he was ahead of you in a firefight and he was behind you one-hundred percent, like it or not,” said Maj. Larry Milne, a friend of Needham’s who had served with him during his second tour.

“No one wants to get the call yet it is a harsh reality. I can assure you that Robb knew that reality of war better than most Soldiers and he answered the call to the trumpets by volunteering to go. He ran to the sound of gunfire in defense of Americans and Iraqis,” he said.

A translator who had worked with Needham during his first tour in Iraq said “I knew Master Sgt. Needham as a guy who had the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. He treated us all like his sons and we treated him like our father. He was a guy who stood for people in need, he helped them a lot. I really appreciate what he did, defending the freedom of Iraq.”

“He served his country, he didn’t give up until he gave his ultimate sacrifice on his second tour. On his first tour of Iraq we were deployed to Fallujah battle, which was one of the toughest battles in Iraq war history. Needham was always ahead of us helping, training the Iraqi soldiers to serve the new, free Iraq. I’m honored to know Master Sgt. Needham,” the translator, who chose to remain anonymous said.

“Robb couldn’t have been more proud, this is a phenomenal facility and they’re wonderful soldiers out here,” said Milne.

The Master Sgt. Robb G. Needham United States Army Reserve Center is located at 228 Infantry Road, Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.

Needham’s awards include two Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart, four Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2010
• Date Posted: 10.23.2010 19:57
• Story ID: 58681
• Location: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US