A fallen hero is honored

Photo By Darriel Swatts | On May 25, an American flag is lowered before being folded on COS Kalsu in honor of Spc. Daniel Unger, a California Army National Guard soldier who died seven years ago during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE KALSU, IRAQ

05.25.2011

Story by Spc. Darriel Swatts 

40th Combat Aviation Brigade

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE KALSU, Iraq – Seven years to the day after Spc. Daniel Unger was killed in action, an American flag was lowered and folded in his honor by a friend.

On May 25 at 2:20 p.m., a memorial ceremony was held for Unger, a 19-year-old California Army National Guard soldier from Exeter, Calif., who died May 25, 2004 while ushering a group of Iraqi contractors into a bunker during a mortar attack on Contingency Operating Site Kalsu.

“The memorial ceremony was very humbling and it serves as a reminder of what can happen while we’re here in Iraq,” said Command Sgt. Maj. David McFerrin, of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade. “When a significant event like this comes up, we have to stop and make sure that we remember what had happened and pay our respects to those who have come before us.”

The 40th CAB is a California Army National Guard-led unit headquartered in Fresno, Calif. The brigade is currently deployed to Iraq where it is performing full-spectrum aviation operations in support of Operation New Dawn.

“I knew Spc. Unger… he and I were friends who worked, trained and deployed together while we were in the 185th [1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, based in Visalia, Calif.],” said Sgt. Bryce Battershell, driver for the 40th CAB commander. “So when I realized we had the opportunity to honor his memory while in country, I had to do something because this is my third deployment to Iraq. The first time was when we lost Spc. Unger; the second time was during the fall and spring, so I wasn’t here for the anniversary of his passing. But, this time we are here during the same timeframe and we were able to take the time to remember him, along with being able to do something for his family and let them know that they and Spc. Unger are not forgotten.”

Two weeks prior to the seven-year anniversary of Unger’s passing, Battershell asked McFerrin if a memorial ceremony could be held for Unger at Kalsu. Upon hearing Battershell’s request, McFerrin took action and contacted Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Hunt, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, of Fort Hood, Texas. Hunt’s unit is currently stationed at Kalsu.

McFerrin asked Hunt if a flag could be flown at Kalsu in Unger’s honor and then presented to Unger’s family.

“I told him I would certainly accommodate that request,” Hunt said. “I’d do anything for the soldier’s family.”

After a little planning and coordination between the two command sergeants major, Battershell, McFerrin, Hunt and a small group of selected soldiers took part in the memorial ceremony at the exact date and time of Unger’s sacrifice.

“We flew our nation’s colors, lowered them and then folded the colors in order to present them to the soldier’s family as a memento, in testament to their son who passed away serving his country,” Hunt said.

McFerrin said that with the scheduled withdrawal of troops from Iraq at the end of the year, the ceremony carried solemn significance and served as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by soldiers here in service to their country.

Spc. Daniel Unger was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for approximately seven weeks. For his actions on May 25, 2004, he was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor, a Purple Heart, the California Memorial Medal, the Warrior’s Medal of Valor from the American Indian Nations of the USA, the Combat Infantry Badge, and he was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2011
• Date Posted: 06.05.2011 09:21
• Story ID: 71619
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE KALSU, IQ