Army Reserve honors seven of their own

News: Army Reserve honors seven of their own

U.S. Army Reserve Command

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Timothy Hale

The display of boots, rifles, helmets and flags honoring seven Army Reserve soldiers at a Fallen Warrior ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C. Jan. 10, 2012. Those honored were: Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett of Tacoma, Wash.; Spc. Spencer C. Duncan of Olathe, Kan.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan J. Nichols of Hays, Kan.; Cpl. Raphael R. Arruda of Ogden, Utah; Spc. Daniel L. Elliott of Youngsville, N.C.; Cpl. Justin D. Ross of Green Bay, Wis., and Cpt. Joshua M. McClimans of Akron, Ohio.

FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Soldiers and civilians with the U.S. Army Reserve Command headquarters here, honored seven of their own that have paid the ultimate sacrifice at a Fallen Warrior ceremony here today.

Those honored were: Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett of Tacoma, Wash.; Spc. Spencer C. Duncan of Olathe, Kan.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan J. Nichols of Hays, Kan.; Cpl. Raphael R. Arruda of Ogden, Utah; Spc. Daniel L. Elliott of Youngsville, N.C.; Cpl. Justin D. Ross of Green Bay, Wis., and Cpt. Joshua M. McClimans of Akron, Ohio.

“We give thanks that these American warriors strengthened our formations and graced our ranks,” said Maj. Gen. Keith L. Thurgood, U.S. Army Reserve Command chief of staff. “They made a difference in the lives of the people that they worked for and worked with. In life, their gift was their service to others and citizens of this great country. In death, their gift was their life, which they sacrificed as Warriors simply doing their duty.”

Bennett, Duncan and Nichols were assigned to B Co., 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, in New Century, Kan. They died Aug. 6, 2011, when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter they were in crashed after being hit by a rocket propelled grenade in Wardak province, Afghanistan.

Arruda, who was assigned to the 744th Engineering Co. in Ogden, Utah, died July 16, 2011, during a route-clearing mission in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

Elliott, who was assigned to the 805th Military Police Co. in Cary, N.C., died July 15, 2011, during a route-clearing mission in Basrah, Iraq.

Ross, who was assigned to the 428th Engineer Co., in Wausau, Wis., died March 26, 2011, while on a dismounted patrol in Saubalgay, Afghanistan.

McClimans, who was assigned to the 256th Combat Support Hospital in Twinsburg, Ohio, died April 22, 2011 from indirect fire on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan.

This was the first Fallen Warrior ceremony held at the new headquarters here since the arrival of the three-star command from Fort McPherson, Ga., that closed as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure.