2nd BSTB Soldiers honored during memorial service

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Angela Mc Kinzie | 1st Sgt. Jared Palmer, the Company A, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) first sergeant and native of Tidioute, Penn., pays his final respects to three Soldiers during a memorial ceremony Mar. 5. Palmer was the first sergeant of the Soldiers who were killed from an improvised explosive device along Route Primus, northwest of Yusufiyah, Iraq Feb. 27.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

03.09.2007

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Angela Mc Kinzie 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

By Staff Sgt. Angela McKinzie
2nd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. (LI) Public Affairs

CAMP STRIKER, Iraq — When most people think of heroes they often think of someone with super powers, ultimate strength or someone who possesses some kind of special talent, but to others heroes are the ones right next to them.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) gathered to mourn the loss of three fallen comrades at a memorial ceremony on Camp Striker, Iraq March 5.

The Soldiers, Sgt. Jonathan Cadavero, Cpl. Lorne Henry Jr. and Sgt. Richard Soukenka, all of the 2nd BSTB were killed Feb. 27 after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device along Route Primus, northwest of Yusufiyah, Iraq.

"I knew you Soldiers were ready for anything – on missions you have been hit and hit hard, but this time you have been sucker punched," said Chaplain (Capt.) Kent Coffey, the 2nd BSTB chaplain and native of Fort Drum, N.Y. "Our hearts grieve for these three great men – enablers."

Cadavero, who served as a medic and native of Tuxedo, N.Y. was remembered as always trying to learn new medical skills.

"I remember Cadavero in Kuwait watching and learning anything he could from one of the brigade doctors," Coffey said.

Cadavero, who had married another Soldier in the unit, had only been married for three months.

"I remember seeing Cadavero at his happiest right before he went on leave," said Sgt. Daniel Roch, a 2nd BSTB squad leader and native of Gloucester, N.Y. "He loved his wife very much – they were married during leave. But what I really remember is that Cadavero always had a smile."

Henry, who served in many positions to include a driver, gunner, buffalo arm operator and platoon armorer while deployed to Iraq, and native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., was remembered as a quiet professional.

"Henry was very reliable," said Sgt. 1st Class Jesus Rada, a 2nd BSTB platoon sergeant and native of Rialto, Calif. "He never told anyone 'no' – he always completed all missions given to him."

Soukenka, a native of Oceanside, Calif., who served as a light equipment team member, was remembered as someone who always made others laugh.

"He always had jokes about something," said Spc. Brandon Bokunevitz, a 2nd BSTB combat engineer and native of Greenbay, Wis., "He always made people laugh, and we had plenty of fun when he was around."

Rada, the Soldiers' platoon sergeant, noted that losing the Soldiers seemed almost like it wasn't true.

"I did not find out about them (Cadavero, Henry and Soukenka) being killed until I came back from leave," Rada said as he wiped away tears from his eyes. "I was in Kuwait thinking it could not be them three – it just couldn't."

Rada went on to explain how that was his vehicle and suggested that he maybe should have been there.

"While I was back home on leave I remember telling someone that we had the safest vehicles in country – a part of me feels like I should have been there with them."

Continuing to wipe away tears, Rada recalled something special about each of the Soldiers.

"Cadavero always sang on missions – he had a song for every mission. Henry was my dependable guy and Soukenka, well he was Soukenka."

Cadavero's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, a Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Medical Badge.

Cadavero is survived by his wife, Pfc. Michelle Cadavero, his mother, Nadia Cadavero, and his sister, Krista Cadavero.

Henry's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal,, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.
Henry is survived by his mother, Wendy Kovacs and father Lorne Henry Sr., both of Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Soukenka's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

Soukenka is survived by his mother, Rita May Garcia of Oceanside, Calif., and his father, Ivan Soukenka Sr. of Praha, Czechoslovakia.

• Date Taken: 03.09.2007
• Date Posted: 03.09.2007 12:33
• Story ID: 9376
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ