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By Sgt. Joy Pariante
1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
FORT HOOD, Texas – Family, friends and brothers in arms gathered to honor this month's fallen 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers, March 15, at the 1st Cavalry Division Memorial Chapel. March's memorial service honored the lives and sacrifice of 15 cavalrymen.
"We gather here to be inspired by what these warriors have left us," said Col. Larry Phelps, commander, 1st Cavalry Division (Rear). "They lived and died so that others could enjoy the blessings of freedom."
"They are part of a great legacy of selfless service," Phelps continued. "And they join the ranks of those who died to support something much larger than themselves."
During the ceremony, members from the fallen Soldiers' units gave testament to the spirit, lives and love that made these Soldiers special.
Spc. Joshua Nance shared a story about his friend Cpl. Eric R Seiger, Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He told of coming home late one night and looking forward to eating one of the Hot Pockets he had just bought. Nance found the empty box in his freezer and went over to Seiger's room to ask if he had seen them. He found Seiger sitting in his room surrounded by Hot Pocket wrappers. That began an ongoing joke of Seiger stealing Nance's Hot Pockets. Fun and games were just part of life for Seiger. "He lived life one day at a time and enjoyed it to its fullest," Nance remembered.
Attendees heard stories, memories and feelings about all the fallen Soldiers, like Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason G. Defrenn, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 227 Aviation Regiment, whose fourth child was born a few days after Defrenn's death. Pvt. Clarence Spencer, Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment who "always had a smile, even in the hard times," according to Pfc. Glen Leach. Cpl. Ronnie G. Madore Jr., Company E, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, who changed his profile so he could deploy with his Soldiers. "He said there was no way he was going to sit back and let his crew go without him," said friend Spc. Mary Polk. "His commander said it was one of the most loyal acts he had ever seen."
At the end of the service, Sgt. Maj. William B. Wallace, sergeant major, 1st Cavalry Division (Rear) read the Roll Call.
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2007 12:11 |
| Story ID: | 9493 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 77 |
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