Photo By Katryn McCalment | Col. Brian Mennes, commander of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division,...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – During their nine-month deployment to Afghanistan, 16 paratroopers of the 4th Brigade Combat Team made the ultimate sacrifice and more than 250 were wounded in action.
On Nov. 2, nearly a thousand fellow soldiers, family members and friends stood on Fury Field in remembrance and appreciation of the sacrifice made and participated in a day of events to honor them.
Hosted by Maj. Gen. John Nicholson, Jr., commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, and Col. Brian Mennes, commander of 4th BCT, the day began with a brigade four-mile run with unusual participants. In addition to the paratroopers, nearly a dozen wounded warriors, family members and friends fell into the ranks to participate.
“I wanted to be here to support my brothers,” said Spc. Stefan Leroy, a cavalry scout with Troop B, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, who less than five months after losing both legs to an improvised explosive device blast, rode a hand-pedaled bicycle alongside his unit.
In a ceremony later that morning, Leroy joined other severely wounded warriors from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in a seated formation, and approximately 140 paratroopers in a standing formation as each battalion commander placed a Purple Heart on their soldiers' chests.
“Our nation owes you a debt that they can never repay,” said Nicholson. “You have earned the respect and gratitude of our nation.”
“It’s humbling being honored today,” said Sgt. Caleb Vance, an infantryman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Purple Heart recipient. “I’m not used to letting people know, so to have them thank me is humbling.”
The ceremony was followed by a luncheon to honor the paratroopers and Gold Star family members that traveled from around the country to spend the day with the Fury family.
In the last and most emotional ceremony of the day, a memorial for the battle fallen warriors was unveiled, the symbol of the U.S and Afghanistan unified command team and brigade colors on one side and a picture of each paratrooper killed in action on the other.
Mennes reflects on the past year, and praises the success of the soldiers to secure pockets of southern Afghanistan that represent the birthplace of the Taliban.
“This was the theaters most important area of operation,” he said. “This organization accomplished the impossible… there has been no more patriotic or meaningful display of our national values than what your troopers were involved with in Afghanistan. I am privilege to have led our nation’s treasures, your sons and daughters.”
One by one, each of the 16 names is read and the chime of a bell sounds loud and clear through the field. An emotional Mennes presents each Gold Star Family with a memorial of their loved one and softly whispers words of comfort.
“The Gold Star Families are the true patriots of this war,” said Mennes. “They are the ones who have carried the most incredible burden of this war.”
Sarah Sitton, wife of Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton, cries as she accepts her husband’s memorial.
“It’s an honor to my husband in remembrance for what he gave,” she says.
“Being here means a lot,” said Dwayne Goodine, father of Pfc. Brandon Goodine, who was killed June 7 by an IED. “It means a lot to us just to be able to talk to the guys he was with, to get some closure.”
“We can all be incredibly proud and humbled by your loved ones service,” said Mennes. “As you reflect…, I ask you to be uplifted by the indomitable spirit each of our fallen displayed pursuing this righteous endeavor and remember the selfless commitment of your warriors to this cause of freedom.”
As the ceremony concludes, the Gold Star family members are able to swap stories of their loved ones with the men and women they served next to and the sound of tears is slowly replaced with the sound of laughter.
His bike replaced by a wheelchair, Leroy is surrounded by friends and family members of the fallen.
“It’s great to be back here again,” he says. “It’s great to see these guys and to be home.”
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2012 15:06 |
| Story ID: | 97318 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 540 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 4th Brigade takes day to thank, honor fallen, wounded warriors, by Katryn McCalment, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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