CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — The 15th Sustainment Brigade and 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) leaders dedicated a pavilion here to a fallen Fort Hood Soldier during a small ceremony, Feb. 3.
The pavilion was dedicated to the memory of retired Col. Jerry Smith, who died in a car accident in April 2009 at Fort Hood, Texas, the home station of both the 15th Sust. Bde. and the 13th ESC, said Col. Larry Phelps, the commander of the 15th Sust. Bde.
Smith was a very good friend and was special to a lot of the units on Fort Hood, Phelps said.
The units put a lot of labor into the pavilion, and was looking for the right person to dedicate it to, and Smith was the right person, explained Phelps.
"He had the ability to make you feel at home immediately," Phelps said.
Smith was able to take the "work hat" off to just sit around and talk, Phelps added.
Brig. Gen. Paul Wentz, the commander of the 13th ESC, said Smith was a great individual.
"He really had a special place in his heart for all Soldiers," Wentz said.
Phelps hopes that the memory of his dedication and service will live on through the pavilion.
"We dedicate this pavilion to his memory and what he means to the unit," Phelps said.