Photo By Christina McCann | Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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By Spc. Chris McCann
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – They gathered outside the cavernous steel building, smoking, jaws tight and eyes hard against the emotion. But the brief hugs and the way they stood in clumps, silently, gave them away.
The Soldiers trickled out of the memorial for Sgt. Justin Wisniewski, paying their final respects in pairs, saluting, placing nametapes, cigarettes and dog tags at the boots and upright rifle with Wisniewski's photo before going outside to take some comfort in the presence of buddies.
"He was a unique guy. He always had a sense of humor – no matter what happened, he could make a remark that would take the tension out of the air and help everyone relax. He had a magnetic personality and had a way of drawing people to him. It was a blessing," said 1st Sgt. John Maniscalco, from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) out of Fort Drum, N.Y., about "Ski," as he was called.
"He led squads in multiple direct-fire engagements," said a visibly emotional Capt. Blake Keil, a native of Londonderry, N.H., and the commander of Btry. A, Wisniewski's unit. "He never questioned any mission or task .... when I was with him; I knew I had a very capable war fighter at my side."
His friends remember him as a funny, knowledgeable Soldier.
"There was never a dull moment with Ski," said Sgt. Ryan McDonald, a native of Antioch, Calif. "He was shy and quiet until he got to know you ... but around his friends, he was loud and funny and argumentative – he'd argue anything with anyone, just to argue."
McDonald recalled Wisniewski's fascination with the History and Discovery channels, his love of trivia, the fact that he claimed to have worn the same pair of jeans every day since the time he was a freshman in high school, his tendency to make up words.
"If we called him out on it and said, 'That's not a word!' he'd say 'Your face is a word'," McDonald said. But his funny side never got in the way of a mission.
"He expected the best of everyone, and if you didn't bring your best, he'd bring it out in you."
Chaplain (Capt.) Richard West, the 2-15 battalion chaplains, remembered Wisniewski arguing the superiority of the Mongol over the Roman empire.
"He'd argue for the sake of argument, all in fun but always with passion," said West.
Maniscalco seemed to sum up the battalion's feelings about their fallen comrade.
"If I could say one thing to him, it would be thanks for the time – thanks for the time I got to spend with you; thanks for the time I could call you one of my sergeants; thanks for the time you were able to tell people the positive side."
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2007 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 10529 |
| Location: | MAHMUDIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 337 |
| Downloads: | 179 |
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