Photo By Staff Sgt. Kevin Frazier | Coins and tokens of appreciation decorate a memorial for Pfc. Andrew Jonathan Sass,...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Kevin Frazier
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Speaker after speaker approached the podium staged in front of an audience of more than 200 Soldiers, family members, and friends.
Each in their own words described their memories of Pfc. Andrew Jonathan Sass, who was an automatic rifleman, with Company C assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division.
What formed from those words was a picture of a young man who was loved by many and will be missed by all.
“His great attributes to his country will never be forgotten,” said Pfc. Briar Buckley, an automatic rifleman, with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment. “Andrew will be missed not only as a phenomenal Soldier but also as a friend to many, a loving husband to his wife, and a caring father to his son.”
Sass was killed in a training accident at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. in June, and to remember and honor the life he led, Soldiers with the 2-2 SBCT held a memorial service, July 23, at the North Fort Chapel on JBLM, Wash.
The ceremony concluded with the Soldiers standing at attention during a military traditional roll call by 1st Sgt. Glenn Laney, first sergeant of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment.
“Private First Class Sass,” shouted Laney.
“Private First Class Andrew Sass.”
“Private First Class Andrew J. Sass.”
Laney got no reply.
A three-volley gun salute echoed from beyond the stained-glass windows that wrapped the sides of the chapel followed by a trumpeter playing Taps to render honor to Pfc. Sass.
As the speakers filed out, family members had a final moment with his monument. Command teams conducted a silent halt with the salute to a battlefield cross that included an M-16 rifle with Sass’s helmet placed on top and his dog tags hanging from the pistol grip and combat boots that sat below.
“The life of Pfc. Sass has ended but the memories and stories will always be cherished,” said Chaplain Bielefield, assigned to the 110th Chemical Battalion with 555th Engineer Brigade. “Some will wear his name on a hero bracelet and others will maintain that last photograph.”
Saying farewell to a fallen Soldier is never easy, but honoring their name and contribution to the legacy of defending freedom will forever live on.
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2014 20:05 |
| Story ID: | 137381 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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