Photo By Maj. Sean Delpech | Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Levi G. Maynard, senior enlisted advisor of the 310th...... read more read more
Subscribe
INDIANAPOLIS – Soldiers, leaders of the local community, veterans groups and family members joined to honour a fallen Soldier, May 16, 2015. The U.S. Army Reserve Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison was memorialized in the name of Spc. Luke P. Frist, a Lafayette, Ind., native, who died in 2004 during combat operations in Ar-Ramadi, Iraq.
The Army Reserve’s 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) hosted the memorialization ceremony and ribbon cutting for the official opening of the $48 million Army Reserve Center.
During his address to the crowd of more than 150 people, Brig. Gen. Michael Dillard, the commanding general of the 310th ESC, talked about the importance of honoring and remembering those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.
“It is truly an honor to remember brave Soldiers like Spc. Frist, and to be able to dedicate a permanent structure for the world to see,” said Dillard. “As Soldiers, civilians and others walk the hallways of this building, they will realize the dedication and the sacrifices of Spc. Frist that were necessary for our freedom and democracy.”
Col. Kurt F. Wagner, Director of Public Works (DPW), 88th Regional Support Command, Douglas "Doug" Gibbons, U.S. Amy Reserve Ambassador of the State of Indiana, Dean E. Jessup, mayor of the City of Lawrence, Indiana, and Dennis and Patti Frist, parents of Spc. Luke P. Frist, also spoke at the memorialization ceremony.
Spc. Luke P. Frist was a member of the 209th Quartermaster Company from Lafayette, Ind. who deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004. He was working as a petroleum specialist under the 209th QM Co., refueling Humvees and other military vehicles for the 101st Forward Support Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, when his convoy was attacked.
Frist was wounded when his fuel truck came under attack, 2 Jan. 2004, from an improvised explosive device (IED) followed by rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire near the city of Ar-Ramadi, Iraq.
The attack left him unconscious with burn wounds over 95% of his body. He was airlifted to Landstuhl, Germany and then to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where he died of his wounds on Jan. 5, 2004.
Spc. Frist received awards including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces reserve Medal with “M” Device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the Global war on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.
After the ceremony, Dillard said, “The ceremony was very emotional. The mission was to set this up and make sure the family felt proud of the Army, proud of their son, and proud of the organization he belonged to.”
Spc. Frist’s parents, Dennis and Patti Frist, along with several other family members, attended the ceremony, held in front of the new Army Reserve Center.
Dennis Frist spoke at the unveiling of the plaque bearing his son’s name. “Lucas chose to serve his country out of patriotism, the passion for discipline, and the comradery of being part of a team,” said Frist. “He trained and deployed with his unit, with his brothers and sisters in uniform. He performed his duties and believed in the mission they were conducting.”
“Luke was a common Soldier, but made an uncommon sacrifice,” said Frist.
Soldiers attending the ceremony understood the significance of the memorialization.
Sgt. 1st Class James L. Davis, Jr., G4 Transportation senior noncommissioned officer, 310th ESC, helped with the memorialization as an escort for members of the Frist family. Davis was deployed with Spc. Frist under the 209th Quartermaster Company.
“Preparation for the memorialization worked out really well,” said Davis. “The Soldiers stood tall, everybody seemed to understand the importance of the morning,”
“The chain of command did a great job in providing the family with what they needed,” Davis continued. “The family was very proud to have this building dedication for their son.”
“Frist had an affinity for the military” said Davis. “He would probably still be in today.”
“It’s something that every Soldier from now until they tear this building down will remember,” said Davis.
The new center was memorialized in Frist’s name after a nomination packet was submitted to the 88th RSC. The nomination process took months of preparation to complete, including coordination with the family and approval from the 88th RSC. The 310th ESC took the lead in completing the nomination process.
“This is an opportunity for us to remember the sacrifice of this citizen Soldier, to honor that sacrifice and also to honor his family for the sacrifice that they have given at the alter of liberty,” said Col. Robert G. Haste, Chief of Staff, 310th ESC. “We had a tremendous amount of support for this, not only from the military, but from the community as well.”
“It was really our honor to take the time to recognize Spc. Frist,” continued Haste, “who gave, as his father said, an uncommon sacrifice.”
The new Army Reserve Center is a 125,597-square-foot training facility that replaced the Pfc. William D. McGee, Jr. Fort Benjamin Harrison Army Reserve Center, constructed in 1973.
The 27-acre site will be used primarily for unit administration, classroom training, vehicle maintenance and equipment storage.
“One of the best facilities I have seen in the 30 years of my service,” said Haste, “it has a tremendous amount of potential to meet the current training need, and I believe the future training needs of the Army Reserve Soldier.”
“We have good administrative facilities, but there are also good training facilities here as well,” continued Haste. There’s a lot of potential in this building that will serve the Army Reserve not only today, but 10 or 20 years in the future.”
The center is home to Soldiers of more than 10 different units, including the 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) headquarters, 1/329th Regiment (OCT) of the 86th Training Division, the 300th Human Resources Company, the 3/100th Signal Battalion, the 350th Public Affairs Detachment, the 452nd Engineer Detachment (FEST-B), the 55th Medical Detachment (COSC), the 91st Legal Operations Detachment, the 932nd Forward Support Team, B Company, 801st Combat Support Hospital (CSH), and the 3rd Brigade, 94th Training Division.
The Luke P. Frist Army Reserve Centre is capable of serving up to 18 different units.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2015 18:52 |
| Story ID: | 164351 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Hometown: | LAFAYETTE, IN, US |
| Hometown: | LAWRENCE, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 793 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Memorialization of the Spc. Luke P. Frist Army Reserve Center at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., by MAJ Sean Delpech, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT