‘Brave Rifles’ replace stolen award for family of deceased Soldier

Photo By Staff Sgt. Erik Warren | Col. Cameron Cantlon gave Garry Inman, the son of Capt. Rowdy Inman (deceased) a set of cavalry spurs after presenting the Inman family a replacement certificate of Rowdy’s admittance to the Order of the Combat Spur July 16, 2015, inside the 3rd Cav. Headquarters. The Inman family had the original certificate stolen.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

07.16.2015

Story by Maj. Vance Trenkel 

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

FORT HOOD, Texas – Today, 3rd Cavalry Regimental Commander, Col. Cameron Cantlon, replaced the “Order of the Combat Spur” certificate and spurs for the family of Capt. Rowdy Inman who died Dec. 26, 2007, in support of Operation Iraq Freedom. Rowdy’s wife, Shannon, and children Keeley and Gary were presented with the awards at the 3rd Cav Regimental Headquarters.

A few of Shannon Inman’s items were stolen from her business to include her deceased husband’s military awards.

“You stand amongst friends,” said Cantlon. “This is a small token, but it’s important, and the Brave Rifles are happy to help with anything we can.”

Cantlon was also in the regiment in 2007 at the time of Rowdy’s death and he remembers him fondly.

Rowdy was a cavalry troop commander for Ironhawk Troop of 3rd Squadron “Thunder” when he made the final sacrifice. Rowdy had been recalled from inactive ready reserve for the Brave Rifles’ 07-09 OIF deployment. He had already served a combat tour in Iraq at that time. The 1st Cavalry Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Michael Bills was serving as Rowdy’s regimental commander at the time of his death. Rowdy’s wife Shannon stated that Gen. Bills and his wife still reaches out to their family.

At the time of Rowdy’s death his daughter, Keeley was 7 and son, Gary, was 4. Both the children remember their father well and had visible emotions in their eyes when receiving the award.

Shannon had to pause when thanking the regiment for presenting her with the award.

“This is the first time we have been back here to Fort Hood since his name was dedicated,” said Shannon. Rowdy’s name and service information is forever engraved on the 3rd Cavalry Regiment OIF Memorial on Fort Hood.

Shannon invited members of the regiment to the first annual “Fun Run” being held for the “Rowdy Inman Memorial Scholarship” given to an Army cadet at Sam Houston State ROTC. Rowdy was an instructor there in 1999-2000. The date of the run is to be determined and will happen later this fall. Numerous members of the regiment plan on participating.

As well as presenting the award Col. Cantlon arranged to show the Inman family a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the same kind of vehicle that Rowdy commanded a company of.

Rowdy’s children were very young the last time they had seen a Bradley. Now that Gary is 12 and Keeley is 15 they may have a better understanding of what their dad did while he served in the 3rd Cav.

• Date Taken: 07.16.2015
• Date Posted: 07.20.2015 20:21
• Story ID: 170618
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: HARKER HEIGHTS, TX, US
• Hometown: KILLEEN, TX, US