‘Cacti’ honors fallen leader with memorial workout

Photo By Staff Sgt. Patrick Kirby | Spc. Patrick Shane Yother, assigned to 2-35th Inf. Regt., 3rd BCT, 25th ID, performs a burpee/pull-up during the 4th Annual 2nd Lt. Clovis Ray Hero Workout Competition at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 15, 2016. The competition was to honor Ray who lost his life while deployed with 2-35th Inf. Regt. in Afghanistan on March 15, 2012. (Photo by Spc. Patrick Kirby, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division)  

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, UNITED STATES

03.15.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Armando Limon 

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — The “Cacti” of 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Inf. Division, honored one of their fallen Soldiers, 2nd Lt. Clovis Ray, with a memorial workout at Quad C, here, March 15.

Ray was a platoon leader assigned to Cacti’s “Gundog” Delta Company when he was killed in action in Afghanistan, March 15, 2012.

The battalion honored his memory with its 4th annual “2nd Lt. Clovis Ray Hero Workout Competition,” which consists of a 10-mile run and 150 burpee/pull-ups.

“The run and pull-ups can be accomplished in a variety of ways,” explained Capt. Christian Peralta, a platoon leader assigned to Co. D, 2-35th Inf. Regt., and the competition’s organizer. Soldiers could participate in any of the three categories, which consisted of single competitors, or as teams of two or three.

“(Ray) was an amazing father, leader and person.” Peralta said. “When he was going through basic officer course, after being in the field for a week, he would run an insane amount of miles after a grueling week in the field. He was extremely fit, from what his friends told me. He often had no problem lifting up morale.”

Ray had a passion for running. He would run 10 miles or more around the guarded interior perimeter of Forward Observation Base Blessing, Peralta said.

One of the participants present who served with Ray in Afghanistan, Staff Sgt. Richelieu Faldherbe, a squad leader assigned to Co. C, 1-27th, returned to pay his respects and honor him.

“He was (killed in action) while on a patrol doing left-right seat with the new incoming unit,” Faldherbe said. “He wasn’t there with us for a long period of time, but he was one of the best (platoon leaders) that we ever had.”

Faldherbe stated that he participated in the first memorial workout in 2013 and attempted to go to every one until he had a permanent change of station at Fort Riley, Kansas. He later returned to the 25th ID again to participate for another year.

“This means a lot to me, and I know it means a lot to Team Gundog,” Faldherbe said. “Some of us can’t be here today, with many who left the Army or changed duty stations, but I know if they were here they’d participate to honor his memory.”

Former Cacti and Gundogs continue to honor his memory at duty stations across the country.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2016
• Date Posted: 04.01.2016 21:10
• Story ID: 194152
• Location: SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, US