Photo By Julie Frederick | Courtesy photo Leroy and Darlene Rath stand next to a plaque honoring their son Staff...... read more read more
Sgt. Christopher Bell, Staff Sgt. Joshua Bowden, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Alan Hall, Spc. Shawn “Ox” Muhr, Capt. Waid “Chip” Ramsey, Staff Sgt. Joshua Lee Rath and Lance Cpl. Cody A. Roberts died for their country.
Now their memory lives on every day at PMO Aircraft Survivability Equipment.
PMO ASE’s mission is to deliver technology to keep Soldiers safe when they’re carrying out their missions.
The group dedicated seven conference rooms in honor of the Soldiers during a ceremony for their family members Nov. 19.
“Gold Star families are integral members to the Army – having made the ultimate sacrifice,” Col. Kevin Chaney said. “This ceremony is in dedication to several local heroes and their families. It is a small token of remembrance and preserves the legacy of these Soldiers.”
Each family received a replica plaque like the one that hangs in each of the seven conference rooms, which was followed by a brief tour of the rooms.
“Each and every day when they walk into these conference rooms, really to take on some of the toughest problems to secure our nation’s security, they will be honoring the memory of your loved ones,” Brig. Gen. Robert Collins said.
It was a special moment for families. Darlene Rath, who was there with her husband Leroy, shared a story about her son Joshua.
“When I ran across Joshua’s old high school papers, the teachers would make them write journals, and they would have them write their three wishes,” Rath said. “Maybe, three or more times, I found papers with Josh’s wishes. They were always similar. He wished he could fly, and now he’s involved in this whole aviation thing, and to honor him, it’s so wonderful.
“He’s not going to be forgotten.”
PMO Aircraft Survivability Equipment provided the following information about the fallen service members for whom seven conference rooms were dedicated:
Sgt. Christopher Bell
“Sgt. Christopher Bell was with the 164th Military Police Company, 793rd Military Police Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade when an improvised explosive device detonated on June 4, 2011 outside Khanda Village, Laghman Province, Afghanistan. He was one of four military police officers from the 164th Military Police Company killed.
“Christopher was born in Saint Joseph, Michigan, on Jan. 5, 1990, and joined the Army in 2008. He served as a team leader, gunner, driver and military police patrolman with the 164th. His goal was to work hard and make a difference. His commander described him as being a ‘disciplined and determined problem solver and critical thinker. … He never deviated from a standard.’”
Staff Sgt. Joshua Bowden
“Staff Sgt. Joshua ‘Josh’ James Bowden was assigned to the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), 242nd Ordnance Battalion and 748th Ordnance Company in Fort Carson, Colorado. He was born Aug. 9, 1985, in Lithia Springs, Georgia, and passed away Aug. 31, 2013, at age 28 from injuries sustained while serving his country on his second deployment in Afghanistan.
“His awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, Purple Heart, Joint Defense Meritorious Service Medal, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.”
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Alan Hall
“Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Alan Hall was born to be a Soldier and a leader. At the age of 3, he began wearing his camo and playing Army. Immediately out of high school, he joined the Army, and in the short span of eight years, he rose to the rank of staff sergeant. He was a squad leader with the 2-87th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division serving in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was only 28 years of age.
“The day of his death, Staff Sgt. Hall was doing what he loved, surrounded by those who had the utmost respect for him, his fellow Soldiers. When commanded to patrol a nearby village, he voluntarily moved his vehicle to the front of the platoon formation because ‘Rangers lead the way.’ An improvised explosive device was detonated remotely by the enemy underneath his vehicle. Staff Sgt. Hall and two of his fellow Soldiers were killed instantly, and another was critically injured.”
Spc. Shawn “Ox” Muhr
“Spc. Shawn Muhr, 26, of Coon Rapids, Iowa, was a truck driver in the 546th Transportation Company, 330th Transportation Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Spc. Muhr had been in the Army for six years when he died Jan. 29, 2011, when his military truck was struck by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
“Shawn was a 2003 graduate of Coon Rapids-Bayard High School, where he wrestled and played football. He placed sixth in his weight class in the 2003 state wrestling tournament, and he held a school record for pins. Despite being 6-foot-2 and weighing more than 200 pounds, Spc. Muhr was known as an easygoing person who enjoyed a good laugh. He had found his niche in the military and was happy serving his country.”
Capt. Waid “Chip” Ramsey
“Capt. Waid “Chip” Ramsey, of Hampton Cove, was in the Alabama Army National Guard assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Birmingham.
“He was killed in Afghanistan, on Aug. 4, 2011, from wounds suffered when his unit was attacked in the Paktika province with small arms fire.
“Chip joined the Army when he was 18 after graduating from high school in Red Bay. He spent nearly 20 years in uniform as both an active duty and Guard Soldier. Capt. Ramsey was also an employee at SAIC in Huntsville.
“Capt. Ramsey was an amazing person who constantly had a smile on his face and truly lived life to the fullest. He loved to make others laugh through pranks and was a wonderful father who loved his kids.”
Staff Sgt. Joshua Lee Rath
“Staff Sgt. Joshua Lee Rath became a staff sergeant relatively early in his Army career. He was a strong leader who led by example and fostered a team spirit. He was never harsh with those under his command, but instead, he generated attitudes of respect and cooperation. While stationed in Maiwand, within the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, he was killed by a suicide bomber.
“Joshua’s love for the Army stemmed from his competitive nature. He enjoyed a challenge. He would endlessly set goals to better himself, taking pride in getting stronger, faster and developing new skills.
“Besides loving a good challenge, Joshua adored his family. As a teen, his mom would wait up each night with a cup of chocolate chip ice cream so that she could hear his excursions with friends. Whenever something needed fixing, he could be found helping out his dad around the house. He also loved his siblings and was very close with each of them.”
Lance Cpl. Cody A. Roberts
“Lance Cpl. Cody A. Roberts was a rifleman in the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward who died in combat Aug. 31, 2010, while defending the nation that he loved. Cody embodied the true spirit of the Marine Corps, believing entirely in his God, family and country. The three values he lived for, he ultimately died for.
“Cody loved playing and watching football. His hometown college team, the Boise State University Broncos, was his favorite team. He also enjoyed camping, swimming, and dancing the night away with friends. More than anything, he loved his wife and son and looked forward to spending every moment with them.”
| Date Taken: | 11.27.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2019 16:12 |
| Story ID: | 353839 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Seven conference rooms dedicated to fallen troops, by Jonathan Stinson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
