MOSUL, Iraq - Sergeant 1st Class Richard Wilson, NCOIC, Tactical Psychological Operations Detachment 1280, answers more than one call to duty while he is deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"It's not my job, but then again, when a Soldier has fallen in the fight, I think he deserves the best that we can offer him," Wilson said.
In College, Wilson was a music education major. "Trumpet was my primary instrument. I lost 30 percent of my hearing in the First Gulf War [Operation Desert Storm], so I kind of stopped playing." he said.
As the years went on, he picked it up his trumpet again, at times, just for something fun to do. He said he has always enjoyed music.
One of Wilson's PsyOp duties is printing pamphlets to hand out to citizens of Iraq. However, sometimes his shop also prints memorial programs for the same memorial that he plays "Taps" for.
"If it takes time from my duties where I have to play taps to have a bugle there, to pay my respects, then it needs to happen." Wilson said.
"I can't think of anything more rewarding I've done in theatre. I've accomplished a lot of things with my Soldiers but this is the one memory I'll take home that means more to me than anything I've done in the service."
Asked about what it means to him to pay this honor. "It's the understanding that something is over, in the military, we understand that when we hear "Taps" at the end of the duty day it signifies completion and end." Wilson said. "At a memorial service, it is the last note; that's why it's so powerful."
| Date Taken: |
03.04.2006 |
| Date Posted: |
03.04.2006 14:14 |
| Story ID: |
5600 |
| Location: |
MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: |
214 |
| Downloads: |
96 |
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