Marines pause to remember three of their own

Photo By Cpl. Brian Reimers | Sgt. Daniel R. Gibbbons, assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, embraces the indentification tags of Cpl. Jared M, Shoemaker. Shoemaker was killed in action Sept. 4, while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Hundreds gathered at a memorial service held Sept. 16, at Camp Baharia to remember their fallen brother.  

CAMP BAHARIA, IRAQ

09.17.2006

Story by Cpl. Brian Reimers 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

By Cpl. Brian Reimers
Regimental Combat Team 5

CAMP BAHARIA, Iraq (Sept. 17, 2006) -- Marines and sailors recently paused to remember three fellow servicemembers at a memorial service held here.

Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas, Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher G. Walsh, were killed in action Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. The three servicemembers were assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5.

"Jared, Eric, and Chris were brothers to the officers and Marines of Weapons Company," said 35-year-old Maj. Craig R. Abele, commanding officer of Weapons Company. "The company had grown to love them not only as warriors, but as men."

Twenty-one-year-old Valdepenas was remembered as the quiet Marine in the group, but always a professional. His closest friends knew him as one to instantly lend a hand and help ease any situation.

"In this world there are givers and there are takers; Val was always a giver," said Lance Cpl. Daniel Barthelemy, a 22-year-old machine gunner from Windham, N.H. "When anyone needed anything, Val was the first to jump up and help out. Val could always make us laugh. Even when I was packing his possessions to send home I would come across something that would put a smile on my face."

Walsh, 30, was a St. Louis firefighter as well as a Navy corpsman. Marines and service members he served with knew "Doc" as rough on the outside, but one who truly cared on the inside.

"I could not have been partnered with a better corpsman. HM2 Walsh embodied the true meaning of a fleet Marine Corps doc," said Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Edgar E. Gallego, a fellow corpsman from New York City. "He cared about and loved every single one of his Marines and he was always willing to do anything for them. Even if he was tired after a long patrol, he would be the first one to go up and ask if anybody needed any help."

• Date Taken: 09.17.2006
• Date Posted: 09.26.2006 13:18
• Story ID: 7833
• Location: CAMP BAHARIA, IQ