Fallen Soldier Honored at Ceremony

Photo By Spc. Benjamin Fox | Grasping the fallen hero's identification tags, a Soldier from 3-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division pays his respects to Cpl. Stephen Raderstorf during his memorial service at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda Jan. 10. Raderstorf was killed on Jan. 7 and is survived by his parents, James and Sharon Raderstorf.  

BALAD, IRAQ

01.10.2007

Courtesy Story

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

BALAD, Iraq – "I want to thank you for coming today to honor a great Soldier and friend," said Staff Sgt. John Guerrero, Company A, 3-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during a memorial ceremony for Cpl. Stephen Raderstorf at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda, Jan. 10.

Raderstorf was killed Jan. 7 and is survived by his parents, James and Sharon Raderstorf.

"I could go on and on how great a Soldier he was, but that would do him no justice," said Guerrero. "Not only was he an outstanding Soldier, but he was a great friend."

Spc. John Barber, said Raderstorf, was more than a friend to him.

"Raderstorf was more like a younger brother to me than a friend," said Barber.

Guerrero said Raderstorf was a self-sacrificing Soldier.

"He was the glue that held our squad together," said Guerrero. "He was the type of person who was willing to do anything and everything for his fellow Soldiers in the Wolf Pack."

"Cpl. Raderstorf has touched so many hearts in the time he was with us," Guerrero said.

"It's amazed me that someone that small in size could have such a huge heart and a huge impact on our lives," he said.

Raderstorf's company commander, Capt. William Enger, shared a story about his sense of humor.

"There is a board in the company command post where I write down the funniest quotes I have heard the men say during this deployment," said Enger. "Cpl. Raderstorf ... was the first one to make my board down in Kuwait."

Enger said the quote occurred during a squad live-fire exercise while he was in a hole in the sand near Raderstorf.

"I looked over at one of the teams through the blowing sand and I said, 'How are you guys doing over there?'" he said.

"One of the guys looked up at me, and he was just covered in sand," he said. "The sand had stuck to his (Army Combat Uniform) where he had sweat through them, it was stuck all over his face, and it was gummed up around his eye protection."

"He looked like a little sand rat," added Enger.

"Cpl. Raderstorf looked up at me and said, "Sir, Kuwait tastes like sand,'" said Enger. The quote was followed by a quick chuckle from those in the room.

"I couldn't help it," he said. "I started laughing. We were in the middle of a live-fire training event ... and I started laughing so hard my face cramped up."

"I want to remember Cpl. Raderstorf that way for the rest of my life," said Enger. "Laughing at the adversity."

Barber touched on his friend's character.

"He had respect for both his peers and his superiors," said Barber.

"Stephen went farther than most people his age that had the same opportunities," he said. "He did what others did not want to or lacked the courage to do."

"Raderstorf said, 'I'll do it. I'll do what others are scared to do. I'll stand up; I'll protect the country; I'll defend the Constitution,'" said Barber.

"Like men of the past, he shed his blood, his sweat and his tears, and our country was founded on men's shoulders such as his," he said.

"Above all else, Steve was an infantryman -- selfless, all heart," said Barber. "He took it all, then he asked for more.

"He'd stand there in hot, cold, rain, snow and wind," said Barber. "He never asked or expected thanks for his hard work."

Enger ended his speech testifying to Raderstorf's humbleness.

"I know that if he was here right now, he would probably be a little embarrassed about the production of this ceremony, wearing that little smile he always had," said Enger. "But Raderstorf, if you're looking down right now, I want you know deserve every second of it."

"So long as there is one 'Assassin' left, Cpl. Raderstorf, you will never be forgotten," ended Enger.

"Let us thank God for the time that he gave us with Stephen," said Guerrero.

"He changed my life and I learned valuable lessons from him," said Barber, "Through the good times and the bad, I will never forget him."

• Date Taken: 01.10.2007
• Date Posted: 01.17.2007 10:18
• Story ID: 8827
• Location: BALAD, IQ