MNC-I Soldiers pay respects to Blackhawk crash victims

Photo By Spc. Beatrice Florescu | A Kazakhstan soldier, one of the many Coalition members representing Multi-National Corps-Iraq, pays his repect to the fallen Soldiers during a memorial service Jan. 26 at Camp Victory. The service honored five Soldiers who died in a helicopter crash north of Baghdad Jan. 20. (Photo by Spc. Beatrice Florescu-Vila Verde, Multi-National Corps-Iraq Public Affairs)  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.31.2007

Courtesy Story

28th Public Affairs Detachment

Spc. Beatrice Florescu
Multi-National Corps-Iraq Public Affairs

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Five Soldiers killed in a Blackhawk crash were honored at a memorial service Jan. 26 at Camp Victory.

Col. Brian D. Allgood, 46, command surgeon, Multi-National Corps-Iraq; Col. Paul M. Kelly, 46, chief, Reserve Component Division, MNC-I; Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, 47, senior Army National Guard enlisted advisor, Reserve Component Division, MNC-I; Sgt. 1st Class Floyd E. Lake, 44, logistics NCO, Reserve Component Division, MNC-I; and Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, 38, operations NCO, Reserve Component Division, MNC-I, died when the Blackhawk they were flying in crashed Jan. 20 north of Baghdad.

"We are here today to honor and pay tribute to five fallen comrades," said Lt. Col. Steven Torgerson, Multi-National Forces-Iraq deputy command chaplain. "Col. Allgood, Col. Kelly, Command Sgt. Maj. Gabbard, Sgt. 1st Class Everett, and Staff Sgt. Booker --all were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice while doing the job they love to do most. They were all professional Soldiers, inspirational leaders, loving spouses, caring parents and respected friends."

The ceremony opened with the national anthem, followed by an invocation from Torgerson. Maj. Paul Lippstock, MNC-I chaplain, led the attendees in a reading of the 23rd Psalm. Opening remarks from Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Gregory Maxton, Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Phantom, were followed by eulogies in honor of the fallen.

The ceremony concluded with a roll call and taps before attendees paid their final respects.

• Date Taken: 01.31.2007
• Date Posted: 01.31.2007 05:11
• Story ID: 9008
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ