By Sgt. Jorge Gomez
2nd BCT PAO, 4ID
FOB KALSU, Iraq " Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, mourned the death of two Soldiers in a memorial ceremony Dec. 29.
The memorial honored Pvt. Joshua Morberg, 20, from Sparks, Nev., and Spc. Lance Sage, 26, from Hempstead, N.Y., who were killed by improvised explosive devices during combat operations Dec. 27.
Their deaths mark the brigade's first loss since its arrival in Iraq early December.
With the intent to the disrupt terrorist activity in the area of operation, the battalion's Soldiers carried on the mission alongside their Iraqi partners in spite of the setback, said Lt. Col. James Howard, commander, 2-8 Inf.
"We continued to clear our objectives and then began an orderly exfiltration. This is exactly how we will handle our loss of two fine men and how we will pay tribute to them," Howard said. "We will continue the mission, committed to our objectives and to our end state, without wavering."
The Soldiers shared many outstanding qualities, said Capt. Ralph Overland, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-8 Inf. "They were the best our country has to offer. They always gave 100 percent without a complaint. They were tough. They were disciplined. And most of all, they lifted our spirits in the darkest of days," Overland said.
Overland described Morberg as a Soldier who loved being a scout and who was always positive about what he was doing and where he was going. His (Morberg's) teammates liked him because he was a good listener, easy going, and had a great sense of humor, but most of all "because he cared for them."
The company commander described Sage as very smart, especially with computers. He said that he liked imitating people, especially Sgt. 1st Class Michael Mancuso, scout platoon sergeant, HHC, 2-8 Inf. But after his time in the HHC training room, the "first sergeant and I sent him back to the scouts because we knew he needed them as much as they needed him for this mission."
"We did not lose Sage and Morberg. They will be with us throughout our mission. They will give us strength, and they will watch over us."
Overland said the best way to honor Sage, Morberg and their families is to pick each other up and to accomplish 'this complex mission together as a team. We owe that to them."