KIRKUK, Iraq -- Soldiers of 1st "Ready First" Combat Team, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas, gathered at the Mountain Warrior Gym, on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, in remembrance of Spc. Stanley John Sokolowski III, May 27.
Sokolowski, was a Human Intelligence Collector, with the HUMINT platoon, Alpha Company, 1-1 Special Troops Battalion, 1-1 AD, he was born in Ocean, New Jersey April 1, 1984, and died May 20 in Kirkuk of non-combat related injuries.
He enlisted in the Army, Aug. 14, 2007, attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
Chaplain (Capt.) John Lee, chaplain for 1-1 STB, began the ceremony with an invocation.
Following the invocation, Col. Patricia Sellers, commander of 1-1 STB, gave a speech expressing 1-1 STB's condolences to family and friends of Sokolowski.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Spc. Sokolowski, he was a caring, thoughtful and compassionate Soldier, said Sellers.
Captain David Hunter, commander of Alpha Company and Spc. Megan Green, a close friend and Soldier with Alpha Company then said their final goodbyes to Sokolowski.
"We lost a friend, Soldier and son, he will truly be missed," said Hunter.
After the speeches, the final roll call was done by, 1st Sgt. John Tucker, Alpha Company first sergeant, and then the 1-1 STB firing party rendered a 21-gun salute.
At the end of the ceremony Soldiers of Ready First stood in front of Sokolowski's "Battle Cross" rendered their final salutes and gave their last respects by placing tokens on the stand.
Sokolowski's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
He is survived by his father, Stanley Sokolowski II and mother, Christie Sokolowski.