With so many American troops giving up their lives in support on the War on Terror, would anyone be willing to share personal stories of a friend, family member, or acquaintance that has paid the ultimate price for freedom?
This weekend, I was on leave visiting my younger brother that will be heading over to Kuwait next week as a Security Force member in the Air Force when my older brother received a sad phone call. His partner's (Sheriff's Deputy office) brother-in-law was killed in Iraq.
Although I didn't know him, it saddened me to hear of the story of SPC Steven Jewell from Kinston, North Carolina and the circumstances surrounding his death. He was married to a Soldier (Lisa), he had a son (Will) and they were stationed in Alaska.
I've mentioned him before, but my good friend CPL Micheal Oremus was killed about 3 months into a deployment to Iraq. He was a great soldier, and I just couldn't believe that he was gone. Of all people... life is just way too short. He was 22, and engaged. He was from Highland, NY, near West Point.
Armyreenlistment - you broke the boards! How is this in every single forum?
SGT Maliepaard ======================= Human Resources Sergeant-ret ======================= My request of the community: Teach your Soldiers about all of their possible benefits and check their pay/LES!
Posts: 1557 | Location: Enroute to BAC and JFKSWC | Registered: 13 September 2003
Originally posted by Smittaayy: He was from Highland, NY, near West Point.
I am from Highland, NY ... I followed his story closely. LTG Lennox, Superintendent of USMA, attended the ceremony. This was the 3rd Soldier killed from the same area.
Bernard was a Soldier of the utmost caliber. He had a college degree but joined his country in the fight against terrorism. He loved heavy metal 80s bands, God, Catholicism, and interacting with people. Even though we were in civilian clothes and were on a first name basis, he couldn't bring himself to call me "Matthew." He always called me Sergeant even though we weren't supposed to give out ranks.
When the NCOIC of RC East in Afghanistan left the AO, I was thrust into the position...which meant being the overall authority for interrogation approvals in all of eastern Afghanistan. I was in charge of three other detention facilities besides my own.
Bernard was the only interrogator at FOB Ghazni (usually there are two in each facility but the other Soldier was in Bagram at the time) and was going outside the wire to conduct tactical questioning at a mosque in town. When there is only one interrogator, the interrogator is not supposed go on mission because he/she must stay at the facility in case a detainee arrives. I think what happened was he was pressured to leave the FOB by the local commander...but anyhow...
His infantry unit was attacked, and he volunteered/was asked nicely by the infantry commander to go along to conduct TQ in support of that mission. Usually the Tac HUMINT Team there would go but the commander didn't trust them and thought they were lazy.
So he went...and I had no idea. That is, until I got a call in the morning from my commander in Bagram asking if I had heard from him because on the SIGACTS they had saw an IED near Ghazni. I checked with our MED Officer and S3-Air element and confirmed that Bernard was inbound to our CSH via Blackhawk.
He landed and I helped take him off the bird. He was unconscious. We took him into the field hospital and the doctors went to work. They cut off his clothes and attempted to revive him but they never did figure out what his exact internal injury was. He never recovered. I watched him die right there after 45 minutes.
Usually when the MEDEVAC brings patients to the hospital, it keeps the rotors running and then takes them onto Bagram once they are stabilized. This time the helicopter left with the patient still in the hospital...it was the most devastating sound and event in my entire life. Every time I hear a helicopter I think of that moment and the look on the surgeon's face as he shook his head at one of the nurses.
If you go to the MySpace profile in my signature, and then go to my videos...I have a fallen comrades video from Afghanistan. He is about halfway through. I would love it if you watched it.
NOTE: I edited the post to make it more about the situation and not about the circumstances.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: 35M3LN7PF,
Originally posted by SGT Lovelace: I lost one of my best friends last year SSG Nathan Vacho 29 of Ladysmith WI. He was killed VIA IED 10 days into country.
Your name sounds familiar. Were we stationed together in Afghanistan?
In my second deployment to Iraq, we lost a soldier, SGT Coles, to an RPG attack. He was a gunner on an RG and was killed on Christmas Eve, a little more than a month after we had gotten into country. Five months later, we lost three more good soldiers, SSG Reinke, SPC Quinton, and PFC Lufkin. My first deployment my unit did not lose any soldiers, but the units we supported lost many, in 2 ACR 2 Squadron. I guess I've just been lucky to not have lost anyone in my company.
2 ACR APR03-JUL04 5th EN BN NOV05-NOV06
Posts: 368 | Location: Ft. Lewis | Registered: 16 June 2006
During OIFII, we lost one soldier SGT Bryant, just got promoted to SGT 2 weeks back from R&R died from an RPG because his gunner wasn't paying attention to his sector and he got a purple heart, this saddened me, because he was my mentor.
Posts: 4 | Location: FATC Ft Sill | Registered: 26 August 2007
The CSM for the brigade here where I am stationed his son was a PV2 11B strait outta Airborne school came here and deployed about 3 months later when the brigade deployed and so did his father the CSM well sad to say that his son was the first one killed in Afghanistan just 2 weeks after getting there. I felt for the CSM and his family since he was the one who got him to come here so the family can still be together son was only 19 years old.
in '03 Our BDE CSM ,1BCT 1stAD, who was in line for the Division Slot after the deployment went out on xmas eve on patrol and was killed by insurgents in an ambush. He was a true Soldier/Leader, leading from the front with his Troops. There wasn't a time, when he wasn't going around to the units, whether they were in his BDE or attached and talked to the Soldiers and looking after their welfare. Always teaching us to lead by example, he died doing what he preached. OutStanding Leader IMO.
1. E4 E5 2. F4 C6
Posts: 87 | Location: Fort Drum- Where it Never ever snows | Registered: 20 September 2007
I was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation:Iraqi Freedom 05-07 and we were on a convoy with the 1-502 101st and we had hit an IED. The vehicle lost control, the gunner was ejected, and ended up upside down in a drainage ditch. The security element didn't have enough soldiers with them to provide their own LZ security, let alone even call by themselves for dust off. So I (as an engineer) did this for them...
One of the soldiers was injured rather badly and lost both legs, at different parts. I remeber his battle buddies trying to encourage him but to no avail. I ended up staying with him until the bird arrived. I didn't know him personally but this was one of the worst personal experinces for me in Iraq (blood wise)
"wars come and go but soldiers stay eternal." Tupac Shakur
You know I think this whole thread needs to be deleted, if you want a story go there get our own, the first time I saw this topic I was like WTF???
Want a war story about someones buddy getting killed, just how messed up are you? Is your chair getting the best of you? Delete this THREAD>>>>>>>>>>>>
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