Fallen Artillerymen Remembered, Honored

Defend America ^ | May 13, 2004 | U.S. Army Sgt. Shauna McRoberts - 1st Armored Division

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Fallen Artillerymen Remembered, Honored   By U.S. Army Sgt. Shauna McRoberts 1st Armored Division BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 13, 2004 -— Eight 1st Armored Division soldiers were honored May 2 in a memorial service at Striker Forward Operating Base on Baghdad International Airport. The soldiers honored were: Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson Jr., of Ridgeland, S.C. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, of Columbus, Miss. Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell, of Kirkville, Md. Spc. James L. Beckstrand, of Clarksville, Tenn. Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, of Bagley, Minn. Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, of Colorado Springs, Colo. Pfc. Norman Darling, of Jamaica Pvt. Jeremy R. Ewing, of Miami, Fla. The eight soldiers, all assigned to Battery C, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, died April 29 in Al-Mahmudiyah, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near them. They were providing dismounted security for Task Force Iron Claw, a operation to clear improvised explosives devices from Iraqi roads, when they were killed. “These courageous young men, who lived and fought with such passion over the past year, fell while doing their mission,” said Capt. Jim Hickman, Battery C, 4-27 FA, commander. “These men were heroes and they will never be forgotten.” During the memorial service, leaders and fellow soldiers shared stories with a gathering of more than 100 people which included representatives from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team and Division Artillery Combat Team.

Col. Ralph O. Baker, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander, renders honors to eight fallen soldiers at a memorial service held May 2 at Striker Forward Operating Base on Baghdad International Airport. The soldiers, all part of Battery C, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, were killed April 29 in a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Shauna McRoberts The eight fallen men were remembered as strong soldiers who were dedicated to their duty and their brothers in arms. “These men did everything right,” said Lt. Col. Brian McKiernan, 4-27 FA commander. “They never complained and they understood how much was at stake. They understood that this was their duty. They were proud sons, loving husbands, doting fathers and faithful brothers. They were soldiers, America’s finest.” McKiernan and Hickman stressed the importance of continuing the fight against terrorism. “These (terrorists) do not understand nor do they value the principles of freedom and human rights,” said McKiernan. “If anyone should forget why we are here, why these soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, let me remind you, we are fighting a global war on terrorism.” “The deaths of our friends and fellow soldiers will not go in vain,” said Hickman. “We will honor them by keeping up the fight against terrorism.” Patterson, Dayton, Campbell, Beckstrand, Schmidt, Reed, Darling and Ewing were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals.

[syriacus]

"Greater love than this, no man hath"

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

  ~   *   ~  

 

 

 

* Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson, Jr., 25, Ridgeland, S.C.*

  * Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, 27, Caledonia, Miss.*

 * Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell, 25,  Kirksville, Mo.*

* Spc. James L. Beckstrand, 27,  Escondido, Calif.*

 * Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, 23,  Bradenton, Fla.*

* Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, 20, Colorado Springs, Colo.*

* Pfc. Norman Darling, 29,  Middleboro, Mass.*

 * Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, 22,  Miami, Fla.*

~ * ~

  
~ * ~

 

 

[Soaring Feather]

[SLB]

Ping to you.

[Darksheare]

FAMPL ping.

Artilleryman fallen in battle, honored.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the ping Darksheare. God bless them all.

[Darksheare]

Welcome.
The only thing I know of to personally honor fallen 13B's would be to fire a howitzer 8 times, then play 'Taps'.
I haven't any words personally that would make sense.

"End of Mission" (artillery speak.)

[nicko]

raise your glass, mate, to the honor of St. Barbara...hail, hail, Queen of Battle...Artillery...God bless the Redlegs...

[Miss Marple]

Prayers for all their families. May God comfort them in their grief, and may they be proud of the sacrifice their loved ones gave. God bless them all.

[Poodlebrain]

There is nothing more disappointing about their deaths than the simple fact that these 13B's were not manning a cannon delivering fire onto the enemy.

God Bless them for their sacrifice.

[SAMWolf]

Redleg Bump

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

TAPS

Day is done,
gone to the  sun

 from the lakes, from the hills,
from the sky.

All  is  well, safely rest.
God is high.

Thanks  and  praise,
 for our days

'neath the sun, 'neath the stars,
'neath the sky,

As we go, this we know,
God is nigh.

~  ~ 

 

 

God bless our troops. 

 

 

 

      

 

 

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank God for our heroes and their loved ones!

[windchime]

Prayers for the families and friends of these eight brave soldiers.

[Justa]

4/27 is 13M, MLRS. The unit is well respected among 13Ms.

[SandRat]

[blackie]

God Bless our fallen heros ~ you will not be fogotten!

[amom]

Remembered, honored, and prayed for.


bttt for our fallen heros.

[I got the rope]

Thank you...

* Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson, Jr.

* Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton

* Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell

* Spc. James L. Beckstrand

* Spc. Justin B. Schmidt

* Pfc. Ryan E. Reed

* Pfc. Norman Darling

* Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo Ewing

Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for giving me the chance to live my life in Freedom. Thank you for protecting
my family and for serving. You will not be forgotten by me or FreeRepublic.

Prayers for the family.