Posted on 05/01/2010 10:54:34 AM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD – In October 2005, Company B of the Ohio-based 612th Engineer Battalion lost one of its own when 20-year-old Sgt. Jeremy Hodge, from Rushylvania, Ohio, was killed in action when an IED detonated near his humvee during a mission here.
"Soldiers with the 1434th Engineer Company build a border to protect the “Hodge Hall” sign on its trip back to the States to be presented to the family of Sgt. Jeremy Hodge, a member of the 612th Engineer Battalion killed in action here by an IED in October 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan George."
Over the past several years, the Task Force Iron Claw Academy has been conducting classes inside of a schoolhouse at Camp Liberty named "Hodge Hall," in memory of their fallen sergeant.
Appropriately, TFICA was responsible for training U.S. and Iraqi Security Forces how to identify and safely respond to IEDs that are discovered on route clearance missions.
As drawdown plans continue and the ISF is now capable of executing independent route-clearance missions, TFICA has closed its doors and the sign proclaiming it as Hodge Hall has been taken down; eventually to be presented to Hodge’s family.
"I think it is important to honor him and his sacrifice," said 1st Lt. Craig Smith, former officer in charge of TFICA. "It also sent a clear message to the students, that they have a very tough and dangerous mission, and they had better take it seriously."
Smith is honored to be presenting the sign to the Hodge Family.
"The Hodge's had to bear what no parent should have to,” he said. “I would hope that they realize that Jeremy has not been forgotten, nor the sacrifice that he made. Every U.S. Soldier that came through TFICA saw that sign and learned about Jeremy."
"The “Hodge Hall” sign, recently removed from the Task Force Iron Claw Academy at Camp Liberty, stands refurbished and ready for its trip to Ohio where the 16th Engineer Brigade will present it to the family of Sgt. Jeremy Hodge, a member of the 612th Engineer Battalion killed in action here in October 2005. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Dan George."
Col. Robert Phillips, the commander of the 612th EB at the time of Hodge's death, has deployed to Iraq again as chief of staff for the 16th Engineer Brigade.
"It was nice to see that after five years Hodge Hall was still being used," said Phillips.
The Soldiers who were responsible for the removal and preservation of the Hodge Hall sign were keenly aware of its meaning and where the sign was headed.
"It was an honor to be able to have a part in getting the sign down," said Spc. Scott Vaughan, of Belding, Mich.
Once the 16th EB completes its deployment, the sign will leave Iraq and be presented to Hodges' mother and step-father, Michelle and Steve Norris, during a fallen Soldier memorial service.
The idea for the personal exchange was suggested by Brig. Gen. Glenn C. Hammond III, the current commander of the 16th EB.
"We're giving the family a memorial that they can put up somewhere … It is an honor to take the sign home with us when we leave here," Hammond said.
Hodge Hall may no longer display Sgt. Jeremy Hodge's name, but his legacy will continue on in the hearts and minds of the Soldiers who followed in his footsteps.
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