Free Republic

‘Leaders’ Rest’ Dedicated to Memory of Fallen Iron Soldierby Spc. Chad D. Wilkerson, 372nd MPAD BAGHDAD, Iraq – Freedom Rest, the U.S. Army’s designated location for troop rest and recuperation in Baghdad, opened a new addition last month. Several Task Force 1st Armored Division brigade and battalion command leadership teams joined Brig. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, 1st Armored Division commander, and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, CJTF-7 commander, for the opening and dedication of the new facility. The building was dedicated to the memory of Pvt. Jonathan Falaniko, son of Command Sgt. Maj. Ioakimo Falaniko, 1st Armored Division’s engineer brigade...

Honor for son is teary surprise for command sergeant major

Sunday, December 28, 2003 Honor for son is teary surprise for command sergeant major By Ward Sanderson, Stars and StripesEuropean edition, Friday, December 26, 2003 Ward Sanderson / S&S Command Sgt. Major Ioakimo Falaniko of the 1st Armored Division Engineer Brigade, left, listens Tuesday as a section of the Freedom Rest soldier relaxation compound is named after his son. A soldier, center, and Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, assistant commander of the 1st Armored Division, look on. Falaniko's son, Jonathan, was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq on Oct. 27. BAGHDAD, Iraq — At the memorial service, the command sergeant...