Memorial Day: Honoring Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice for Freedom

Mansions of the Lord

To fallen soldiers let us sing,

Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing,

Our broken brothers let us bring

To the Mansions of the Lord.

No more bleeding, no more fight,

No prayers pleading through the night,

Just divine embrace, eternal light

In the Mansions of the Lord.

Where no mothers cry and no children weep,

We will stand and guard though the angels sleep,

All through the ages safely keep

The Mansions of the Lord.

For Tim, Tommy, Vince, Rich, Jeff , Matt, Jason , David

But We In It Shall Be Remember'd...

For these five... for these of Noah's brothers... they are all our sons... I wrote about them here... here.... here.... here.... here... and here...

Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and their friends.

SPC Jeffrey W. Corban, 30, of Elkhart, IN buried at Ft. Benning.

SPC Richard A. Hardy, 24, buried in Ohio.

SPC Thomas ("Tommy") H. Byrd, 21, buried in Tucson, AZ.

SPC Timothy D. Watkins , 24, buried in San Bernardino, CA.

SSG Vincent E. Summers, buried in Killeen, TX, the home of Fort Hood.

Velvet Hammer

I have written before that the Hammer Brigade (3BDE) of 3rd Infantry Division releases a "Velvet Hammer" notification when they lose one of their own. I knew (via Noah) a few days ago that Echo Company had another fallen Hero, but had to wait for the official notification before posting. Although he was not a personal friend of Noah's, he was familiar with the Sgt.

Noah said it made no difference that they were not personal friends, he was nonetheless his brother. Sgt. Dhanoolal's death brought back significant memories and that specific type of anxiety that Noah hasn't experienced in a while. We have talked about the unit's targeted redeployment date and as for Noah (and me), it can not get here fast enough (we have been there done that before... the waiting). Rest in Peace, Sgt.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Dayne D. Dhanoolal, 26, of Brooklyn, died March 31 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Damnit. Velvet Hammer

UPDATED:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died June 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their unit was attacked by insurgents using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Michael D. Moody Jr., 31, of Richmond, Va.

Sgt. Chris Davis, 35, of Lubbock, Texas.

Pvt. Shane M. Stinson, 23, of Fullerton, Calif.

Rest in Peace, you good and faithful servants.

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Noah's battalion/regiment has been in a comm blackout most of this past week (as they are now)... they have suffered some losses. Details when I'm certain the families have been notified. Please keep our soldiers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Other units of the BCT have suffered losses:

On the 24th of June I was notified by LTC Q (3rd Brigade Rear-Detachment Commander) that our Battalion has suffered the loss of a Soldier from D/1-15 Infantry. The Soldier lost his life while conducting combat operations in Iraq. The next of kin of our fallen Soldier have been notified. I ask you for your prayers for this Sledgehammer Soldier and his Family.

Respectfully, CPT M 1-15 Rear Detachment Commander

Three from the 1-15:
Sgt. Glenn D. Hicks Jr., 24, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Pfc. Jay-D H. Ornsby-Adkins, 21, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Pvt. Cole E. Spencer, 21, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Our 3ID family is mourning... and praying.

More Tears... Updated Updated

Update May 17, 2007:

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died May 14 in Salman Pak, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Killed were:
Sgt. Allen J. Dunckley, 25, of Yardley, Pa.
Sgt. Christopher N. Gonzalez, 25, of Winslow, Ariz.

Prayers for our fallen and for their families.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 09:29:54 -0400

Subject: Velvet Hammer

On the 14th of May I was notified by LTC Q (3rd Brigade Rear-Detachment Commander) that our Brigade has suffered the loss of two of our Soldiers from A/1-15 Infantry. The Soldiers lost their lives while conducting combat operations in Iraq.

The next of kin of our fallen soldiers have been notified. I ask you for your prayers for these Sledgehammer Soldiers and their families.

Respectfully, 1Lt JW

Our thoughts and prayers are also with the 10th Mountain Division and 31st Infantry Regiment family on the loss of their Heroes SFC Connell, SPC Courneya and PFC Murphy and on the continued search for their missing brothers.

DoD Announces Army Soldiers as Whereabouts Unknown

The Department of Defense announced today the identities of four soldiers listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They have been unaccounted for since May 12 in Al Taqa, Iraq, when their patrol was attacked by enemy forces using automatic fire and explosives. They are assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Reported as DUSTWUN are:

Sgt. Anthony J. Schober, 23, of Reno, Nev.
Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.
Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif.
Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and the incident is under investigation.

Copyright 2007 Some Soldier's Mom. All rights reserved.

Damnit. (Updated)

Update: May 1, 2007:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Apr. 28 in Salman Pak, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle was struck with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire during combat operations. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.
Killed were:
Sgt. Glenn D. Hicks Jr., 24, of College Station, Texas.
Pfc. Jay-D H. Ornsby-Adkins, 21, of Ione, Calif.
Pvt. Cole E. Spencer, 21, of Gays, Ill.

Rest in Peace you proud sons of America... her Heroes.

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Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:59:14 -0400
Subject: Velvet Hammer

On the 28th of April I was notified by LTC Q (3rd Brigade Rear-D Commander) that our Brigade has suffered the loss of three soldiers from D/1-15 Infantry. The soldiers lost their lives while conducting combat operations in Iraq. The next of kin of our fallen soldiers have been notified. I ask you for your prayers for these Sledgehammer soldiers and their families.

Respectfully,
1LT JW
RDC, 2-69AR, 3BCT
"Speed and Power"

Our prayers are with the families of these fallen soldiers. We will not forget.