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 COMBAT
OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan – On a sunny, somber
Saturday morning in Afghanistan, more than 100
servicemembers gathered to pay their final respects to Cpl.
Daniel L. Linnabary II, a fallen brother, during a memorial
ceremony in the sweltering Afghanistan sunlight, Sept. 1.
During the ceremony, Marines constructed a battlefield
cross, which consisted of a Kevlar helmet with
identification tags to signify they will never forget
Linnabary; an upside down rifle with a bayonet signifying a
time of prayer and a break in action to pay tribute; and a
pair of boots signifying this was Linnabary's last march.
Linnabary, 23, from Hubert, N.C., was a tank gunner with
2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, when he was
killed Aug. 6, while conducting combat operations in Now Zad
District. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
During the ceremony, commanders and friends spoke of the man
and Marine Linnabary was and what they would remember most
about him.
“Losing someone is never easy. Losing Cpl.
Linnabary makes that task even tougher,” said Staff Sgt.
John Kramer, the platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon. “Most of
you considered Cpl. Linnabary a friend, to me though, he is
my son. I would ask that everyone here keep Daniel Linnabary
in your hearts and minds, and keep his family in your
prayers.”
During the ceremony, Lance Cpl. Nicholas
Matareese, tank gunner, 2nd Platoon, reminisced about his
time spent with Linnabary.
“Every Marine here has a
mentor that took them under their wing and taught them
everything they know. Cpl. Linnabary did that for me,”
Matareese said. “He was someone who always loved the Marine
Corps more than anyone I've ever known. He was a great
Marine, an amazing tanker and there is no one I'm more proud
to call my best friend.”
First Lt. James Nash, the
platoon commander of 2nd Platoon, also spoke during the
ceremony.
“If Cpl. Linnabary's parents were here,
they'd say that he was a good son, and they'd say that he
was a great Marine,” Nash said. “He was loyal, and they'd
say his second greatest pride after his daughter, is his
service in the Marine Corps. Cpl. Linnabary was a good
Marine, he was a great tanker, an excellent gunner, and he
was an inspiring leader. I respected him as a man, and I
loved him as a brother. Cpl. Linnabary believed in heroes,
he believed in the Marine Corps fighting for freedom. As a
favor to him, we can continue that fight for the future of
his daughter.”
More photos available in frame below
Video >
Marines Honor Fallen Comrade Cpl.
Daniel Linnabary II
By USMC Cpl. Mark Garcia
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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