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Family, Soldiers Honor Spc. Richardson
(April 14, 2011) | 
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Army
Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Phelps, a bugler with the 1st Cavalry Division Band, plays taps during the 15th Brigade Support Battalion's Memorial Ceremony for Spc. Justin Richardson on Fort Hood, Texas, April 7,
2011. Photo by Army Sgt. Quentin Johnson |
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FORT HOOD, Texas (4/11/2011) — Soldiers, civilians and family members
gathered together to mourn the loss of Spc. Justin Richardson at a
memorial service held in his honor, April 7.
Born in Bronx, N.Y., Richardson joined the Army in 2005;
completing advanced individual training as a heavy vehicle driver.
Following his graduation, Richardson was assigned to A Company, 15th
Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry
Division.
Richardson deployed with his
company to Iraq in October 2006 and was assigned to the gun truck and
transportation platoon where he provided secure ground escort to members
of the Department of State provincial reconstruction team and logistical
service support to numerous forward operating bases. |
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“He was a
leader and role model for others to follow,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Ruedi,
commander of 15th BSB. “He was the type of person everyone could count
on and always wanted to have on their team.”
“He was a larger
than life character with a big sense of humor,” explained Capt. Adam
Bradford, A Company commander. “One day he was accepting an award from
Lt. Col. Ruedi after our truck rodeo for being one of the best in the
company, and he got up in front of the formation and graciously thanked
his mother, father, wife and son. Then, literally, five minutes later he
completed his speech by thanking every person, place and thing in sight
of him at the time. I think he stopped at the tire iron he used in the
competition.”
“In fact, the only thing bigger about Rich than his
physique and his sense of humor was his heart,” he continued. “His heart
was bigger than New York City and it poured unconditional love for his
family and his fellow soldiers. He always put others before himself, and
his friendship between his brothers-in-arms was both genuine and
unshakeable, and that is how I will remember him.”
“He touched
everybody's life that he came in contact with,” said Sgt. Steve Martin,
a soldier who served with Richardson. “He knew how to make people happy
by entertaining them. He made people feel welcome and accepted.”
“He was truly an angel put on earth by God; he will always be with us in
spirit.”
Richardson's military awards include the Army
Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
Richardson is survived by his wife Kearsten; son, Justin Jr.; and mother
Sheryl Richardson. | |
By Army Spc. Justin A. Naylor
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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