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Alpha Company, 1/23 Reflects On Fallen Brothers
(June 4, 2011) | 
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan (5/22/2011) - Marines
and sailors of 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, and Regimental Combat
Team 8, paused to remember the lives of Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith and
Navy Seaman Benjamin Rast, May 22. |
Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith |
Navy Seaman Benjamin Rast |
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Smith and Rast were killed
in action April 6 while conducting a dismounted patrol in Helmand
province, Afghanistan. Smith was 26 and from Arlington, Texas. Rast
was 23, and from Niles, Mich.
During the ceremony, many
Marines and sailors came forward to talk about the impact the fallen
had played in their lives. Smith, a platoon sergeant for 2nd
Platoon, Company A, 1/23, was remembered for his love of riding
motorcycles, his vast collection of music and his stern scowl and
how he could turn it into a smile and light up a room in an instant.
“You always felt safe having him fighting next to you,” said
Sgt. Jared Hammonds, a squad leader for 2nd Plt. “No matter what
happened, you could rely on him to keep everyone calm and
collected.” |
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“He was a pure patriot; an unapologetic warrior,”
said 2nd Lt. Christopher Huff, 2nd Platoon commander. “He wasn't
just a platoon sergeant. He was a mentor, leader and friend. I miss
him very much.”
Rast, a hospital corpsman for 2nd Plt., was
known for his large build, humor and fearless nature.
“I
remember thinking, if any of us were to get injured, he would just
heave us onto his shoulders and carry us out; possibly two at a
time,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Gil, a rifleman with 2nd Plt.
“Doc Rast was a guy that could make you laugh no matter the
situation,” said Sgt. Apolinar Valdez, a squad leader for 2nd
Platoon. "He wanted no more than to deploy with a platoon of grunts
and serve his country.
“He was always eager to help his
Marines to carry gear or ammo...to a point where we had to remind him
he was a corpsman,” added Valdez.
Following the ceremony,
those in attendance paid their individual respects to the fallen.
With a slight rub of the identification tags, a silent prayer or
short touch of the helmet each made their way in front of the
battlefield memorial to say a final
good bye to their fallen brothers.
By USMC SSgt. Ryan Smith
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2011
Provided
through DVIDS
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ORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II,
Afghanistan - With other troops waiting to pay their
respectis, Marine Cpl. Levi Pope pauses in a moment of
reflection in front of the battlefield memorials for Staff
Sgt. Jeremy Smith and Seaman Benjamin Rast on May 22, 2011. Photo by USMC SSgt. Ryan Smith |
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