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Big Red One Gives 'Soldier' 20-Year Career In Two Days
(April 24, 2011) | 
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Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ian
Field, 7, stands with his squad during a
farewell award ceremony April 15, 2011, at
Barlow Theater on Fort Riley, Kan. The Soldiers
of the 1st Infantry Division worked with the
Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant Ian's wish to
become a Soldier. Ian is currently battling
Duchenne muscular dystrophy. |
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FORT RILEY, Kan., April 15, 2011 (ANS) -- The
Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry
Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
stood tall April 15, as the 1st Infantry
Division's newest command sergeant major
strolled into Barlow Theater on Fort Riley.
All eyes were locked forward as Command Sgt.
Maj. Ian Field ascended the stairs to the
theater's stage and turned to face his unit.
With a small smile playing around the corners of
his mouth, Ian quietly told the Soldiers
standing before him to take their seats and, in
a wave, every one sat down.
It may have
been the first time in history that a group of
tough, battle-tested infantrymen took orders
from a 7-year-old child.
The journey
that brought Ian to the 1st Infantry Division
began about two years ago when his parents,
Jason and Angelia Field, noticed their youngest
son didn't run like his siblings. A visit to
Ian's pediatrician kicked off a series of doctor
visits that eventually led to a diagnosis of
Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disorder that
involves rapidly worsening muscle weakness.
"He is in a wheel chair part time now but
eventually it will get to a point where he is in
a wheel chair full time," Jason said.
Following the diagnosis, the Field family was
contacted by |
representatives from the
Make-A-Wish Foundation
inquiring about what they could do to help make
a wish come true for Ian. Jason said his son's
immediate response was that he wanted to be a
Soldier.
Eventually, word of Ian's
desire to be a Soldier reached the 1st Infantry
Division and Col. Joseph Wawro, 4th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team commander.
"Ian
could have wished to see Mickey Mouse, he could
have wished to see an astronaut, he could have
wished to see or be anything and his wish was to
be a Soldier," Wawro said.
Soon, Wawro's
Soldiers in 1st Bn., 28th Inf. Regt., were busy
trying to figure out how to turn a 7-year-old
boy into an American Soldier in just two days.
"We wanted to capture the total Army
experience in two days so we scheduled events
where Ian would get the badges and awards
Soldiers earn during a 20 year career," 1st Sgt.
Brandon McGuire said. |
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Army Col. Joseph Wawro, 4th
Infantry Combat Brigade commander, enlists Ian
Field, 7, with the help of Army 1st Sgt. Brandon
McGuire, during a ceremony April 14, 2011, in
front of 1st Infantry Division headquarters. |
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Ian's two day Soldier experience kicked
off April 14, with an early morning enlistment
and promotion ceremony in front of 1st Infantry
Division headquarters. Surrounded by his
parents, his brothers, Austin, 15, Carson, 12,
and his sister, Savanna, 9, Ian raised his right
hand and committed himself to the United States
Army. Now an official Soldier, Ian was promoted
to private 1st class and introduced to his
squad, the men he would be training, eating and
living with for the next two days.
"Ian's day is now, his time is now and we are
proud to help make his wish come true," Wawro
said as he sent the newest 4th IBCT Soldier out
to train with his Black Lion squad.
During his two days with the Black Lions, |
Ian participated in the many activities that
help prepare America's fighting men and women
for battle. On the first day, Ian tossed
grenades, shot a variety of weapons, fired a
Howitzer, saved a wounded comrade on the
battlefield, rappelled down a wall, rode in a
Humvee through a simulated battle, arrested a
bad guy and earned a lot of bragging rights as
he beat his fellow Soldiers in a game of Call of
Duty - Black Ops during a night at the barracks.
"It was amazing to see Ian light up on
things that we do every day," Ian's squad
leader, McGuire, said.
Although bad
weather threatened to derail plans on the second
day, Ian proved he was as tough as his comrades
as he Soldiered on through rain and sleet and
heavy winds to fly a UH-60 Black Hawk simulator
and drive a tank before attending his farewell
award ceremony.
"I would like to thank
Jason and Angelia for entrusting us with their
treasure for the past 48 hours," Wawro said as
he wrapped up Ian's farewell. "It has been our
honor and privilege to have this young man,
Command Sgt. Maj. Ian Field, in our ranks and
our formation."
Throughout his visit, Ian
had the opportunity to see just how many "Army
things" his fellow Soldiers excel at - shooting,
driving, flying, navigating and taking care of
their buddies; but that's not all that the 1st
Infantry Division troops do well.
While
they may not look much like leprechauns or
genies, Big Red One Soldiers are also pretty
good at granting wishes, according to Ian's
parents.
"They treated us like royalty,"
Jason said. "We are so grateful."
The
Soldiers who had the opportunity to spend time
with Ian during his rapid accession through the
ranks seem equally grateful for the experience.
"When I first learned that Ian's one
wish above all else was to be a Soldier I was
truly humbled," said Lt. Col. Peter Shull, 1st
Bn., 28th Inf. Regt. "I hope that the last two
days made his wish come true."
Pfc.
Devin Thacker, a member of Ian's squad, said he
considers April 14-15 two of his best days in
the Army.
"Ian is a great kid and we got
to do a lot of fun stuff with him," Thacker
said. "I'm proud to have been part of making his
wish come true."
McGuire, Ian's constant
companion during the two day visit, said the
time he spent with his little charge reminded
him just how lucky he is to be able to serve his
country as a Soldier.
"Never again will
I complain about having to go to the field or
train in bad weather because there are people
like Ian who would give anything to be able to
do what I do every day," he said. "Ian reminded
a lot of us of something we tend to forget when
we get stuck in the daily grind of things. He
reminded us that Soldiers have the greatest job
in the world." |
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Article and photos by Mollie Miller
1st Infantry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2011
Reprinted from
Army News Service
See video >
9-Year Old CSM Ian Field Returns
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