Tiger Brigade Soldiers Run to Honor Fallen Comrade
(June 9, 2010) |
|
|
Louisiana National Guard Soldiers with the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Shreveport, La., pose after the 36th Sustainment Brigade's Texas Memorial 10k on Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, on May 30,
2010. Louisiana's Cavalry Squadron is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. |
|
COB Adder, Iraq (June 5, 2010)
– The day before Memorial Day, Louisiana
National Guardsmen with the 256th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, 13th Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary), deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom at Contingency Operating
Base Adder, ran with heavy hearts in honor of a
fallen comrade.
Thirty Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry
Regiment, headquartered in Shreveport, La.; the
1-141st Field Artillery Battalion from New
Orleans, La.; and the Virginia National Guard's
1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, based in
Lynchburg, Va., ran in the 36th Sustainment
Brigade's Texas Memorial 10K run on May 30, to
honor the memory of one of their own, Maj.
Ronald Wayne Culver.
For 1st Sgt. Trinity Edwards of Shreveport, La.,
participating in the 6.2-mile event gave him the
opportunity to keep the memory of his close
friend alive.
"This Memorial Day is especially personal this
time after recently losing a great friend," the
Headquarters and Headquarters Troop first
sergeant said regarding the years of service he
shared with Culver. "Nah, Culver and I had
planned to run the 10K after spending the last
two months running and working out together." |
|
Despite the events since Culver was killed on May 24, in the
line of duty after his vehicle was struck by an improvised
explosive device in southern Iraq, Edwards explained the
importance of completing the race.
"At first I did not really want to run because of the lack
of sleep and the fact that I had not ran since his passing,"
stated Edwards. "He would have convinced me to do it if he
was here...and in a way he still was. I ran this 10k for him,
because I truly believe he would have run it for us."Although honoring the memories
of the military Veterans who have made the
ultimate sacrifice fighting for freedom was in
everyone's heart, the chance to relax was an
added benefit for many Soldiers who participated
in the race. |
Maj. Ronald Wayne Culver's
name is reflected on the Memorial Wall on
Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, to honor
him for his sacrifice in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom. The executive officer of 2nd
Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, headquartered
in Shreveport, La., was killed on May 24, 2010 when
the vehicle he was traveling in was struck by
an improvised explosive device. |
|
"We've been in country just
long enough to see some strain on our guys,"
said A Company, 1-116th Operations Officer 1st
Lt. Patrick Wilson of Arlington, Va. "Most of us
have yet to get a day off. The idea of the Texas
10K race just gave us something positive to
focus on and mark the Memorial Day weekend. No
beach, beer or bratwurst, but we did at least
shake the schedule up a bit."
Wilson also took a moment to express his
gratitude to the 13 Virginia Soldiers who
participated."I was very proud of the 1-116th for having so many guys
come out for the race", Wilson continued. "Spc Solomon
Zemene of Alexandria, Va., made us all look good by
finishing at the top of the field." |
|
Zemene, a crew member on a convoy escort team, finished
second in the 24-29-year-old-category and a respectable
third place overall. Capt. Mike Ruffin of New Orleans, plans
officer for the 2-108th, finished third in the
36-39-year-old category and 1st Sgt. Patrick Sellen, also of
New Orleans, with A Battery, 1-141st finished in first place
in the 40-44 category.
The Soldiers with Louisiana's Tiger Brigade are deployed to
assist in setting the conditions for the responsible
drawdown of U.S. Troops and equipment in Iraq. The brigade
is scheduled to return home some time at the end of this
year. |
Article and photos by Army 1st Lt. Angela Fry
256 Brigade Combat Team LA Army National Guard
Copyright 2010 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
Comment on this article |
|
