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Warhorse Headquarters Dedicated To Fallen Troops
(August 21, 2010) | 
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Spc. James Heaward (left), and Spc. Evan Arnold, both with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, unveil the dedication plaque of Jevan Ali Othman, an interpreter that was killed in February, 2009 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while serving the battalion in Mosul, Iraq. The battalion's headquarters building and Headquarters and Headquarters Company conference room were dedicated, Aug. 11, 2010 in honor of the individuals killed in the blast. |
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FORt HOOD, Texas (August 18, 2010)
Soldiers and supporters of 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division memorialized fallen heroes, Aug. 11, at a
building dedication on Fort Hood.
Leaders and troopers dedicated the battalion's headquarters building and
Headquarters and Headquarters Company conference room to former comrades killed
in Mosul, Iraq, Feb. 9, 2009, just three weeks into the deployment.
The Derby Building and Guardian Conference Room Dedication Ceremony honored Lt.
Col. Gary Derby, Sgt. Joshua Ward, Pfc. Albert Jex, Pfc. Jonathan Roberge and
translator Jevon Othman.
Attendees included family members and friends of the fallen warriors, the unit's
commander, command sergeant major and |
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the keynote speaker, former brigade commander, Col. Gary Volesky. |
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Volesky extended a welcome to special guests Patricia Ward, mother of Sgt.
Joshua Ward and Cathy MacFarlane, mother of Pfc. Albert Jex and her family.
“Lt. Col. Gary Derby, Sgt. Joshua Ward, Pfc. Albert Jex, Pfc. Jonathan Roberge
and Jevan Ali Othman were men who served in combat and were veterans of multiple
deployments or supported multiple units during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are
loved by their teammates and missed every day,” Volesky said.
Volesky described the personalities of each of the men and emphasized the
relationships they upheld with other members of their unit.
“They illustrate the commitment, loyalty and determination they had to their
unit, the mission and each other. Like those before them, they paved the way for
a brighter future for the Iraqis and ensured we were safer at home.”
He said the dedication represented and memorialized all of the Warhorse soldiers
that had made the ultimate sacrifice during the last five years of combat in
Iraq.
Following Volesky's speech, family members and special guests gathered inside
the front door of the building for the unveiling of a plaque dedicating the
headquarters building to former battalion commander Lt. Col. Gary Derby.
Lt. Col. Tim Brumfiel, commander, 3rd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt., and acting Command
Sgt. Maj. Ritchey Green revealed a bronze plaque with Derby's picture centered
between the battalion's crest and a Department of the Army seal. His biography
was printed beneath his photo.
Next, the group walked across the street to the Headquarters and Headquarters
Company conference room where family or friend unveiled plaques honoring the
remaining heroes.
Family members agreed the ceremony was a pleasant recognition for their fallen
hero's sacrifice.
“It's nice to know that he's not forgotten,” said Cathy MacFarlane. | |
Article and photo by Army Spc. Sharla Lewis
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Copyright 2010
Provided
through DVIDS
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