serurier
15-05-04, 13:37
Memorial Service Honors Fallen 39th Soldier
BAGHDAD, Iraq - "This is a day that I've come to dread, ever since I took command," said Lt. Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, during the fourth memorial service held by the 39th Brigade since its troops deployed in March. "It's a day that frankly I hoped I would never have to live to see."
Just three days earlier on May 6, Staff Sgt. Hensley Box Jr., of Camden, Ark., became the seventh Arkansas National Guardsman to lose his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the first loss for the battalion, serving under the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Early that Thursday morning, an individual refusing to stop his vehicle at a 1-153rd checkpoint required Box to use force. Once force was applied to stop the charging weapon, a car bomb detonated, killing the driver and fatally wounding Box.
"That vehicle never reached its target. It actually saved the lives of many of us in this room today...and countless Iraqi civilians," said Capt. Lynn Martin, the commander of Company D, 1-153 Inf., in reference to Box's efforts to stop the vehicle.
"His willingness to stand there and do his duty, even though it cost him his life, not only saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers, but I think he was also defined in the pure sense of...the word 'hero,'" Penn said.
With hundreds of Soldiers listening in silence, a somber mood filled the building as leaders in the battalion stood one after the other to speak on how Box personified each of the seven Army Values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
"Each one of us knew the hazards at the front of that checkpoint, but he always insisted on being the point man, so he could reduce that risk to his Soldiers," Martin said.
"He led from the front like any good leader does," said Capt. Slade McPherson, commander of Co. B, 1-153 Inf. "He will always be remembered by the people who served with him. I pray that the Lord will watch over his wife and his family at home, helping to guide them through this painful time."
Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Veazey also addressed those in attendance with strong emotion created not only by the loss of a Soldier, but also by that of a friend.
"I stand before you as your command sergeant major...and I'm hurting," he said. "Sergeant Box always had a smile on his face. I drew strength from that. I draw from it now. He's more than just a Soldier in my battalion; to me, he was a friend."
At the conclusion of the leaders' vocalized respects, the battalion was called to attention for roll call. The call for Staff Sgt. Hensley Box, Jr. left the gathering in an emotional silence.
The void was then filled by the sound of the seven-man rifle team firing three volleys, followed by the playing of "Taps" as a salute to his honor.
As the Soldiers passed by a display set up in Box' honor, they rendered a slow, respectful salute.
"He wouldn't want us cowering down; he wouldn't want us letting this get the best of us. He would want us drawing strength from his death. He would want us drawing strength from the Soldier that he was."
BAGHDAD, Iraq - "This is a day that I've come to dread, ever since I took command," said Lt. Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, during the fourth memorial service held by the 39th Brigade since its troops deployed in March. "It's a day that frankly I hoped I would never have to live to see."
Just three days earlier on May 6, Staff Sgt. Hensley Box Jr., of Camden, Ark., became the seventh Arkansas National Guardsman to lose his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the first loss for the battalion, serving under the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division.
Early that Thursday morning, an individual refusing to stop his vehicle at a 1-153rd checkpoint required Box to use force. Once force was applied to stop the charging weapon, a car bomb detonated, killing the driver and fatally wounding Box.
"That vehicle never reached its target. It actually saved the lives of many of us in this room today...and countless Iraqi civilians," said Capt. Lynn Martin, the commander of Company D, 1-153 Inf., in reference to Box's efforts to stop the vehicle.
"His willingness to stand there and do his duty, even though it cost him his life, not only saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers, but I think he was also defined in the pure sense of...the word 'hero,'" Penn said.
With hundreds of Soldiers listening in silence, a somber mood filled the building as leaders in the battalion stood one after the other to speak on how Box personified each of the seven Army Values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
"Each one of us knew the hazards at the front of that checkpoint, but he always insisted on being the point man, so he could reduce that risk to his Soldiers," Martin said.
"He led from the front like any good leader does," said Capt. Slade McPherson, commander of Co. B, 1-153 Inf. "He will always be remembered by the people who served with him. I pray that the Lord will watch over his wife and his family at home, helping to guide them through this painful time."
Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Veazey also addressed those in attendance with strong emotion created not only by the loss of a Soldier, but also by that of a friend.
"I stand before you as your command sergeant major...and I'm hurting," he said. "Sergeant Box always had a smile on his face. I drew strength from that. I draw from it now. He's more than just a Soldier in my battalion; to me, he was a friend."
At the conclusion of the leaders' vocalized respects, the battalion was called to attention for roll call. The call for Staff Sgt. Hensley Box, Jr. left the gathering in an emotional silence.
The void was then filled by the sound of the seven-man rifle team firing three volleys, followed by the playing of "Taps" as a salute to his honor.
As the Soldiers passed by a display set up in Box' honor, they rendered a slow, respectful salute.
"He wouldn't want us cowering down; he wouldn't want us letting this get the best of us. He would want us drawing strength from his death. He would want us drawing strength from the Soldier that he was."