The wet weather matched the wet, tear-stained faces of family and friends as five more Eastern Red Bud trees were added to Warrior’s Walk on Thursday.
The 3rd Infantry Division held a tree ceremony to honor the lives of “five great people, five great soldiers:” Spc. Forrest Waterbury, Pfc. Joey Sams, Sgt. Adrian Lewis, Staff Sgt. Harrison Brown and Pfc. David Simmons.
“They each answered their nation’s call to duty,” Fort Stewart garrison commander Col. Todd Buchs said, “serving to protect what we all hold dear.”
Waterbury, a member of the Delta Company, 3-69 Armor Battalion, 1st
Brigade, died March 14 near Ramadi, Iraq when his unit came into contact with enemy forces using small arms fire. The Wamego, Kan., native was 25-years-old and had served six years of active military service.
A native of Spartanburg, S.C., 22-year-old Sams was a member of Baker Co., 1-15 Infantry Battalion, 3d Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning. He had one year of active military service.
A member of Delta Co., 3-69 Armor Battalion, 1st Brigade, Lewis died on March 21 in Ramadi from wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. The 30-year-old was a native of Mauldin, S.C. and served six years of active military service.
Brown and Simmons, both part of Bravo Co., 2-69 Armor Battalion, 3d Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, died on April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq, when their unit came into contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
Brown, 31, hailed from Prichard, Ala., and served 11 years of active military service. Simmons, 20, called Kokomo, Ind., home and had one year of active service.
Buchs said the dedication of these five soldiers’ and their service would not be forgotten.
“We will remember Forrest, Joey, Adrian, Harrison and David forever and are grateful for their service,” Buchs said. “The love we have for them will not fade in the night, nor will it fade with time.”
The number of trees lining Warriors Walk is now 326.
The 3rd Infantry Division held a tree ceremony to honor the lives of “five great people, five great soldiers:” Spc. Forrest Waterbury, Pfc. Joey Sams, Sgt. Adrian Lewis, Staff Sgt. Harrison Brown and Pfc. David Simmons.
“They each answered their nation’s call to duty,” Fort Stewart garrison commander Col. Todd Buchs said, “serving to protect what we all hold dear.”
Waterbury, a member of the Delta Company, 3-69 Armor Battalion, 1st
Brigade, died March 14 near Ramadi, Iraq when his unit came into contact with enemy forces using small arms fire. The Wamego, Kan., native was 25-years-old and had served six years of active military service.
A native of Spartanburg, S.C., 22-year-old Sams was a member of Baker Co., 1-15 Infantry Battalion, 3d Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning. He had one year of active military service.
A member of Delta Co., 3-69 Armor Battalion, 1st Brigade, Lewis died on March 21 in Ramadi from wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. The 30-year-old was a native of Mauldin, S.C. and served six years of active military service.
Brown and Simmons, both part of Bravo Co., 2-69 Armor Battalion, 3d Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, died on April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq, when their unit came into contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
Brown, 31, hailed from Prichard, Ala., and served 11 years of active military service. Simmons, 20, called Kokomo, Ind., home and had one year of active service.
Buchs said the dedication of these five soldiers’ and their service would not be forgotten.
“We will remember Forrest, Joey, Adrian, Harrison and David forever and are grateful for their service,” Buchs said. “The love we have for them will not fade in the night, nor will it fade with time.”
The number of trees lining Warriors Walk is now 326.