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| A-1-8 Chapter of the 4th Infantry Division |
Active Unit News
Bob Babcock - "Deeds not Words"
President, Americans Remembered, Inc. - http://www.americansremembered.org
President, 22nd Inf Regt Society - http://www.22ndinfantry.org
Past President/Historian - Nat'l 4th Inf Div Assn - http://www.4thinfantry.org
babcock224@aol.com
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Sad news - the highways of America, and drunk drivers, are still dangerous for all of us, including our soldiers freshly returned from Iraq (and their families)...
4.04.04
Soldier dies from injuries suffered in wreck
A soldier who recently returned from Iraq has died from injuries he suffered in a three-car collision that also claimed the life of his mother and stepfather. Army Pfc. German Antonio Sierra-Aguilar, 23, of Los Angeles was taken off life support at an El Paso, hospital at about 3 p.m. Saturday, said his father, German Sierra.
The crash happened Thursday on Interstate 10 south of Las Cruces when Sierra-Aguilar and his family were struck by a Jeep traveling the wrong way. Sierra-Aguilar's mother, 47-year-old Sonia Maribel Gomez, and his stepfather, 53-year-old Joaquin Armando Gomez, both of Norwalk, Calif., died at the scene. The soldier's brother, 19-year-old Roberto Mauricio Sierra-Aguilar, suffered head injuries and remained in a coma Sunday at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso.
The driver of the Jeep, 28-year-old Brian Bullard of El Paso, also hit another vehicle, killing two of the New Mexico State University students inside. They were identified as 20-year-old roommates Miriam Quiroz and Adriana Barragan. Both were from El Paso.
Authorities said Bullard, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had been drinking hours before the crash.
Sierra-Aguilar, a member of the Army's 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, (no specific unit given) had returned Tuesday from seven months in Iraq. His father remembered him as someone who always thought of his family first.
"He wanted to work to support us," Sierra said in Spanish. Sierra said that was the main reason his son joined the Army. Sierra said he supported his son's decision but worried because of the war in Iraq.
Sierra said the Army is helping his family with funeral and other expenses involved with transporting the bodies back to California. He said his son's friends also planned to raise money to help the family.
"He was such a good boy," friend Jaime Valle said. "He had a good history, even on the battlefield. Everybody knew him as one of a kind. He was our hero."
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press.
(Let us keep the fellow soldiers and family of PFC Sierra-Aguilar in our prayers).
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>From Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Posted on Sun, Apr. 04, 2004
After Iraq and vacation, teen set to return to duty
By Chris Vaughn
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH -- Glennie Burks wanted the Army to pay for his college.
In return, the Army wanted Burks in Iraq.
So suddenly, and rather unexpectedly, the 18-year-old former high-school hurdler found himself confronting his own mortality, witnessing the deaths of two friends and getting a Bronze Star for valor pinned to his chest.
All this from a two-year Army hitch.
"They got their money's worth," he says.
In some sense, Burks' graduation in 2002 from Fossil Ridge High School, his track workouts, Friday night football games and initial meetings with an Army recruiter seems an eternity ago.
But in another sense, it didn't take Burks any time at all to wind down from the stresses of Iraq, returning to his home in far north Fort Worth and the comforts of cable TV, sneakers and cell phones.
"It surprised me," he said. "I've adjusted really well."
Burks' 30-day vacation ends Tuesday, when he will report back to his unit -- Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment -- at Fort Hood for his remaining six months in the Army.
For now, Burks will serve on the same post as his father, Capt. Glennie Burks II, an Army reservist called to active duty in January 2003. Burks, the father, thought his son's deployment and his worry would never end.
Now that he's back safe, he still worries about his son.
"I haven't been in combat, so I can't even imagine what he's gone through or is going through," he said. "It would be hard for a man my age to handle, let alone a 19-year-old kid. He seems to be coping well, but it has had an effect on him."
The younger Burks, a fourth-generation military man who wears the rank of a private first class, can recall with clarity many days in Iraq, but none so clear as Jan. 17.
It was a foggy morning when three Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles left their base near Taji, north of Baghdad, carrying a combination of soldiers and Iraqi police officers on a patrol for roadside explosive devices.
"They started out pretty small and primitive," he said, "but they kept getting better at them."
An explosion rocked Burks' Bradley and smoked poured in. He and his staff sergeant ran down the ramp at the back and saw the top half of a Bradley on fire 30 feet away, the bottom half on fire still in the road.
Burks ran to the top half of the Bradley and carried one of the wounded soldiers to his Bradley. Then he raced back to help his sergeant carry the second, more seriously wounded trooper.
Ammunition from the burning Bradley was cooking off, sending rounds flying. Burks kept wanting to go do something for the troops in the other half of the Bradley. He knew them by name, considered them friends, ate with them, slept near them.
But Sgt. Edmond Randle and Spc. Larry Polley Jr., a 20-year-old from Center, couldn't have made it through that explosion and fire.
"Me and Sgt. Randle had had a fight the day before," Burks said.
He felt the argument was his fault, something "stupid" over laundry.
"I never got a chance to say I was sorry," he said.
A couple of days later, Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, showed up. Burks was rousted from his cot. There, in front of the sergeant major, Odierno pinned a Bronze Star for valor on Burks' uniform.
"I'm a Pfc standing in front of this big general," he said. "I hadn't been in the Army that long. I didn't know the significance of it, except that all the sergeants were congratulating me."
Burks said he sometimes feels guilty for coming home safe, and he prays that Randle and Polley are in a better place.
"I feel blessed nothing happened to me," he said. "Except that it matured me. I look at things a lot differently than I used to."
Chris Vaughn, (817) 390-7547
cvaughn@star-telegram.com
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>From Buffalo, NY News - 4-3-04:
Reservists arrive home
Civil Affairs unit is back from Iraq
By HENRY L. DAVIS
News Staff Reporter
4/3/2004
NIAGARA FALLS - There were tears, smiles, long embraces and excited yells for "Daddy" that rose above the rousing sounds of the brass band. The wait finally was over for the dozens of family and friends who greeted 50 members of the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion who came home Friday after more than a year in Iraq.
The reservists marched into cavernous Hangar 850 on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base under a cold drizzle after arriving from Fort Bragg, N.C., where they had spent the last 10 days. They faced a hero's welcome, with American flags, patriotic T-shirts, colorful balloons and a cheering crowd.
"What can I say? It was great to see," Sgt. William Healey of Amherst said after hugging his wife, Julie. "I couldn't wait to get home." Julie Healey said she counted the days until her husband's return by daily pulling a link off a paper chain made for her by a friend's daughter. It was a momentous year in other ways - a granddaughter was born - that made his absence even harder. "I'm so relieved it's over," she said. "When we talked over the phone, he never told me stories, but I knew it was dangerous."
A few feet away, Staff Sgt. Ward Bernard of the City of Tonawanda gawked at a shiny, like-new 1974 Harley-Davidson motorcycle his family trucked up for his homecoming. "This is great," he said, circling the bike. Ward bought the classic motorcycle in pieces with plans to restore it after his return. His nephew did the job for him in honor of his service, even installing a decal on the rear fender - a waving American flag behind a soaring bald eagle - that matches the tattoo on Ward's shoulder.
His mother, Pat, said it was a relief to have him home, but she can't rest easy yet. She has a grandson, from another child, serving in the 82nd Airborne in Fallujah, where on Wednesday four U.S. contractors were killed.
These reservists were sent to Kuwait early last year and then to Iraq in the earliest days of the war. They worked first in the southern city of Nasiriyah, returned briefly to Kuwait and then went to the city of Baqubah, north of Baghdad, said Major Terry McGuire. Once the combat phase of the war was over last May, the soldiers spent most of their time working with the Army's 4th Infantry Division, helping rebuild Iraqi infrastructure and prepare for elections, he said.
About half the battalion's soldiers returned home in late January. The battalion also has 12 soldiers in another group in Iraq and Afghanistan. They left in December, and additional deployments of reservists are expected in the future, said McGuire.
One member of the 402nd was killed during duty in Iraq. Spc. Charles E. Bush Jr. of Buffalo died Dec. 19 when an explosion caused his truck to overturn in a convoy in the northern part of the country.
e-mail: hdavis@buffnews.com
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>From New York Daily News:
Reservists parade joy
By DEREK ROSE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, April 4th, 2004
During a hard year in Iraq, Sgt. Phoebe Ervin kept herself going by thinking "every single day" about being reunited with her 4-year-old daughter.
Ervin's long wait ended with a day she'll never forget."I feel so good; this is wonderful," Ervin, 36, said at Fort Totten in Queens yesterday. "I'm trying so hard not to shed any tears."
The respiratory therapist from Hempstead, L.I., clutched her daughter, Dennise, as Army brass pinned medals on her uniform.
It was a day of joyous reunions and commendations as 100 Army Reservists with the 140th Quartermaster Company returned home following a year-long deployment in Iraq.
Working under harsh desert conditions, the unit provided laundry and bath services and uniform repair to combat troops.
They also worked guard duty, and were stationed mostly in Tikrit, supporting 4th Infantry Division troops.
No members of the 140th were killed or injured, although there were many frightening moments.
"Every other day, you'd get small-arms fire," said Spec. Hiram Ortiz, 22, a security guard from Passaic, N.J. "In the base, we'd get mortared."
Hugging his mom, Ortiz said he was looking forward to a good meal: "Rice and beans, rice and beans."
As they caught up with loved ones, the soldiers told stories of the fearsome Iraq heat.
"We used to take socks and put 'em on the water bottles, so they would cool down," said Spec. Imelda Guzman, a 23-year-old student from Queens."
But we made do," said Spec. Marcel Taylor, 26, of Bloomfield, N.J. "We came through pretty good.""I can't complain," he added. "I needed it in this point in my life. I've grown from it."
The 140th was welcomed with a brass band, words of praise from Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) and a ceremony in which each service member received three medals.
"It was worth it," Ervin reflected. "We all have a job to do."
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Some 4ID Facts:
Cameron Field, the 4ID parade ground where the April 22 Welcome Home Ceremony will start, is named after Major General George H. Cameron, first Commanding General of the 4ID. It was General Cameron who formed our division in December 1917 at Camp Greene, NC (now inside Charlotte, NC city limits), who designed our Ivy Leaf patch, who gave us our "Steadfast and Loyal" motto, and who "instilled in the 4th Division the magnificent spirit which has distinguished it since its birth.....He created a soul in the Division; he breathed life into what might have been otherwise only a military machine." He also led the 4ID into the battles of World War I.
If you are visiting in Washington, DC., you can visit the 4th Infantry Division Monument which is located on the entrance road into Arlington National Cemetery. Erected in June 2000 and dedicated on July 5, 2001, this 11 foot tall replica of the 4ID patch was first dreamed of by our World War I vets and made a reality far too many years later. The monument was dedicated to "all past, present, and future veterans of the 4th Infantry Division." This is your monument as much as it is those of us who served in previous wars. Visit it and enjoy "your" monument.
Famous veterans of the 4ID are plentiful - some you may not know about are Dave Thomas who founded Wendy's hamburger restaurants, Winston Groom who wrote "Forrest Gump", and current Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Of the units that made up the 4ID in World War I, only the 4th MP Company, 4th Engineers, 4ID HQ, and 16th Field Artillery are still active in the division today. The original Infantry Regiments of the 4ID were the 39th, 47th, 58th, and 59th Infantry Regiments.
The 4ID had more total casualties (battle and non-battle - killed, wounded, and missing) than any other division in the European theater of operations in WWII. Total casualties were 35,545 or 252.3% of the original strength of the division. The next highest casualties were 9th Infantry Division at 33,864 or 240.4% of strength, 1st Infantry Division at 29,005 or 205.9% of strength, 29th Infantry Division at 28,776 or 204.2% of strength, and 3rd Infantry Division at 28,400 or 201.6% of strength. Battle casualties were 22,454 for 4ID, followed by 29ID with 20,111, 9ID with 18,631, 90ID with 18,460. 1ID had 15,003 battle casualties, 101st Airborne had 11,468 battle casualties, and 2nd Armored Division had 6,751 battle casualties. (1st Cav fought in the Pacific theater and I do not have their figures). Although little known or reported on - our division was in the thick of battle and carried the fight to the Germans from D-Day through VE Day.
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59 Years Ago Today - 4ID in Germany:
5 April 1945 - D+304
At the close of the period, the enemy defended along a general line Theilheim - Wesytheim - Pepperndorf. Light resistance was met as elements of CT 8 entered Kitzingen. Our troops advanced to Eibelstadt and Lindelbach against scattered resistance. In CT 12 and 22 sectors the enemy continued a stubborn defense consisting of small arms, automatic weapons and bazooka fire. CT 22 advanced south on the high ground east of Konigshofen and met extremely stubborn resistance from an estimated 150 enemy well dug in on the reverse slope of the hill. Positions at this location were well camouflaged with natural material which blended well with the surrounding rocky terrain. Between 2150 and 2205 an unknown number of enemy planes dropped fragmentation and demolition bombs about 3000 yards southwest of Ochsenfurt.
CT 8 continued the attack at 0800 in conjunction with Task Force Field of the 12th Armored Division with the 1st Battalion following closely behind advancing armored elements. The armored attack in the direction of Kitzengin progressed rapidly and by 0950 was closing on the outskirts of the city. The 1st Battalion moved into the town and two rifle companies mopped up within the city. The attack of the 3rd Battalion to the north progressed favorably and by the end of the period, all areas in the vicinity of Randersacker had been cleared of resistance. The 2nd Battalion remained in reserve in the vicinity of Ochsenfurt.
CT 12 continued the attack to the south and southwest at 0730 with the 2nd and 3rd Battalions abreast. The attack of the 3rd Battalion progressed favorably and an advance of three kilometers was made in the direction of Messelhausen. The attack of the 2nd Battalion met greater resistance and after heavy fighting throughout the period, the battalion succeeded in pushing through the woods, killing an estimated one hundred enemy. The 1st Battalion remained in regimental reserve in the vicinity of Euerhausen.
CT 22 continued the attack to the south with three battalions abreast. Progress in the entire regimental sector was negligible. The enemy employed 150 mm and 105 mm artillery, 120 mm and 80 mm mortars, small arms and numerous automatic weapons. By the close of the period, the wooded areas to the south and north of Messelhausen had been cleared.
Thanks to Philippe Cornil at www.revive-it.com.
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What Our Families Are Hearing From Our Soldiers in Iraq:
1) Our daughter will fly in to Hood tomorrow. She along with four others will come to the house for a night's rest before getting back on the aircraft and heading back to Triple Nickel (555 EN) territory at Ft. Lewis. As you can well imagine I'm awaiting that phone call she promised me from Germany to say she's on the way. She's taking orders for favorite meals as well so she's going to tell me what they want. I figure I'll have 12 hours to shop and fix so I can be prepared. It's an honor and a privilege to serve them that serve us all.
2) Like many families, I'm happy to report that my husband came in to Ft. Hood yesterday. I would like to thank everyone for all the tips on how to deal with the soldiers coming home. Reason being is, I would not have had a clue what to do when my husand walked through the house and grabbed four sets of clothes and said he was headed to Oklahoma alone, that he needed space. He just needed to spend time with his dad on the farm. So I did nothing and asked him to be careful and to have a good trip. He is to be home on Tuesday night but he did call because he forgot to tell me he loved me.... I feel this is something he needs to do to clear his head. To any other men or women out there, please let them choose what to do to help them feel better - just a tip from someone whose husband has been in the army for 23 years. Thank you all for all your prayers and please don't forget there are still so many more soldiers going back and forth that still need all our prayers.
3) Our son (3BCT C Co 1-8 Inf) was scheduled to land at 0500 Saturday. At 0520 this morning I got the call I've waited so long to hear. "Mom, I'm in Colorado Springs!" Thank God he's finally home. One of my boys came home last week; today my son made it and all is right in my world again. I didn't think this year would ever end but it has. God has brought both my boys home safely.
4) I must say the most wonderful day occurred on March 21, 2004 - my husband entered Abrahms gym at Fort Hood at 8:10am. The soldiers entered the gym and the crowd roared, the music blarred, and many of us had tears of joy streaming down our faces. The soldiers lined up at attention, you could see their eyes moving in every direction to try to catch a glimpse of their loved one in the crowd, but it was almost impossible as they were at attention not facing the crowd. The pain, frustration, & exhaustion from the past year came crashing down my soul, I cried for all of those soldiers standing in that gym and I foung myself thinking is this a dream? Then I heard the most compelling words of all "DISMISSED", after several stressful minutes of trying to find my husband there he was, standing alone, waiting. I now wake-up in the middle of the night and lay there in amazement, he's home, he's really home. ....
I have some redeployment advice for those wives who have in-laws that can be overwhelming. Unfortunatley my in-laws were not understanding to the fact that my husband wanted to be with his wife and children for a few days before they came to see him. We tried extremely hard to explain the situation to them, nothing seemed to work. So to those of you who can relate to this type of situation, simply do the best you can, you can only try - and if then it still doesn't work you can walk away knowing that your soldier and you did the best that you could do. DO NOT let it put a damper on your reunion, we refused to let that happen and everything worked out in the end.
5) I am happy to report that my daughter of the 204th Forward Support Battlion and her fiance have returned safely from Iraq. They both arrived back at Ft. Hood, along with a few others before the rest of their units in mid March. Even with them home, I continue to watch the news and think of the soldiers that are just beginning their tour or are still there. My thoughts and prayers are for them and their families. I know that this last year was an emotional roller coaster ride I'd just as soon not take again. The song by John Michael Montgomery "LETTERS FROM HOME" I think captures the emotion and feeling we have all been through in the past year. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!
6) I got a call from Pennsylvania today, the best phone call of my life. My husband will be home in idaho in a few days. Just knowing he is back in the US is great..... The Idaho National guard was called up to deploy later this year and as I am sitting here awaiting the return of my loved one my best friend is faced with saying good by to her husband soon. I passed on to her many of the things I learned from your updates, so you see it is not only friends and family of 4th ID soldiers that you are helping with your work, but indirectly many more. Desert Shield/ Desert Storm was hard for us but those 7 month of deployment were nothing compared to the last 14 months. And between the mail not going through and lousy phone lines (yea, I know today's army wife is spoiled compared to those of veterans from other wars), it was good to hear what others are hearing. Thank you again for helping all of us through some of the roughest times of our lives.
7) Our Soldier is finally home! We have been waiting for a few weeks to get the go ahead to start driving to Fort Carson.... To make a long story short we drove 1400 miles and arrived at Fort Carson on 3/26 4:15pm. Our Son was in the gym at 5:00pm. We didn't even have time to check into the motel before going to the base. As we waited with the other families we were overwhelmed with the emotions and energy that was in that gym. I watched as children made welcome home signs for their Daddy's...as wives chatted nervously with other wives...parents sitting there eyeing the doors waiting for their soldier to come through them. They announced our soldiers would be arriving shortly and when they did to make as much noise as possible...well when that moment arrived the music was blaring...the cheers didn't stop until the music stopped (as instructed) we went through a small ceromony..all the while scanning the group of soldiers...we could not find ours. They then dismissed the soldiers and everyone scrambled to find their loved ones. My husband was behind me and then I spotted our Son and he was looking in the opposite direction so I popped up right in front of him. I just gave him a big hug and his father finally caught up with me and gave his Son a big hug. I did get pictures of that! All he wanted to do was get his stuff and go have some dinner..... We went out for a steak dinner and had a great night. The next day we spent the day with him and helped him get his car out of storage and stuff like that. He spent Sun & Mon doing his thing and we saw him Tue for dinner with another soldier and his wife and baby. (I have to say I know they all did a lot of growing up over there but I can't help to think they all look so young or maybe it is just I am getting old!) We left on Wed to start home again. It was a great visit and he seems to be doing well. I know it is a great relief for us he is home and we can relax a little bit more but my heart goes out to all those families that are dealing with their loved one leaving for Iraq or are over there now. I will continue to pray for the safe return of all of our soldiers!
8) On Tuesday, March 30th, my fiance of HHC, 2nd BDE, came home from a year in the sandbox! A lot of his family was able to make the joyous occasion and my work was gracious enough to let me take the day off! It was so wonderful to see him run into the gym. I thought I would never make it through all the ceremonial talk (which lasted less than 3 minutes), once I saw my hero standing a few feet away from me. Finally, we all screamed "DISMISSED" and I bee-lined it to my man. As we wrapped our arms around each other, the DJ played Etta James' "At Last". How appropriate! :) A reporter from the Temple paper interviewed us, so that was pretty cool. My fiance looks wonderful and I'm so glad and thankful that he came home safely and unharmed. I can't believe this year deployment is OVER!
9) This is a note sent to me on 3-24-04 that was lost in my inbox - too good to not include here: One week ago today my husband and I were blessed with being in Starker Gym when our son arrived home from Iraq. As I sat and waited for him I reflected on all that the past year has meant to us. I want to thank the FRG leaders for all that they have done. The information provided and the support have been outstanding. From experience I can say that the 4th ID FRG sets a standard that should be applied to all deployed units. I am nearly as proud of their hard work and dedication as I am of the work done by our soldiers. As we drove around Ft. Hood I recognized many of the places and road names that I had read about in the various emails. In some ways this made the Post much less intimidating. Just wanted everyone to know how fortunate we are to be a part of such a wonderful group. (Editor's Note: I share your thoughts - we are blessed with great FRG leaders).
10) Hi, My husband (of HHT 1/10 CAV 4TH ID) and I just found out the other day
that we're expecting another addition to our family. It's wonderful. My husband is real excited about it and so is our families. I am, too, of course. I'm so happy that our soliders are coming home safe. WELCOME HOME SOLDIERS, job well done.
11) Yesterday was our son's (1-10 Cav C-Troop) 21st birthday. He is back at Ft. Hood and he and his buddies went to Austin to celebrate. Last year, he spent his 20th birthday in Kuwait, wearing a gas mask while waiting out a possible scud attack. One birthday he'll never forget and one birthday he may not remember!! We feel so fortunate that he is back in the States and we pray for the families that have soldiers away from home.
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