e e h h T T MMaarrnnee EExxpprreessss “Mission, Soldiers, Teamwork” Volume 2, Issue 5 Serving the Soldiers of Task Force Baghdad April 24, 2005 In this week’s Marne Express Desert Rogues page 5 Nation honors 3rd Inf. Div. Soldier Army News Service ago, in an action outside the then- “On this day two years ago, Sergeant Special to The Marne Express Saddam Hussein International Airport. Smith gave his all for his men. Five Smith manned the .50-caliber days later, Baghdad fell, and the Iraqi WASHINGTON, D.C. — An machine gun on top of an armored per- people were liberated,” Bush said. “And American Soldier’s family received the sonnel carrier in order to defend a court- today, we bestow upon Sergeant Smith highest military recognition, the first yard while his men from the 11th the first Medal of Honor in the war on Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry terror. He’s also the first to be awarded Freedom, from President George W. Division, withdrew and evacuated this new Medal of Honor flag, author- Bush in the East Room of the White wounded. Late in the action, he died ized by the United States Congress. We House April 4. after being struck by enemy fire. count ourselves blessed to have soldiers Bush presented the Medal of Honor The president quoted a letter Smith like Sergeant Smith, who put their lives to David Smith, the 11-year-old son of wrote to his parents, but never mailed, on the line to advance the cause of free- Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, who was saying he was willing to “give all that I Pilgrimage killed April 4, 2003, exactly two years am” so that his men would return home. See HONOR, page 13 page 9 Rumsfeld makes special visit to Liberty Sgt. Andrew Miller, Force Baghdad commanding thanked them for their serv- Engineer Battalion and one Staff Sgt. Ken Walker general, presented many out- ice. of the Soldiers who was 100th MPAD standing Soldiers with their Spc. Togiimoana S. awarded the Purple Heart. awards as the citations were Niusulu, of American Samoa, “I heard that Donald read aloud. is a carpentry and masonry CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Four Bronze Star Medals specialist from the 365th See VISIT, page 13 Secretary of Defense Donald with the Valor device were Rumsfeld attended a town awarded for meritorious hall meeting with Task Force achievement during combat Baghdad Soldiers April 12, operations against an oppos- where he presented four ing force. The award denotes Bronze Stars for Valor and heroism and exemplary con- eight Purple Hearts. duct in ground combat After the awards, against the armed enemies of Rumsfeld helped reenlist 100 the United States. All four Soldiers, then fielded a few Bronze Stars awarded were Taji airfield questions from the troops. to Soldiers of B Company, The spacious 3rd Infantry 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry page 12 Division dining facility, tem- Regiment, 10th Mountain porarily transformed into a Division. meeting venue, was bustling Eight Purple Hearts were with Task Force Baghdad awarded to individuals for Soldiers and civilian contrac- wounds they received as a tors, all eager to see result of enemy actions. Staff Sgt. Ken Walker Rumsfeld and listen to his Soldiers from several differ- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld congratulates Staff Sgt. words of encouragement. ent units stood at attention as James Kirkpatrick, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, after Rumsfeld and Maj. Gen. Rumsfeld and Webster awarding him the Bronze Star Medal for Valor during a visit with William G. Webster Jr., Task pinned their medals and Task Force Baghdad Soldiers at Camp Liberty April 12. 1st AD Soldiers remember heroic fallen friend Sgt. Kevin Bromley conducting dismounted combat opera- pelled grenades. 3/1 AD PAO tions along the CiCi Bar Canal, in the “His squad members will tell you that North Babil area of Iraq. Dean saw and sensed the attack before it MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq – The solemn He was the point man of a squad happened,” said Lt. Col. Lee Quintas, sound of “Taps” and rifle volleys tasked to gain intelligence about insur- commander of 2nd Battalion, 70th echoed through the cavernous building gents in the area of West Sayed Armored Regiment. as Soldiers of 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Abdullah near the village of Mulla Richardson laid down suppressive IED spotter Division bid farewell to Sgt. William Fayad. fire with his M-4 carbine and M-203 Dean Richardson April 8. Richardson’s patrol was ambushed by grenade launcher to allow his fellow page 14 Richardson, posthumously promoted terrorists and received heavy fire from Soldiers time to seek covered firing to sergeant, was killed April 3 while automatic weapons and rocket-pro- See SOLDIER, page 13 Page 2 Op/Ed The Marne Express, April 24, 2005 Army Sergeant Major thanks fallen Soldier Sgt. Maj. Kenneth O. tunity to reflect on Paul’s Soldiers are performing hero- Preston actions two years ago; actions ically today. The Word Sergeant Major of the Army that saved the lives of 100 of his Our heroes are men and fellow Soldiers. women, infantrymen and truck It is because of his dedica- drivers, large and small, and In this special edition of my tion that Paul solidified the very they come from all across our core of our Army. On that day, great country and from around on the Street leaders book notes I wanted to take a moment to reflect and 100 American Soldiers wit- the world. remember the great sacrifice of nessed and learned leadership As you know, this is the the first Soldier to be awarded of extraordinary proportions; first time in our nation’s histo- Which two NBA teams do you expect the Medal of Honor in this con- leadership that changed and ry that we have sustained a flict, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith. influenced their lives forever. long-duration fight with an in the finals and who will win? On 5 April, a day after Those 100 men will in turn all-volunteer force. Only with Smith’s son David accepted the lead hundreds of Soldiers who the American people’s support Medal of Honor by President will benefit from the leadership will young men and women Bush on behalf of his father; I gained from serving with continue to raise their right "I like the Heat vs. the had the Smith. That process will con- hand and swear to uphold the great tinue to be shared across the Constitution of the United Suns. The Heat are honor entire Army from one unit to States against all enemies, for- just having too good a of join- another. eign and domestic. ing his Paul joins 260,000 of One last thing I’d like to season though, so wife America’s sons and daughters share you with about this topic; they will win it in six." Birgit, in the living tribute we call I recently learned, national his Arlington National Cemetery. studies reflect this generation of daugh- Paul was honored with the young Americans joining our terhighest award our nation can Army today are called Capt. Roy Nixon Jessica bestow a hero. He has become a Millenials, or the Millenium and son part of history to his country. Generation. This generation is 3/3 Avn. David For as long as our flag stands, more closely tied to those along those two hundred acres of Americans we call the Greatest with sacred ground will cradle our Generation. For those of us other family and friends at a heroes and the memory of who have been around for special ceremony at Arlington Paul’s commitment. awhile, it might be hard to National Cemetery. It was On that day, Smith’s Soldiers swallow our pride and accept exactly two years and a day stood as living testaments to his that these young men and since Smith gave his life for his courage, sacrifice, and dedica- women are smarter and more "I’m a big Kings fan, country. tion. On that day more than a patriotic than we were (Baby so I’m thinking Kings Arlington cemetery is vis- million Soldiers serving Boommers and Generation X) ited each year by more than America’s Army paid tribute to when we were young. They are vs. the Heat. four million people who a hero. proud to serve, are team orient- Sacramento is due so come to pay tribute to the He will always be with us to ed, willing to sacrifice and con- they will take it in heroes who have fought to quietly inspire all those who tribute to the mission at hand, keep America free. A head- bare witness to that special and ready to give all in the seven games." stone placed in SFC Smith’s place. Paul will always be, an name of freedom. They have honor will forever remind American Soldier. grown up in a world under each of them that freedom is And yet even as we honored siege by terrorist attacks over not free and that great this brave American, 261,000 the years. If we let one good Spc. Amy Davenport Soldiers like him have died in others are deployed around the story slip by without telling, we the defense of that freedom. world in over 120 countries. have done these young men and HHC Avn. Bde. In my remarks to those gath- Many of them are serving in women an injustice. ered I said the stone will give harm’s way. They are “your” Thank you all for what you Soldiers past and present, and Soldiers and they are doing a are doing, and what you will those who aspire to wear the magnificent job.