In Honored Memory

23, of Ellijay, Ga.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died June 18 in Baqubah, Iraq, of injuries sustained on June 17 when he was on mounted patrol and his Humvee was attacked by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades in Buritz, Iraq. Also killed was Cpl. William A. Long. Georgia soldier killed Iraq Associated Press ATLANTA — A former University of Georgia cheerleading captain who was known for “carrying bullets in one pocket and Beanie Babies in the other” as a soldier has been killed in Iraq, along with an Army corporal from suburban Atlanta. The Pentagon said Monday that 1st Lt. Noah Harris, 23, of Ellijay and Cpl. William A. Long, 26, of Lilburn died Saturday from injuries sustained on June 17 in Buritz, Iraq, when they were conducting a mounted patrol and their Humvee was attacked by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning. Harris’ father, Rick Harris of Ellijay, said his son joined the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, telling his father that people “must serve some higher purpose than yourself in life.” Harris said his son, a high school state champion wrestler and football team captain, enjoyed giving stuffed animals and soccer balls to Iraqi children. “He said, ‘Democracy is taking hold over here. People love Americans, they love what we’re doing,”’ Harris said. “He was the most contagious person I’ve ever met in my life,” Rick Harris said. “Five minutes with him and he’s your friend for life.” Family, friends remember fallen Georgia soldier ELLIJAY, Ga. — Noah Harris’ personal mantras were “Drive on!” and “I do what I can” — mottoes that echoed again Saturday as friends and family remembered the former University of Georgia cheerleading captain who was killed this month in Iraq. More than 500 people attended services for 1st Lt. Noah Harris, 23 on Saturday, the day that would have been his 24th birthday. Another 400 people watched the service via closed-circuit television in the auditorium of a nearby school. Harris and Cpl. William A. Long, 26, of Lilburn died June 17 from injuries in Buritz, Iraq, after their Humvee was attacked by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades, Pentagon officials said. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army’s 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning. Harris was known in his platoon for having a photo of his parents’ home in Ellijay as a screen saver on his laptop computer, said Capt. Bobby Toon. “When I asked him what the picture was of, he said, ‘That’s why I’m here.’,” Toon said. To try to raise his unit’s morale, he also organized a pen pal program that paired his fellow soldiers with UGA students. Harris’ father, Rick Harris of Ellijay, said his son, a high school state champion wrestler and football team captain, enjoyed giving stuffed animals and soccer balls to Iraqi children and was known for having “bullets in one pocket, Beanie Babies in the other.” “For every bullet Noah Harris shot from his weapon, he must of handed out 10 Beanie Babies to the children of Iraq,” Toon said. Rick Harris said his son joined the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, telling his father that people “must serve some higher purpose than yourself in life.” “He knew that for humanity to prosper, people need to be provided the kind of freedom ... he’s been given all his life,” said his mother, Lucy Harris. — Associated Press https://idwic.com/poems.htm

The Final Battle: March 9, 1969 The day SGT Montgomery was killed was one of the costliest for Company B. The unit was operating in Tay Ninh Province, specifically in an area of high grass and dense jungle near the Cambodian border. On that Sunday morning, Company B made contact with a massive, entrenched force of the NVA 95C Regiment. The Engagement: The "Skytroopers" of Company B were caught in a ferocious firefight against a numerically superior enemy. The battle involved heavy machine-gun fire, mortars, and close-quarters combat with grenades. The Sacrifice: SGT Montgomery was leading his men through the chaos of the Angel's Wing region. He was killed by small arms fire during the height of the engagement. The Loss: SGT Montgomery was one of 12 men from Company B who fell that day. The intensity of the fight was so great that it remains one of the standout battles in the 5th Cavalry’s history for that year. Final Tribute: SGT Montgomery’s name is etched on Panel 30W, Line 88 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. A Brotherhood in Stone: On Line 88 and the surrounding lines, you will find several other men from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry who were killed in that same battle in Tay Ninh. They stayed together in life, and they remain together on the Wall. Because of the bravery he displayed during the battle and his role as a leader on the ground, the Army issued a posthumous promotion to Sergeant. This was more than just a change in rank; it was a formal acknowledgement that he had died while carrying the heavy responsibility of leading other young men into the mouth of the "Black Knight" combat operations.

Christopher John-Lee "C.J." West, 26, of Arlington, Texas, entered eternal life on the morning of Monday, February 4, 2008, in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered on February 3 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. He was a Combat Medic assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated from Jump School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on August 17, 2007. This was to be his last mission before a scheduled rest-and-relaxation break back home. His family in Arlington, Texas, kept up their Christmas tree in anticipation of his 12-day visit. Although Christopher never lived in the El Paso/ Las Cruces area, he had a strong local connection. His mother, Hattie Brettler West, was born in Ysleta, Texas, and lived in El Paso as a young child before moving to Las Cruces with her mother and sisters, after her father's death. She attended Central Elementary School, Court Junior High School and graduated from both Las Cruces High School and New Mexico State University. Christopher's parents met while they were both students at NMSU. His father, John Lee West, earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from NMSU. Christopher was born to John and Hattie West on January 8, 1982, in Dallas, Texas. He arrived at 8:02 P.M., weighing 8lbs., 2oz., and shared his birthday with Elvis Presley. Christopher was a gifted student, avid history buff, talented athlete, devoted family member and dedicated soldier. In 2000, he graduated magna cum laude from Bowie High School, Arlington, Texas, where he was a member of the soccer team. He also attended Sam Houston High School, Arlington, Texas, where he played soccer and football. In 2004, he graduated cum laude with his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Marketing from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. After graduating from Texas A&M, Christopher was considering admission to law school, but was drawn to the military which seemed to be his "calling." He was thinking about making the Army his career. He came from a 4th-generation military family: great-grandfather, Homer Lee West; grandfather, Lt. Col.(ret.) Kenneth Lee West; and father, John Lee West. He is survived by his parents, John and Hattie West of Arlington, Texas. His elder sister, Lauren Olivia West, of the family home. His younger sister, Cameron Marie West Wade, her husband, Justin Eugene Wade, and their infant daughter, Charlie Anne Wade, of Houston, Texas. Four-legged family members, Daisy, Angel, Spanky and Harley will greatly miss their beloved "C.J." His paternal grandmother, Betty West of Arlington, Texas. Paternal grandfather, Lt. Col.(ret.) Kenneth Lee West and wife, Earlene, of Springfield, Missouri. His godmother and very special maternal aunt, Magi Louise Brettler, who is coordinating funeral arrangements with U.S. Army officials. Magi resides in Lafayette, Louisiana, with "Precious" the family parrot. His maternal aunts, Hannah Edahl Monsimer and husband, Clement William (Bill) Monsimer II, of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Anna Edahl Baltensperger and husband, Bruce, of Arlington, Virginia. His paternal uncles, Jim Lee West, Jerry Lee West, Jeff Lee West and their families, of Grand Prairie, Texas. His cousins Judith Baltensperger of Arlington, Virginia; Rebecca Baltensperger and husband, Brad, of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Matthew Baltensperger, his wife, Erin, and their baby daughter, Joslin Odessa Baltensperger, of Arlington, Texas; and Sarah Baltensperger of Arlington, Virginia. A host of relatives in Europe, including Rosemarie, Roy and Rebecca White of South Wales, United Kingdom, Great Britain. Christopher will be buried with full military honors on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Funeral services have been entrusted to Murphy Funeral Home, Arlington, Virginia. A reception at the Fort Myers Officers' Club will follow interment services, with a hospitality suite at the Sheraton National Hotel that evening. His awards and decorations include: The Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Medic Badge, and Parachutist Badge. The family is planning to establish a memorial fund to benefit the Wounded Warriors Committee for the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as, memorial scholarship funds at Sam Houston and Bowie High Schools in Arlington, Texas.