"In Memory..."

In light of todays meaning I felt it only fitting I share a brief story and a request of remembrance for my fellow soldiers whom have fallen.

In the winter of 2005 we made our way by chopper to Baghdad International Airport to take our post as maintenance support for a large National Guard Unit out of Ohio. The 612th's task was to search out and destroy roadside bombs in the Army's newest machine, The Buffalo.

During our time there we met several soldiers from the 612th and they became our primary source of work. As maintenance soldiers we often saw the aftermath of IED's yet we would rarely travel outside the wire. However the stories and pictures that many soldiers returned with, gave us plenty of reason not to volunteer.

We often saw members of the 612th return banged up and wounded, but the true soldier in them appeared on the day they were allowed to return to duty...and they did so without any visible hesitation and Spc. Hodge was no different.

As his tour carried on in 2005 he saw many of his fellow soldiers escape death and return to duty willingly. Hodge was killed in combat in October of 2005 from an IED explosion. He was the only soldier the 612th lost during their time in Iraq and his loss was a difficult one to bear for them. He was an outgoing promising soldier that we will all miss dearly.

I ask that today...as we remember our fallen soldiers...we remember Spc. Hodge and the sacrifice he made. Thank you to all who have served and for the price we each have paid.