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DEL.ICIO.USSoldier returns from leave to grieve for two more comrades
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Forward Operating Base Michael, Iraq — During his short two weeks leave at home in Georgia, Spc. Robert Shea attended a solemn memorial service for his friend, Spc. Michael Stokely.
“It’s not something you expect to happen while you are at home,” he said, waiting for a Black Hawk helicopter to ferry him from Baghdad back to FOB Michael.
Moni Basu/AJC
108th Armor Regiment’s Command Sgt. Maj. Tony Gayton remembers fallen comrades.
Shea returned from Kuwait knowing he would again be paying last respects to another two soldiers from his unit, Echo Troop, 108th Cavalry Regiment. The unit is attached to the 108th Armor Regiment and has been operating under austere conditions from FOB Michael and another base in the nearby town of Yusifiyah.
Stokely, 23, of Loganville died three weeks ago when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. Staff Sgt. Robert Lee Hollar, 35, of Thomaston and Sgt. George Ray Draughn, 29, of Hiram were killed Thursday in another roadside bomb attack near Mahmudiyah, an area south of Baghdad that has proven especially hostile for U.S. soldiers.
It was hard enough for Shea, a 25-year-old Locust Grove cable installer who wants to join the Henry County police force one day, to be returning to Iraq. In Kuwait, he got the bad news about the latest deaths.
“It made me feel kind of weak in the knees,” he said. “It’s tough to come back to something like this. They were really cool guys.”
Hollar and Draughn were remembered Monday in the same kind of military service that 16 other soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team have received in Iraq.
But behind the symbolic helmets, upended rifles, boots and dog tags, were two more men from Georgia, each with their own story to tell, each with grieving families who will never see their loved ones again.
“We are sad today because we miss the companionship of these two great soldiers,” said Lt. Col John King, the Doraville police chief who commands the 108th Armor Regiment. “It’s because of soldiers like these that we are the strongest nation in the world.”
Soldiers grieved openly for the comrades they lost, wiping tears and clutching each other while the sounds of “Amazing Grace” filled the vehicle maintenance bay.
Among the more distraught was Sgt. Cleveland Carter, who had been out on the patrol Thursday with Draughn and Hollar. He was in an M1A1 Abrams tank following their vehicle. Draughn and Carter had known each other for five years. They went to Cancun together during time off before the brigade deployed to the Middle East in May.
“I’ve seen people hurt like that before, but never anyone so close,” said Carter, 41, a police officer at Clark Atlanta University. “It’s so hard.”
Later, the anger set in.
“I wanted to go to the hospital and shoot the doctors who could not save him. We put them on that bird alive.”
Draughn and Hollar were taken by helicopter to the Combat Surgical Hospital in central Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, where they died from injuries suffered in the blast. Two other soldiers in the Humvee were also injured.
After Stokely’s death, it had been Draughn that had held the soldiers together. Carter said Draughn had acted as counselor for his platoon. Draughn was the one who led prayer before a mission.
“I found myself spending a lot of time outside my tent,” Carter said. “Draughn had the first bunk on the left. I’m the second. It was too hard to walk by.”
Comments
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By vickey kessinger
September 5, 2005 06:11 PM | Link to this
to e troop 108 cav. you all are in my prayers. May God comfort each one of you and hold you safe in his arms. montgomery and williams you are doing the right thing. i am proud of you all and know you will make things safer. God bless you all.. montgomery’s mom
By karen keith
September 5, 2005 08:00 PM | Link to this
I just read the article where Spc.Robert Shea was interviewed in Kuwait while he was on his way back to Iraq to join his fellow soldiers from the 108th CAV. out of Troop E, Griffin,Ga. Robert, and his wife, Christy, are my neighbors and are precious and my husband and I got to spend some time with them while he was home. Our son, Allen Keith, is also out of the Griffin unit. We just want Robert, Allen, and all the other soldiers to know that we are so proud of them and that they are in our prayers daily. I know they are hurting terribly when another soldier has fallen. It’s tough on us here, but I can’t imagine what you soldiers are going through there. We are proud and honor each one of you for all your hard work and dedication. Keep safe and remember Psalm 91. Love to my son, Allen, and also to Robert, Tim, Michael, Sean, Jamie, Terance, Karl, and all of the 48th
Karen Keith
By spc shea
September 5, 2005 08:29 PM | Link to this
thank you very much for quoting me on exactly what i said that just makes me appreciate the ajc even more for what they do in reporting for us. thank you very much. and the families and friends back home are in my prayers everday. they both will missed a great deal.
By roy coppage
September 5, 2005 10:21 PM | Link to this
My prayers are with u all Stay Strong and Pray
Retired U.S. Army
By Karyn from Dallas, Ga
September 5, 2005 11:18 PM | Link to this
Just wanted to let all of you, you are in my prayers. I have a brother over there in the 1 1/121. I pray daily for your safety and for God to keep you all safe. I’m very PROUD of what ALL of you BRAVE soldiers are doing for me. I pray that God will heal you braken hearts in time I know he will. THANK YOU ALL, Karyn in Dallas Ga
By Parker
September 6, 2005 07:48 AM | Link to this
If this message is able to reach you guys, remeber what I told you before I left, the 3 P’s. Also, Do your job and do it well, watch out for each other, and when you can Laugh. I know its hard, just know things are taken care at home. I love you guys, I pray for everyone of you. I’ll see you soon. De Oppresso Liber, -Scott
By Alan Smyth
September 6, 2005 11:10 AM | Link to this
My prayers are with you all, please take time to remember the 2 uk soldiers who have been killed this week, do not forget they are helping us a swell.
By Chris Holcombe(THOR)
September 6, 2005 11:29 AM | Link to this
To Troop E 108Th CAV. you are my brothers and we pray everyday for you all,Draughn and Hollar were great CAV troopers and did their job well,seek GOD for comfort and know that he is still in control.I LOVE YOU ALL.
SFC.Retired Chris Holcombe Troop E 108th CAV.
By andrew tice
September 6, 2005 02:23 PM | Link to this
“Shoot the doctors” Seems like a really bad idea. Hope the command watches this fellow closely if he is making threats against fellow American servicemen women. Grief is understandable, but threats of violence are quite another.
By Rick
September 6, 2005 05:40 PM | Link to this
Please know that many who do not get a voice over here SINCERELY appreciate what is being done over there in Iraq through your efforts. Helping to change things for the betterment of all can be much more difficult and costly than initially expected. But the difficulty and challenge does NOT mean the mission is not worthwhile.
By Christy Shea
September 6, 2005 06:19 PM | Link to this
To the CAV: I am very proud to be a wife of a CAV soldier and proud of the job all of you guys are doing. I ask God at this time of heartache to show you his love and give you the strength to get through this tough time. I hear from my husband how hard things are for him and can’t imagine what each of you are going through individually. I know that each of these heroes will never be forgotten. May all of you in the cav know that all of us at home are praying for you to be protected and come home soon. I love you Robert and keep strong.
By Cindy
September 6, 2005 07:12 PM | Link to this
To the family of Lonnie J Parson, I along with I am sure thousands of others hold you in our prayers. I pray your souls find consolation in Him. I can’t imagine the pain that is yours at this time. God Bless you and give you rest. Thank you, thank you for your love for our nation.
By Shannon Cruce - family of Troop E 108 CAV soldier
September 6, 2005 09:31 PM | Link to this
“I wanted to go to the hospital and shoot the doctors who could not save him. We put them on that bird alive.�
To take a grieving soldier’s words of anger and publish them was in poor taste. Just because someone who just lost a friend makes a comment during an emotional moment doesn’t mean that he literally wants to go and kill someone.
This statement should not have been published. I have no doubt that SGT Carter now has to deal with backlash from this article as well as losing a close friend. Great morale booster.
By A doctor's wife
September 6, 2005 11:07 PM | Link to this
While I know the soldiers left behind are hurting every moment, please don’t think your doctors didn’t do absolutely everything they possibly could to save your friends. They did, they have, they always do. To think any less is more than an insult, even when you are grieving. There isn’t a physician, PA, or nurse there who wouldn’t do everything in their power and then some to save every soldier who is wounded. And while it’s horrible for you to have seen this, they see it every day.
By soldier
September 8, 2005 07:41 AM | Link to this
You wanted to shoot the doctors? Come on man.
By Lee carothers
September 9, 2005 10:23 PM | Link to this
Do not judge these guys by what they say when they are in this situation. These soldiers have been soldiering for many years together. Have you been there? Have you seen one of your brothers die? Well if you havent maby you should. I am not condoning their statment, but how do you know what happened. Remember where you get your info. Think about that next time you want to make a comment about the cav troopers proudly serving their country and going on with their mission.
E Troop 108 Cav
SCOUTS OUT!!!By Christy
September 9, 2005 10:43 PM | Link to this
I don’t condone the statement SGT Carter made, but at the same time the AJC should not have printed it. It is unfortunate that our soldiers are having to watch what they say in front of these reporters as they are apparently eager to sensationalize the bad things (and I’m sure this comment will be edited prior to being printed as I have found out most are). My husband is in the 48th and while he too disagreed with SGT Carter’s comment when I asked him about it, he also said that we don’t know what really happened to prompt it. He said that SGT Carter and others may have gone to great lengths to keep those men alive. I hope these reporters stop and think next time before they print emotional outbursts that may or may not have a negative effect on the soldiers and the readers.
By lavina
September 19, 2005 11:31 AM | Link to this
My thoughts and prayers to the families of these brave young men. Also to the unit members still serving.