AJC.com > Iraq coverage > Blog > Archives > 2005 > December > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USState leads U.S. in citizen soldier fatalities
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A vehicle accident in Iraq on Friday helped push Georgia into an unwanted position: first in the nation in the number of Army National Guard soldiers killed in Iraq, according to an analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Spc. Philip Allan Dodson Jr., a corrections officer from Forsyth, was among three Georgia Guard soldiers killed in a rollover accident near Nasiriyah. The names of the other two have not been released. Dodson’s wife, Melissa, said Monday that she did not have additional details of her husband’s death.
The Journal-Constitution reviewed data on the home states of fallen National Guard soldiers compiled by icasualties.org, an independent Web site that tracks troop deaths, and the National Guard Bureau. Since the start of the Iraq war, 27 of Georgia’s citizen soldiers have died, most of them members of the 48th Brigade Combat Team. Louisiana, which has lost 23 soldiers, has the second-highest total, according to icasualties.org.
Jack Harrison, a spokesman for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, said officials there do not compare troop deaths by state and believe that could be seen as disrespectful to fallen soldiers and their families. “We really don’t get into comparing which state has the most or the least, because it really serves no purpose,” Harrison said. “Every single death is unfortunate and unique.”
Gov. Sonny Perdue, who went to Iraq to visit Georgia Guard soldiers during the Thanksgiving holidays, released a statement Monday expressing gratitude for their service.
“I saw firsthand that our guardsmen are performing dangerous missions in and out of combat zones every day,” the statement said. “These fallen comrades were Georgia’s citizen soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.”
With more than 2,500 Georgians and nearly 2,000 soldiers from other states, the 48th Brigade represents the largest overseas deployment of the state’s Guard since World War II. Friday’s accident brings the death toll for the unit to 25.
Dodson was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 148th Support Battalion, a unit of the 48th Brigade.
“He was a good father, a good provider, a good husband, and he was proud to serve his country,” said Melissa Dodson. The couple had been married 18 years and had a 16-year old daughter, Allison.
Dodson, 42, was born on Robins Air Force Base while his father was serving in the Army. He graduated from Mary Persons High School in Forsyth and spent four years in the Army.
Melissa Dodson, who runs a computer lab at an elementary school in Bibb County, said her husband was a state corrections officer for 18 years and had worked for the past 16 years at the Al Burrus Correctional Training Center in Forsyth. He joined the Guard just before Sept. 11, 2001, to work toward military retirement.
His deployment to Iraq was his first experience in combat. The couple communicated for the last time on Thanksgiving evening, swapping computer messages about what he had eaten and how the weather had turned cold in Iraq.
Melissa Dodson said that when her husband’s unit was called to go to Iraq, he did not complain. “He wanted to do it,” she said. “He felt it was his duty to do what he was asked to do and serve his country.”
She said he enjoyed woodworking and knew how to lay floors, put up walls, build decks and make cabinets. He also liked to spend time with his family, collect guns and knives, and watch westerns and war movies.
Other survivors include his father, Phil Dodson Sr. of Macon; his mother, Janice Hughes of Smarr; and brothers Jeffrey Dodson of Big Canoe and Louis Hughes Jr. of Savannah.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Wife of a 48th Soldier
December 6, 2005 09:51 AM | Link to this
May God bless and comfort these families in this most difficult of times. Know that the rest of the 48th families and soldiers grieve with you over these losses. Thank you for your sacrifices and peace be unto us all. GOD BLESS AMERICA - Land of the Free because of the Brave!
By BLD
December 6, 2005 09:53 AM | Link to this
Philip was a fine soldier and a good friend I will never forget him! Loses are never easy, but its really hard to lose one of your own. Especially one who could always be counted on to help at anything. He will truly be missed!
By Wife of an Iraqi Freedom veteran
December 6, 2005 10:22 AM | Link to this
My heart goes out to the Dodson family. Please know that military families as well as those in your unit grieve with your family in your loss. Philip sounds like he was a lot like my husband and I know that he will be missed. Take care.
By Robert
December 6, 2005 10:52 AM | Link to this
I extend my own personal prayers and sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones in these tragic accident. I truely hope that there will be no further loss of life from amongst our brave Georgia Guard personnel. Robert
By Kathy
December 6, 2005 10:53 AM | Link to this
Philip was a good person who loved his family and was proud of his work, both in Corrections and the military. He very much believed in what he was being sent to do in Iraq and was proud to serve his country. My husband is in the Air Force Reserves and went to the Gulf during Operation Desert Storm but I have been fortunate that he has not been to Iraq this time, but I can identify with all the families who have loved ones over there, and my thoughts and prayers are with Melissa and Allison and the rest of Philip’s family. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Burruss Correctional Training Center.
By BILL KINSLAND
December 6, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this
Where may I find a complete list of all the casualties from the 48th GA in Iraq?
Thanks,
Bill Kinsland
By Susan
December 6, 2005 01:50 PM | Link to this
God bless your husband and you. If not for the men and women like your husband we would not be the free country we are today.
By william
December 6, 2005 02:00 PM | Link to this
Mr. Kinsland,
You may find a list of the casulaties from the 48th BCT on the 48th BCT website. I have posted the link below.
http://www.48thbde.com/HHC48th/mem.htm
By BILLGI One
December 6, 2005 02:42 PM | Link to this
THIS WAR IS A RICH MAN’S WAR AND OUR TROOPS ARE GETTING KILLED FOR OIL AND THE RICH MAN!
By Sherry Nored
December 6, 2005 03:37 PM | Link to this
Bill if you will go to the side bar under related- click on complete coverage, a page wii appear that has a section devoted to the fallen and lists their names.
By Jae B
December 6, 2005 06:56 PM | Link to this
I served with Phillip in the 148th. I knew him to be a very motivated soldier who wanted to excell in everything he did. I often found myself relying on him to help me complete my missions. He was an invaluable asset to the 148th battalion and his presence, motivation, and good humor will be sorely missed. God has asked a good man to come home and I am truly saddened for the personal loss and the loss that his family is experiencing. May God continue to bless the family in their time of grief.
By Sister of a GA National Guard Soldier
December 6, 2005 07:02 PM | Link to this
My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones. I appreciate the sacrifices that the soldiers and their families are making every day to ensure that our freedom is upheld. God Bless America and God Bless our Soldiers.
By Lewis Cazenave
December 6, 2005 07:36 PM | Link to this
Words fail to express the sorrow and pain that I feel during this time of loss. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of the brave men and women serving in the Armed Forces of our nation. To those families that have suffered the ultimate sacrifice, by the loss of your loved one, may God bless your family now and forever. May The Lord give you strength to continue in life and endure this tremendous loss. I have one child serving in the Navy and another in the Marine Corps. I know that your pain is great. I am sorry for your loss.
By Randall
December 6, 2005 09:42 PM | Link to this
How many innocent Iraqi civilians have died in Operation Iraqi Liberation (O.I.L.)
By Mary Ann Leverett
December 6, 2005 10:31 PM | Link to this
How tragic to lose a good man like Phillip. He was dedicated to his work at Burruss and dedicated to his country. We talked about the dangers of deployment,but he never waivered in his willingness to serve. He was a loyal Republican and strong supporter of the President. I hope his faith in his government wasn’t misplaced. I pray his family will be able to put their lives back together and know Phillip was a HERO who did what he believed in.
By Dragon 7(r)
December 6, 2005 10:52 PM | Link to this
I hope this helps Bill, you can find these also on the army times web page or icasualties.org
20 July O3 Sfc Christopher R Willoughby, LRSU/GaArng Vehicle accident
Pfc Carlton Newman Ft Stewart Accident
Sgt C Gillican 14 May 05 Accident
Sgt Chad Mercer 24 July 05 Accident
Spc James Kinlow 24 July 05 IED Spc Jacques Brunson ” IED SSg Carl Fuller ” IED Sgt Johh Frank Thomas ” IED
Sfc Victor Anderson 30 July 05 IED Sgt David Jones ” IED Spc Ronnie Shelly ” IED Spc Jonathon Gaggin ” IED
Sfc Charles Warrne 3 Aug 05 VBIED Spc Jerry Ganey ” VBIED Spc Matthew Gibbs ” VBIED
Sgt Thomas Strickland 15 Aug 05 Accident Spc Joshua Dingler ” Accident Spc Paul Saylor ” Accident
Spc Michael Stokley 16 Aug 05 IED
SSg Robert Hollar 1 Sep 05 IED Sgt George Draughn ” IED
Spc James T Grijalva, Il NG 11 Oct Accident
Sgt Paul D Merck 20 Oct 05 Accident
Spc Phillip Allen Dodson Jr 02 Dec 05 Accident XXX XXXXX XXXXXX 02 Dec 05 Accident XXX XXXXX XXXXXX 02 Dec 05 Accident
I say prayers every morning before I go to work, and before I go to bed for the families of these fine soldiers. it is right beside my computer. I pray that these will be the last of our losses.
Sorry for the X’s, I dont know the names of the latest 2 soldiers involved in the accident.
Strike Hard 48th Bde
Dragon 7(r)……..Out
By CCM
December 7, 2005 12:30 PM | Link to this
I pray for strength and comfort for the families and friends of each of these Hero soldiers. Friends are family we choose for ourselves and they hurt, too.
These fine men will be with our Lord this Christmas but they will also be with their earthly families - civilian and military. They will remain in our thoughts and their families will remain in our hearts and prayers.
By Aunt of soldier in the 48th Brigade
December 13, 2005 10:18 PM | Link to this
MY NEPHEW WAS A FRIEND OF PVT. DODSON. THEY SERVED IN THE SAME UNIT UNTIL MOVING TO ANOTHER CAMP. THEY WERELUCKY ENOUGH TO SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER AGAIN THE DAY BEFORE HE DIED. I WAS TOLD MY NEPHEW FELT THE LOSS VERY DEEPLY. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES OF ALL THE BRAVE SOLDIERS. MAY PEACE COME SOON. WE KNOW YOUR LOSS IS GREAT MELISSA. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.