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Monday, February 20, 2006
Soldier who aided storm victims dies
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Georgia National Guard soldier who helped collect money in Iraq for Hurricane Katrina victims last summer has died, the Pentagon announced Monday.
Sgt. 1st Class Amos C. Edwards Jr., 41, of Savannah died Friday near Rutbah, Iraq, from what military officials said was a noncombat related cause.
First Lt. Selena Owens, a spokeswoman for the 48th Brigade Combat Team, said Edwards died of an apparent heart attack. The death is under investigation.
Edwards was part of the 48th’s 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment. His death brings to 26 the number of 48th soldiers who have died since the unit was sent to the Middle East last May.
Of those casualties, 16 have been as a result of combat, and the other 10 died in vehicle accidents or other nonhostile incidents.
Owens said Edwards died at Camp Korea Village in a remote stretch of Iraq’s western desert close to the Syrian and Jordanian borders. Edwards’ unit has been providing security for supply convoys making the run from Jordan to bases in western Iraq since November.
Edwards had been among three 118th soldiers who felt compelled to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina and helped spearhead a drive to raise money while stationed at Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad.
The 48th Brigade has more than 2,500 Georgians and nearly 2,000 soldiers from other states including Maryland, Rhode Island, Illinois and Alabama serving in Iraq.
Staff writer Jeremy Redmon in Iraq contributed to this article.
GI mud facials
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Camp Delta, Iraq — It all started as a discussion about who is the biggest Red Bull junky of them all. And then it got real dirty from there. • SEE PHOTOS
Spc. Darryl Wilson and several other Georgia National Guard soldiers were escorting their commander to this military base recently when the conversation started to veer.
Wilson’s buddies started teasing him about his daily intake of Red Bull, a high-energy drink loaded with sugar and caffeine. Many soldiers admit they are addicted to it because it keeps them awake on long guard duties, patrols and convoys.
“He’s a lunatic,” Sgt. Joe Picon, 40, of Calhoun, said of Wilson.
Wilson, 37, shot back: “Picon is a Red Bull junky. If I have one, I will share it. Picon will hide one.”
Picon: “It’s a morning pick-me-up.”
Wilson: “Isn’t that some crack-head stuff or what?”
Wilson has learned to respect the power of Red Bull. He said he tried it for the first time one evening and couldn’t fall asleep until the afternoon the following day.
He said he tried everything to wear himself down. He played video games, lifted weights and participated in three volleyball games. Nothing worked.
“That Red Bull is no joke,” said Wilson, 37, of Jonesboro, a member of the Georgia 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment.
Wilson and the others eventually arrived at this base and observed a military ceremony for some Salvadoran soldiers. The Georgians had lunch and then hung out beside their Humvees until it was time to go.
While he was waiting, Wilson spied a big patch of mud in front of his Humvee and pretended as if he was going to jump in. One of his buddies helped him along.
And timberrrrr! Wilson belly-flopped in the slippery mess.
He climbed back on his feet and started chasing the other troops, hugging each one he caught and smearing them with mud. A truck full of Salvadoran soldiers burst into cheers as they watched Wilson.
“Any questions?” Wilson asked rhetorically as he cleaned his pants with bottled water.
All eyes locked on the commander as he strolled back from lunch. Lt. Col. John King, 42, Doraville’s police chief, saw the looks on his soldiers’s faces and knew what was about to happen. He bolted in the opposite direction.
But his men caught up with him, carried him back and threw him in. Wilson helped King to his feet and then saluted him.
“Boy are we going to get smoked when we get back,” Wilson joked.
King got in on the action moments later, distracting Picon long enough for the others to pick him up and throw him in the mud.
“Welcome to the 108th!” Sgt. Timothy Hass, 34, of Kennesaw, told Picon.
As the muddy troops rode back to their base at Convoy Support Center Scania, Wilson sheepishly admitted something: “It was that Red Bull. It was a bad influence.”
