3rd Sfg Honor the Fallen Continue the Mission

The distance of the walkway outside the 3rd Special Forces Group headquarters has not changed in the past 16 years.

It takes the same number of steps it always has to cover the ground between the headquarters and nearby Desert Storm Drive.

But on Tuesday, as it has many times in recent years, that walk got a little longer for the soldiers who travel it.

The 3rd Special Forces Group dedicated seven memorial stones during a ceremony on Fort Bragg, bringing the total number of fallen soldiers memorialized along the walkway to 56.

This year, those honored included four soldiers killed during an ambush near Tongo Tongo, Niger on Oct. 4, 2017, and three soldiers killed in noncombat incidents in Kenya, Niger and Mali.

Col. Bradley D. Moses, commander of the 3rd Special Forces Group, could see hundreds of soldiers and family members lining the Memorial Walk as he left his headquarters for Tuesday's ceremony. He paused at the third stone, however, to pay his respects to a fallen team member, Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Lane.

Lane was a Special Forces engineer sergeant serving with Moses in August 2003, when he died during a night combat assault in Afghanistan.

Moses notified Lane's family of his death. And he was there for his burial. On Tuesday, he placed a group coin on Lane's stone before walking the length of the memorial to take his seat ahead of the ceremony.

"Since the third stone, I know the story behind every one of them," Moses said after the memorial event.

In an organization known for "homegrown" leaders, the colonel said many in 3rd Special Forces Group have personal stories of those lost over the years. They served alongside each other in Iraq and Afghanistan, or in more recent years, Africa. Or they shared meals and trained together at Fort Bragg.

The result, Moses said, is a dedication that is deeply ingrained in the 3rd Special Forces Group's DNA, and a promise that was first described to Moses as a Special Forces captain in 2002: Care for the wounded, honor the fallen, continue mission.

On Tuesday, as officials read the names of each of the seven soldiers added to the memorial walk, soldiers wearing white gloves pulled back rifle green cloths and gently brushed any dirt or dust from the etched lettering.

Sgt. 1st Class Zachary A. Bannister died on Oct. 17, 2016, in Kenya.

Moses said Bannister always had a smile on his face.

"He was a courageous warrior," he said, who in 2014 in Afghanistan saved the lives of several Americans and Afghan soldiers when he killed two Afghans who had opened fire on the gathered soldiers.

"His ability to quickly react with precision prevented further loss of life to his team and his partnered force," Moses said.

Warrant Officer Shawn D. Thomas died on Feb. 2, 2017, in Niger.

Moses said he personally delivered Thomas to his unit in Niger days before Christmas in 2016.

"The world watched with a heavy heart when you were finally reunited with Tara," he said, referring to a video taken of Thomas's grieving widow as she greeted his flag-draped coffin shortly after his death.

Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar died on June 4, 2017, in Mali.

Moses said Melgar was specially chosen for a sensitive mission that "needed a true pro to execute" and that Melgar "excelled at any task you could give a Green Beret."

The next soldiers honored were among those in a joint force of American and Nigerien troops who were killed following an ambush as they made their way home from a mission in Niger last fall.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson was reserved and a soldier through and through, Moses said.

"From his ethos, to his daily appearance, he looked and acted the part," he said. "He was extremely talented and humble" with a "tireless ability to train everyone around him."

Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black was the quietest soldier in the group, but also the sharpest.

"He had the confidence to challenge when needed," Moses said. "He was also fiercely competitive."

Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright had a larger than life personality.

"He was the epitome of the southern gentleman," Moses said. "He could walk into a room and easily friend anyone in it. Even if you just met him, he had this knack for making it seem like you had been the best of friends for years."

Sgt. LaDavid Johnson was the ultimate team player.

"He did the work that needed to be done without asking," Moses said. "If he wasn't doing that, he was doing someone else's work. If he did not have the skill needed to complete said work, he would learn how to do it himself."

Neither Jeremiah Johnson nor LaDavid Johnson wore the Green Beret, Moses said. But both were key parts of the Special Forces group.

After the ceremony, the families of the fallen soldiers placed roses and U.S. flags at the stones. Teammates placed unit coins or other small mementos next to their names.

After the ceremony, officials said the seven soldiers and three others were honored with photographs on the group's Wall of Heroes.

The other three soldiers, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jason Thomas, Sgt. 1st Class Johnny White and Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Otts, died in noncombat incidents while not deployed.

Thomas died on March 9 following a prolonged illness. Moses said he wasn't afraid to question the system.

"His candor was revered by all," the colonel said. "If he had something on his mind, you knew about it.''

White died on Oct. 17 after battling cancer.

"This young man had a smile on his face all the time," Moses said. "He worked harder than most and was convinced that cancer was merely another challenge to beat."

And Otts died on Feb. 11 following a motorcycle accident.

"Otts excelled at anything he set his mind to," Moses said. His four passions in life were his family, his motorcycle, guns and shooting and Alabama football.

As soldiers and family members lined the Memorial Walk, Moses asked that they come closer.

"Bring it in," he said. "This is a family event."

Honoring the fallen is cross cultural and timeless, Moses said. The ancient Greeks and Romans did it. And in modern times, countries from Canada to Nigeria have special days of remembrance for fallen troops.

"It is abundantly clear that honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is sacred, regardless of race, culture, creed, religion or time," Moses said.

That rings especially true in the 3rd Special Forces Group, officials said. The group hosts monthly memorial ceremonies, honoring those who have fallen in previous years.

Given the opportunity, Moses said he believes that none of the soldiers memorialized along the walk would have it any other way.

"None of them would trade places with us," he said.

It's part of the unit's culture, Moses said, and something that isn't easily put into words.

"It's who we are," he said.

Military editor Drew Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@fayobserver.com or 486-3567.

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Source: https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/military/2018/05/22/3rd-special-forces-group-honors-fallen-adds-to-memorial-walk/12161006007/

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