OIF Memorial At Fort Hood

18. June 2008, 13:15 UhrUncategorizedSite Administrator

The Iraqi Freedom Memorial Rededication Ceremony

Fort Hood, Texas

May 16, 2008

The 1st Cavalry Division

The Iraqi Freedom Memorial Rededication Ceremony took place on May 16, 2008 at Cooper Field, Fort Hood, Texas. The rededication ceremony was in honor of the 469 Fallen Warriors who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006 - 2008. Fort Hood is the home of the Army 1st Cavalry Division. Dustin’s Able Company of the 3/509th PIR was honored to serve with the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq and the 3/509th paratroopers are now invited to wear the 1st Cavalry patch on their uniforms. Judy was unable to attend this memorial rededication ceremony as she was in Alaska for the dedication of the Sparatan Warrior Memorial at Fort Richardson on that same day.  On June 26, 2008, the Donicas gratefully received a package from Fort Hood with a video and program of the ceremony, and a rubbing from the memorial wall of Dustin’s name.

Click on the link below for the names of the 3/509th PIR, OIF 2006 -2008.

http://www.first-team.us/fallen-defenders/

The arrow designates CPL Dustin R. Donica’s name.

James Dietz Print “Turning The Corner”

Click on the link below for addtional memorial dedication photos.

http://www.1cda.org/Division_memorial.htm

The Memorial’s foundation is formed in the shape of the 1st Cavalry Division patch and is approximately 32 feet wide and 45 feet long. The foundation floor replicates the 1st Cav’s desert patch – tan tiles with a black granite stripe and horses head. Under illumination the patch duplicates the “official” yellow and black patch.

Inside the Memorial centered on the black stripe is a bronze statue, shown at the top of this page, commissioned and built in Iraq, depicting just one of the many First Team operations across Central Iraq providing aid and support to the Iraqi people. The statue, crafted from an actual photo, is of two 1st Cav Troopers rescuing an Iraqi child caught in a mortar attack in Baghdad, is a fitting commemoration of the Division’s entire mission. Our Troopers are symbolic of all U S efforts to provide security, stability, and support until the fledging Iraqi democracy can take hold with the child symbolic of the U S commitment to Iraq’s future. The statue base is of black granite and shows the brigade level crests that participated in the 1st Cavalry Division’s mission.

The Memorial’s panels are of black granite from Bangalore.The names are listed in chronological order, according to the date of casualty, within each day the names are alphabetized. The list starts on the left side and ends on the right, beginning with SFC Gregory B. Hicks who was our first casualty and was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry and ending with SPC Adam N. Brewer, who was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, and was the last Division casualty in Iraq. Engraved on the right front entrance is the Purple Heart and on the left front entrance the Bronze Star. The “Soldier’s Cross” – boots, with a reversed rifle with helmet - is also engraved on the inside. The National Colors are embossed on the back panel on the inside and a 1st Cavalry Division patch and National Colors are on the reverse side. Etched into the black granite is a copy of the oil painting of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Iraqi mission entitled “Turning the Corner” by well known military artist Mr. James Dietz and commissioned by the 1st Cavalry Division Association Museum Foundation.

The Memorial entrance contains a ‘Mission Plaque’ with a brief mission history along with a colored map showing the 1st Cavalry Division and its assigned/attached unit’s area of responsibility during its deployment. Black granite donor plaques will be installed at a later date to commemorate the very generous donations that helped build this memorial.

Memorial Funding

Our initial estimate indicated that we needed approximately $250,000 to construct this granite memorial and to provide funds for maintenance, upkeep and possible future expansion if/when the 1st Cavalry Division returns to Iraq. The $23,000 statue was purchased with contributions from the Troopers and donations received in Iraq. We have raised an additional $280,000 toward the cost of the Granite Memorial Wall and the Cavalry Patch foundation. Your generous contributions have helped us exceed our funding goal and are greatly appreciated. All funds donated for the Memorial will be were used for construction of the Memorial and are currently being used for the additions to the Memorial. Plaques recognizing the generosity of our donors are being emplaced adjacent to the Memorial.

Live the Legend!