Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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FORT POLK, La. – “We miss you Silas. You will never be forgotten,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Griffin Bonnema, Battery B, 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “We will remember you fondly. We will remember the quick jokes and the hard-working attitude that you brought to the Thunder Battalion. But most of all, we will miss you.”
On Sept. 10, 2014, Spc. Silas Jones died in a training accident at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana. Jones a Springfield, Missouri, native, was a cannon crew member, who served with Battery B, 5th Battalion, 25th FA, 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division. The Patriot Brigade held a memorial service for Jones Oct. 3, 2014, at Fort Polk’s main chapel.
The battery and 5th Battalion moved quickly to help the Soldiers of Battery B to deal with the sudden loss of one of their bothers in arms.
“Upon notification to the battery of the accident in the field, the battery and the battalion met with the behavioral health team from the brigade and sent almost every Soldier through the process to find out their mental status,” said 1st Sgt. Todd Archer, Battery B, 5th Battalion, 25th FA, 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division. “Individuals were recognized based on their relationship with Spc. Jones and pulled out of the field to undergo additional treatment as needed to help them with their grieving process.”
During the memorial, Soldiers spoke from the heart about the man they called brother.
“I’m proud to say that I knew Silas Jones and that I have the privilege to call him brother. I love that man as much as any member of my family, because that's what he is, that’s what this organization called the “Army” does. It takes people who, as civilians, wouldn’t have had a chance to meet one another and creates a bond as strong and as deep as any blood,” said Spc. Zachary Liddle, Battery A, 5th Battalion, 25th FA, 4th BCT, 10th Mountain Division.
After the benediction and the exit of the official party, 1st Sgt. Archer stood and called out in a loud and clear voice, the final roll call.
“Spc. Jones.”
“Spc. Silas Jones.”
“Spc. Silas Stacey Jones.”
The silence that reigned was finally shattered by the 21 gun salute and a lone bugler playing TAPS.
| Date Taken: | 10.03.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.08.2014 19:32 |
| Story ID: | 144673 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Hometown: | SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 205 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Gone but not forgotten: 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery lays one of their own to rest, by SFC David Edge, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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