3rd BCT Soldiers remember fallen comrade

Photo By Sgt. Natalie Loucks | Sgt. Brian Loza, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery, speaks during a memorial service to honor Staff Sgt. Jeffery Hartley, Apr. 16 at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IRAQ

04.16.2008

Story by Sgt. Natalie Loucks 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

By Sgt. Natalie Rostek
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers and leaders of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team gathered to remember their fallen comrade in a memorial service held here Apr. 16.

Staff Sgt. Jeffery L. Hartley was born in Eagle Lake, Texas, Feb. 17, 1983. He was killed while on patrol east of Baghdad Apr. 8 when a road side bomb struck his vehicle.

The 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery command security detachment platoon sergeant was leading his platoon back to Combat Outpost Salie following a memorial service at Forward Operating Base Rustimaya.

"Everywhere I went, he went," said Lt. Col. Mark Sullivan, commander of the 1-10 FA. "Staff Sergeant Hartley was out front leading with unwavering commitment to protecting those that he served."

There were three 1-10 FA Soldiers in the vehicle the night of the attack. Sullivan said Hartley's actions before the convoy rolled out of the gate saved the lives of two other Soldiers.

"Only through the grace of God and Staff Sgt. Hartley's actions, will we be able to take them home," Sullivan said. "I am forever in his family's debt for the sacrifice he has made on our behalf."

Hartley served three deployments with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment before joining the 1-10 FA and deploying twice more in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the "Rock Support" battalion.

"He simply was one of the finest leaders I have ever known," said Capt. Drew Staples, commander of Headquarters Battery. "He combined a sense of mission with a human touch that will be hard-pressed to ever be duplicated."

In his speech, Staples spoke of a few fond memories he had of the fallen non-commissioned officer.

"It's hard to limit this to only a few memories, as I have many great ones of Staff Sergeant Hartley," he told the crowd. "Everything about this young man was special and I feel very lucky to have been able to share this time on Earth with him."

Two of Hartley's closest friends introduced him to those who may not have known him well, and remembered him with those who did.

"Some saw him as a goofball, which he was at times," said Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Wing, "but when it was time for business you knew you could count on him to accomplish any task. He was a no-nonsense professional, focused and mission oriented."

"As a friend, Staff Sergeant Hartley was definitely one person I knew I could rely and depend on," said Sgt. Brian Loza. "If there was ever a time or place that either one of us had to be there for one another, there was never any doubt in either of our minds that we would be there for each other."

At the service, Sullivan had final words for the NCO he considered a "confidant."

"You can stand down, son," he said. "Your mission is complete. Rest in peace."

Hartley is survived by his father, David; mother, Carol; brother, David; and sister, Lisa Ann Willever.

• Date Taken: 04.16.2008
• Date Posted: 04.21.2008 15:38
• Story ID: 18625
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, IQ