48th Brigade joins Georgia in moment of silence

Courtesy Photo | A Soldier's Prayer - Sgt. Montavious Bass, (center) a force protection specialist with 48th BCT and Lithonia, Ga. resident, bows his head in meditation at the commencement of the Georgia statewide moment of prayer which began at 1pm EST, 9pm at Camp Stryker, Iraq. The call to prayer coincided with the Aug. 18 event that recognized the ultimate sacrifices of Georgia's 56 fallen heroes and the bravery of those citizens currently serving in the 48th BCT and in missions internationally.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

08.23.2005

Courtesy Story

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Spc. Tracy J. Smith
48th Brigade Combat Team PAO

CAMP STRYKER, Iraq -- Hundreds of Georgia-based Soldiers in Iraq joined Peach State residents for a moment of silence Aug. 18 to honor Georgians killed in action.

In Georgia, people paused in their daily routine and offered a silent and personal homage to Georgia Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen killed in Iraq.

More than 6,700 miles away, Soldiers from the 48th Brigade Combat Team did the same

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue called for the vigil two weeks ago after the 48th BCT lost 11 Soldiers in 10 days. Since then, four more Guardsmen have been killed. Sixteen Soldiers have died since deploying to Iraq in June. Another Soldier was killed in Kuwait.

As Perdue spoke to his constituents of bravery, honor and the willingness to go beyond the call, he tearfully invited all Georgians to be a part of the Aug. 18 moment of silence.

At 9 p.m. local time in Iraq, Soldiers from 48th BCT and Task Force Baghdad--who were able to stop what they were doing--bowed their heads in silent remembrance.

The brigade's Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Stanley W. Bamburg of Faunsdale, Ala., said he was impressed with the spirituality and willingness of citizens, neighbors and families so far away to put their lives on pause for the men and women serving in the armed services.

"To think that there were millions of people across Georgia, and many other places who heard about it, supporting the mission of the Soldiers and God's protection for the brigade and others serving in combat, it shows tremendous unity," Bamberg said.

Combat missions did not deter some Soldiers from participating in their own creative way. Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th BCT'the unit which has suffered the most losses within the brigade"did not interrupt their assigned tasks and patrols but set up a "net-call" to coincide with the two-minute moment of silence.

With field radios in hand, the operators gave the word and, under the cover of darkness, Soldiers offered small moonlit meditations as a way to stay connected to home and fallen comrades.

"People throughout the stateâ?¦stopped to say a prayer for you," 48th BCT Commander Brig. Gen. Stewart Rodeheaver told the Soldiers and civilian contractors gathered in the tactical operations center for the event. "That's pretty powerful."

"We pray for our fallen heroes, our defenders," Perdue affirmed in his broadcast tribute. "â?¦you are our citizen Soldiers."

• Date Taken: 08.23.2005
• Date Posted: 08.23.2005 12:57
• Story ID: 2821
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ