Courtesy Photo | CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- The Brigade Troops Battalion Honor Guard renders the 21-gun salute...... read more read more
Division Support Brigade PAO
CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- Friends and fellow Soldiers of two fallen Division Support Brigade Soldiers attended a memorial ceremony at the DSB Ministry Center at 7 p.m. Sept. 10.
More than 500 mourners gathered to bid farewell to two Brigade Troops Battalion Soldiers: Staff Sgt. Jude R. Jonaus, a pharmacy technician with the 550th Area Support Medical Company, and Sgt. Franklin R. Vilorio, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
Jonaus, who was born in Haiti, and Vilorio, who was from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, were killed when their vehicle was struck by a rocket Sept. 6 while they were performing duties as the brigade headquarters" personal security team.
The PST is where Sgt. Leo Arong, a laboratory technician with the 550th ASMC, first met Jonaus.
"We were both selected to be on the PST," said Arong, who was born in Nigeria.
"During the PST training, I came to know (Jonaus) as a dedicated, intelligent and motivated Soldier and noncommissioned officer."
Arong said Jonaus had joined the Army after witnessing its assistance to his own country during Operation Uphold Democracy.
"Each of us will remember him in our own way; for he touched each of our lives differently and profoundly," said 1st Lt. Jennifer A. Pollard, the commander for the 550th ASMC. "Some shared his love of jazz and Miles Davis, some joked around in wigs and silly hats together in the clinic. But mostly, we will remember him because he was a brave and courageous Soldier who never backed down from a mission."
Mission accomplishment was also important to Vilorio.
"Sgt. Vilorio was a great Soldier who dedicated his life to completing the mission and taking care of Soldiers," said Staff Sgt. Jose F. Magana, a pharmacy technician with the BTB. "I will miss him dearly and I will never forget him."
Magana, the brigade PST NCO in charge, said Vilorio will be remembered for his laid-back attitude and infectious smile.
"He was a wonderful friend, father, son, and leader," said Magana.
"Sgt. Vilorio was a compassionate leader," said Capt. Jennifer R. Cave, the commander for HHC. "(He) now belongs to the ages, but we preferred it when he belonged to us. We all look to that fine day when we will see him again, strong and sure, and smiling; that day when the sorrow of his leaving will be gone from us forever."
"The loss of one such Soldier diminishes us all," said Lt. Col. Ronnie W. Long, BTB commander. "The loss of two is truly hard to bear."
Long summed up his remarks with a charge.
"I conclude with the words of Gen. Creighton Abrams, former Army chief of staff: "What this country needs, it cannot buy. It needs dedicated Soldiers who see service to their country as an affair of the heart."
"No finer words could possibly sum up the convictions shared by Staff Sgt. Jude Jonaus and Sgt. Franklin Vilorio," Long said. "May the same be said of all of us."
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2005 15:24 |
| Story ID: | 3157 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 245 |
| Downloads: | 29 |
This work, Task Force Baghdad unit mourns fallen comrades, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
