Memorial dedicated to KIA, WIA who served in Afghanistan

Photo By 1st Lt. Lory Stevens | Task Force Warrior held a dedication ceremony in front of the Moral, Welfare, and Recreation main gym on Bagram Air Field, to add this plaque to a brick structure, Aug. 15. The structure was built in 2002 by Retired Army Sgt. James F. Parker, of Lawton, Okla., who was inspired by a Polish officer who lost his leg in a demining accident on the base.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

08.15.2009

Story by 1st Lt. Lory Stevens 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - American, French, and Polish service members gathered together at Bagram Air Field in front of the Moral, Welfare, and Recreation main gym, Aug. 15, to witness the dedication of a memorial that honors all coalition forces who have been killed or wounded while serving in Afghanistan.

For the past several years, the round pillar with a sloped face and overstretched arch made of brick, located on the corner of Disney Boulevard and DC Street, had been labelled as 'old Afghan/Russian architecture' of unknown origin or meaning.

This past year, Task Force Warrior learned the structure had been built over seven years ago by Retired U.S. Army Sgt. James F. Parker of Lawton, Okla., who recently submitted a request for the addition of a plaque and dedication for the memorial.

In the summer of 2002, Parker assisted the Polish Sapper unit responsible for demining an old Russian gravel yard on Bagram Air Field.

During an operation, the commander of the Polish unit stepped on a landmine and lost his leg in a demining accident.

Parker was inspired to build the memorial for the Polish officer, but his unit left Afghanistan before a plaque could be added.

"I had hoped that one day I would be able to serve in Bagram and see this memorial again..., but my hopes of personally seeing it again through the Army was not to be," Parker said.

Having control of base operations for Bagram Air Field, TF Warrior assumed responsibility for granting Parker's request and adding a plaque to the memorial.

The plaque reads, "In honor of all coalition forces who lost life or limb in the line of duty while serving in Afghanistan. May their sacrifice be forever on our hearts and minds. We Will Not Forget!"

"Task Force Warrior chose August 15th to dedicate the memorial, because it is recognized as Polish Armed Forces Day," said Sgt. Maj. David Stewart, TF Warrior base operations sergeant major. "Even though the memorial is dedicated to all Coalition Forces, it was fitting to dedicate it on the day that honors the Armed Forces of the soldier that originally inspired the memorial to be built."

"It was an honor to complete this memorial for this Soldier, as it is a worthwhile action to honor all the sacrifices made by the coalition in the fight in Afghanistan," he said.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2009
• Date Posted: 08.18.2009 18:05
• Story ID: 37666
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF