Soldier honored in a memorial

Courtesy Photo | 2nd Lt. Pedro Rivera, a platoon leader assigned to M Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, shares his memories of Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pearrow Nov. 30 at FOB Falcon. Pearrow and Rivera were at one time drill sergeants together but most recently Rivera was Pearrow's platoon leader.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.23.2005

Courtesy Story

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Spc. Dan Balda
4th Brigade Combat Team PAO

BAGHDAD─ Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division came together to mourn the loss of a fellow Soldier at Forward Operating Base Falcon Nov. 30.

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pearrow, a Platoon Sergeant assigned to M Company, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was killed Thanksgiving Day in a tank accident.

Lt. Col. Ross Brown, the unit's battalion commander spoke with the audience at length about his decision to move Pearrow's platoon leader to another platoon because of "his talent, maturity and leadership; but also because of my complete faith in Pearrow as a leader," he said.

Brown recalled how lucky he was to have spoken with Pearrow Thanksgiving Day. On Thanksgiving Day, hours before Pearrow died, Brown was able to speak with him.

"I explained it was my confidence in him that played such a large part in why I moved his lieutenant. I'm very thankful I was able to tell sergeant Pearrow this before he died."

Brown did have one solace from Pearrow's death however.

"He died doing something that he loved to do, that was to tank," Brown said. "He thrived in being a tanker on the move and in the fight."

Pearrow's company commander, Capt Michael Hensley preferred to remember him as a hero.

"Initially Pearrow was laid back and quiet," Hensley said. "He would present his information but never expand it beyond the topic we were covering. As we went on and I learned more about him, I realized that everything I needed to know was just a question away. Anytime I would stop in he would smirk, he would huff and he would ensure that I knew the displeasure with the tasking or mission that was falling on "Maddog". And then I would learn that he had already looked at this issue and developed a way to fix it."

According to Hensley, Pearrow not only met the standard but he made sure he was developing the standard as well.

"He would take my company standards, even the ones he thought were garrison policies, revise them, improve them and emplace them to ensure that his Soldiers led the way. He led from the front and ensured their health and welfare came first. He loved his job, he loved his platoon and even though we lost him last week we can be comforted that he died doing what he loved."

White Platoon Leader, 2nd Lt. Pedro Rivera, had an especially unique story to share with the assembled mourners. He had known Pearrow in some way, shape or form for the last 10 years. They had been stationed together as young NCO's and drill sergeants.

"As a platoon sergeant, Eric always placed readiness first," Rivera said. "He believed by doing that, he was protecting his Soldiers from the dangers of this deployment.

Rivera summed up the assembled mourners" feelings best when he finished his remarks with, "Eric, I am much honored to have served with you as a young noncom, as a drill sergeant and as your platoon leader. Thank you for the memories and the good times we had."

• Date Taken: 12.23.2005
• Date Posted: 12.23.2005 11:39
• Story ID: 4185
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ