Courtesy Photo | On Sept. 13, 2010, Maj. Scott Westerfield speaks during a ceremony held aboard Camp...... read more read more
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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan—The commander of Regional Command Southwest dedicated a newly-built compound at Camp Leatherneck Sept. 13 in memory of a Marine killed in the province.
Maj. Gen. Richard P. Mills, RC (SW) commander, participated in the dedication ceremony for the Capt. Trevor Yurista Center, which will house the Regional Command Southwest intelligence directorate.
Yurista was killed in action on Oct. 27, 2008 while assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, operating near Now Zad, Afghanistan.
Yurista volunteered in an operation to raid and destroy a major improvised explosive device factory in Now Zad. During the operation, he was involved in a firefight that lasted more than four hours which resulted in the destruction of the IED factory. While returning to Combat Outpost Now Zad, Yurista’s convoy came under enemy fire again. While directing his vehicle to provide return fire, his vehicle struck a roadside bomb, mortally wounding Yurista. Yurista was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a combat distinguishing device.
Mills gave a speech in honor of Yurista at the dedication ceremony following opening remarks. During his speech, Mills said Yurista’s last deployment was completely voluntary—he wanted to deploy as soon as possible and lead Marines.
“I remind you that Capt. Yurista had just returned from the second of his tours in Iraq,” Mill said. “He could easily have sat this one out. He could have stayed with his family and contributed from back home. But instead, like all Marines, he wanted to be in the fight. He wanted to go to the sound of the guns.”
Maj. Scott Westerfield, RC (SW) intelligence executive officer, also spoke about Yurista’s character and his dedication to the Corps.
“Everybody that knew him personally was really struck by his commitment to be involved, to be where the action was and to support his Marines,” Westerfield said. “It’s unfortunate in answering the call-to-arms and literally fulfilling his goals, he met an untimely end.”
Emphasizing the ultimate sacrifice Yurista made for his Marines and his country, Mills said he was proud to dedicate the new building to the memory of the fallen Marine.
“He went forward because the Marines in the front needed his leadership,” Mills said. “For his leadership, his dedication, his esprit-de-corps, we will honor this fallen warrior who so embodied the spirit of the Marine Corps.”
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2010 02:00 |
| Story ID: | 56526 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 784 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
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