Soldiers Honor Lives of Three Fallen Comrades

Photo By Sgt. Serena Hayden | Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division reflect on the loss of three fallen comrades, Sgt. Blake Harris, Spc. Ryan Russell and Pvt. Barry Mayo, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, during a memorial ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, March 9.  

BAQUBAH, IRAQ

03.12.2007

Story by Spc. Ryan Stroud 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- "It is our duty not only to cherish the memories of Pvt. Mayo, Spc. Russell and Sgt. Harris, but also to honor their sacrifice by renewing of commitment and stealing our resolve," said Maj. Jeremy Siegrist, the executive officer of 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, about the deaths of three of his Soldiers, Pvt. Barry Mayo, Spc. Ryan Russell and Sgt. Blake Harris.

"These three Soldiers honored here today, leave behind friends, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters," Siegrist continued. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this most difficult of times."

"We will gain strength from this loss," he said. "We will continue to fight those who would stand in our way to bring freedom and preserve the basic rights of the Iraqi people."

Harris, Russell and Mayo died from wounds received in combat, March 5. A memorial ceremony was held at Salie Gym, Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in Baqubah, Iraq, March 9. All three Soldiers are survived by their families, friends and fellow brothers- and sisters-in-arms.

"It is difficult to express in words how profound this loss is to us," said Capt. Alexis Rivera, commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop "Hellraisers," 1-12 CAB, 3rd BCT.

Rivera spoke at the memorial ceremony, showing his pride for the Soldiers who served under him. He took his time to properly honor each Soldier and help those in attendance to understand why the loss of each Soldier was so great to him and his unit.

"Sgt. Blake A. Harris was a tremendous leader in the mortar platoon," Rivera said. "He had a zest for life that was infectious to all who knew him and his work ethic was incredible. But what he brought to the mortar men was his attitude; an attitude that any commander would love to build his outfit on.

"On many occasions I remember Sgt. Harris striving hard to get his vehicle ready and his men prepared to accomplish the mission," he continued. "His men admired him as a leader but most of all, as a friend that you could count on."

"I'm proud to have served with a Soldier of this caliber," said Rivera. "In the tough business of leading Soldiers, Sgt. Harris stood out and the company will miss him greatly."

"We have spent the last four and a half years together; from barracks parties, trips to Austin and long days in the motor pool; to getting married, my daughter and his son being born, backyard barbeques and two tours in Iraq," said Cpl. Jeremy Stafford, HHT, 1-12 CAB, about the many wonderful experiences he had with Harris.

"Blake was the kind of guy that would take time to listen if you needed to talk," he continued. "If you were having a bad day, he could always make you laugh. Even today, all of Blake's friends are hurting, eyes filled with tears. So if we take a minute to think about all of his goofy faces, his crazy dancing...you can't help but smile."

"Sgt. Blake Harris was a great friend, an excellent Soldier and a loving husband and father," said Stafford. "He was loved and respected by all and he will be greatly missed."

"Spc. Ryan David Russell is remembered as a great medic who was loved by his comrades," said Rivera. "He's one of the first Soldiers I met in the company and definitely one of the most memorable."

"I will always remember Spc. Russell as a Soldier who fit into the Hellraiser family," Rivera continued. "He was always full of light, energetic and always ready to accomplish the mission. At our last barbeque last Saturday, along with Pvt. Mayo and Sgt. Harris, I remember joking with Spc. Russell about how much he had grown. I realized there that he was an incredible asset to this platoon.

"The mortar platoon loved him as one of their own and they treated him with respect," he said. "Whenever I asked about how Spc. Russell was doing, I would receive nothing but outstanding praises on his performance and that he was irreplaceable."

"Only a true combat medic can receive such accolades from the infantry-tough mortar men," said Rivera. "He will be remembered as a favorite son to this great organization."

"He was the kind of guy who would do anything for you, whether at work or just hanging out at home," said Spc. William Papp, HHT, 1-12 CAB, and friend to Russell. "He would give the shirt off his back if he had to, or help you get any task finished. He wasn't one to shy away from a task and you couldn't have asked for a better friend or Soldier."

"We were roommates at Hood, we shared a house together," he continued. "We always looked out for one another like brothers. I never had a little brother growing up but I found that in Ryan, and now he has gone to a better place. But he will always be with me in my heart for the rest of my days."

"I will miss the brotherly arguments we would have about our sports teams; his Panthers and my Cowboys," Papp said. "No one would win those arguments but it was his competitive fire to not back down that I will miss."

"Most of all, I just miss him, as I know all the mortars will," he said. "He was our medic, but he was one of us."

"It's hard to believe that in such a short time, Pvt. Mayo made his mark and impact on this unit," said Rivera. "Pvt. Mayo knew the importance of his job, although young in the Army, he was on his way to becoming a leader. He always went out of his way to learn his job and never hesitated to go out on missions."

"It was incredible to watch the mortar platoon except him as one of their own," he said. "They enjoyed his company and accepted him as a valuable team member."

"The best memories of Pvt. Mayo are of our last company barbeque where he truly was one of the Hellraiser family," Rivera continued. "Watching him smile and joke around with his new Army family will always bring a joyful reflection to me."

"I was proud to have served with Pvt. Mayo and he will always be remembered as one of my own, a Hellraiser," he said.

In a letter addressed to Mayo, Spc. Christopher Jackson, HHT, 1-12 CAB, spoke to him about their friendship, and how he and his fellow comrades will miss Mayo.

"To our best friend, Berry, you were more than a best friend, you were a brother," said Jackson. "From the start, we looked out for each other, no matter what happened. We had your back because we knew you had ours."

"Even in the worst of times, [you] knew how to put a smile on [our] faces," he continued. "You always came through to make us feel better."

"Not even blood has felt so close," said Jackson. "It's not fair you died so young. God knows we miss you. No one can ever take your place and no one ever will. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. You will always be in our hearts."

As the ceremony drew to a close, Soldiers who attended the memorial paid their last respects to the fallen Soldiers by rendering salutes to the line of helmets, boots, weapons and ID tags which once belonged to the fallen Soldiers.

Rivera gave his closing statements to the crowd of Soldiers and civilians in attendance, with a proud gleam in his eye as the ceremony drew to a close.

"I take pride in wearing this uniform, knowing it is a symbol of their honor and sacrifice," he said. "God bless Pvt. Mayo, Spc. Russell and Sgt. Harris. You are not forgotten by the family; you will always be loved and remembered as champions."

• Date Taken: 03.12.2007
• Date Posted: 03.12.2007 17:57
• Story ID: 9407
• Location: BAQUBAH, IQ