Courtesy Photo | A Soldier from Company E, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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By Spc. Ryan Stroud
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
BAQUBAH, Iraq - "It wasn't a coincidence that he was on that recovery team that day. 'Recovery' is a tight group of Soldiers, whose sole mission is to recover our fellow warriors. The day Spc. Rosema was killed, he had asked his NCO (non-commissioned officer) if he could go out on that mission. He was not afraid of danger; he was always there to help another Soldier out," said Capt. Alexander Babington, about the death of Rosema.
Rosema died from wounds received in combat, March 14. He and other Soldiers were on their way to recover a vehicle, which was previously hit by an improvised explosive device. On their way to the scene, Rosema's vehicle was also hit, taking his life.
Rosema's parents, Lauren Stephens and John Rosema survive him.
"He always had a kind word; we never heard him complain about anything," said Babington, commander of Company E, 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.
Soldiers stationed at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006-2008, piled into Salie Gym to pay their last respects to this fallen warrior. Chaplain (Capt.) Eric Bey gave the invocation and memorial message while others spoke of their fondest memories of their departed comrade.
"I have great memories of Spc. Rosema. He was one of my 'Gazelles,'" Babington said. "My Gazelles are Soldiers who conduct (physical training) with me in the morning. It is an 'elite' group of about ten individuals that run with the command.
"Soldiers would switch to play football," said Babington. "Not Rosema - he was the type of Soldier to jump sides for a harder day of PT."
"He will always hold a special place in my heart," he said.
"There was nothing complicated about him, nothing hidden," said Spc. Jason Dawson, Co. E, 215th BSB. "He was honest; he was a good man. He worked hard; he did anything he could to help those around him. There wasn't a single person he didn't like.
"He loved his music and loved anything that went fast," Dawson added. "Poison, Def Leppard, Motley Crue; the list of his favorite bands was long...But it wouldn't take long to talk to him about his music before he would tell you about his favorite band, Van Halen. He owned a replica of Eddie Van Halen's guitar that he played all the time back in the barracks."
"Everyday at 11:30, he would walk to the (dining facility), grab a to-go plate, and walk back to the motor pool to eat chow so he could listen to his tunes," he said. "Like clockwork, he would sit in the same chair (to eat chow) and jam out. Occasionally he played air guitar if it was a really good song. You could tell, at this moment, he was happy.
"His huge smile, and loud, goofy laugh let everybody know (he was happy)," said Dawson.
As the ceremony drew to a close, many Soldiers took the chance to render one last salute to their friend.
"I want to cordially thank him for his contributions he gave his units, his friends, the Nation and the joy that he brought to his family," said Lt. Col. Ronald Kirklin, commander of 215th BSB. "I want to thank his parents for raising such a fine young man and Soldier. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you grieve the loss of your son."
"Adam Rosema was a simple man," Dawson said. "He loved his family and his friends. He was the kind of person who will be sorely missed; the kind you don't realize how much he will be missed until you suddenly realize he's not there.
"He was a good Soldier, a good man, and I am proud to say that he was my friend," Dawson concluded.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2007 07:38 |
| Story ID: | 9579 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 426 |
| Downloads: | 239 |
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