FORT LEWIS – Relatives of six Fort Lewis soldiers killed in a bombing in Iraq filed past enlarged photos of the men, some kissing the portraits as hundreds gathered Tuesday for a memorial service.
The soldiers, all members of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, were killed May 6 when a bomb exploded beneath their Stryker vehicle in the city of Baqubah, northeast of Baghdad.
Six sets of sand-colored military boots, along with helmets and dogs tags hanging from rifles, were displayed in memory of Staff Sgt. Vincenzo Romeo, 23, of Lodi, N.J.; Cpl. Matthew Alexander, 21, of Gretna, Neb.; Cpl. Michael Pursel, 19, Clinton, Utah; Cpl. Anthony Bradshaw, 21, of San Antonio; Sgt. Joel W. Lewis, 28, Sandia Park, N.M., and Sgt. Jason R. Harkins, 25, of Clarkesville, Ga.
“Over 95 percent of Americans will never understand why we gather here today. They have entrusted to us the 5 percent of the country’s citizens who serve in the Armed Forces,” Maj. Robert Bennett, the brigade’s rear detachment commander, told about 700 people who attended the memorial in a gym at Soldiers Field House.
The soldiers were all assigned to the 3rd Brigade’s 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, which has been in Iraq since last June.
Also killed was Russian photojournalist Dmitry Chebotayev, 29.
It was the largest death toll taken of a Fort Lewis unit in one attack since six soldiers with the 1st Stryker Brigade, 25th Infantry Division were killed in a suicide bombing on Dec. 21, 2004, at a dining tent in Mosul, Iraq.
As of Tuesday, Fort Lewis has lost at least 108 soldiers since the war began in Iraq in March 2003. Of those, more than 45 were from the 3rd Brigade.
Bennett and others remembered the six soldiers for their leadership skills, as well as for their enthusiasm and selfless service.
“They represented America well,” said Bennett, referencing Lewis’ Canadian citizenship and the fact that Romeo was born in Italy.
Romeo had a great sense of humor and a likable personality, said Maj. Hank Barnes, the battalion’s rear detachment commander.
“He stood out as a natural leader that everyone wanted to be around,” Barnes said.
Barnes’ voice broke as he spoke of Bradshaw, who along with Alexander, Lewis and Pursel, was serving his first mission in Iraq.
Bradshaw was “mature for his age and could always be trusted to make the right decision,” Barnes said.
“We’ll never forget these soldiers,” Barnes said. “You’ll be with us forever. Let your memories live on with those of us you’ve affected.”
Staff Sgt. William Rose said Alexander was always caring for others, while Pursel was a soldier “you knew would be great.”
Pursel, who came from a military family, had told him he wanted to be a career soldier.
Rose recalled how Pursel had struggled to adapt to using night-vision goggles, drawing laughter from the crowd when he described hearing Pursel fall during night training missions.
The young soldier would get better with practice, he thought.
“That opportunity has been taken from him,” Rose said.
Cpl. Joshua Renschler, former squad leader of the men’s company, knew both Lewis and Harkins, whom he considered good friends.
Lewis once gave up part of his sleeping bag to Renschler, who, although larger than Lewis, had been issued a slightly smaller sleepsack.
“We were friends ever since,” he said.
Harkins, meanwhile, “had a way of making everybody laugh” and always challenged others to be better, Renschler said, recalling how he once taught a class in which Harkins asked him only questions that couldn’t be found in a handbook.
“These men were my friends. They gave their lives willingly and they gave their lives honorably,” he said. “I will try my hardest to carry these soldiers with me for the rest of my life.”
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