© 2024 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A flood of emotions from family and friends for Fort Drum's fallen soldiers

Julia Botero
/
WRVO News
A plaque commemorating the six combat soldiers who died during their deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2014 is placed among others like it in Fort Drum's Memorial Park's garden.

Every year, family and friends gather at Fort Drum to remember the soldiers who lost their lives in the past year fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tuesday, Fort Drum and Army officials thanked them for their sacrifice.

Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, 309 Fort Drum combat soldiers lost their lives fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Families and friends of fallen Fort Drum soldiers bowed their heads on the lawn of Memorial Park on post. Rain came down in torrents and the wind threatened to lift the tent above where the Army’s Chief of Staff Ray Odierno addressed the solemn crowd.

“We must always remember. They must never be forgotten. What we will do is honor their legacy, remember their sacrifices and knowing they were doing what they loved. Living a life of selfless service to the Army and the nation,” Odierno said.

Jessica Charles remembers when she first heard the news that her brother Cpl. Joshua Harton had

Credit Julia Botero / WRVO News
/
WRVO News
Fort Drum and Army officials along with family and friends of the fallen soldiers gather to remember and thank them at Fort Drum's Remembrance Ceremony.

died in combat in Afghanistan.

“I was at home in bed. It was first thing in the morning. As soon as they were able to tell me within 24 hours, I was notified,” Charles said.

That was five years ago. Charles says she comes back for this memorial every year. “It brings me solace. It brings me connection. Not just from the families but from these guys. From the soldiers he served with.”

She puts her hands on a Fort Drum soldier in uniform standing next to her. He smiles back.

“I get to meet them and talk to them and share stories about my goof ball brother,” Charles said.

The families of the six soldiers killed in 2014 are invited to approach a plaque placed among others like it in the park's Memorial Garden.

Credit Julia Botero
Katherine Turner's husband Sgt. Maj. Turner died in Afghanistan when enemy fire attacked his vehicle. His name is etched out on this plaque commemorating the sacrifice of five fellow Fort Drum soldiers who died in 2014.

Katherine Turner  ran her finger across her husband’s name etched out in the bronze. Her three young boys stand beside her. Her husband, Sgt. Maj. Wardell Turner was injured in Afghanistan last year after an enemy attacked his Humvee. He died the Monday before Thanksgiving.

“We were always a family who always gave and my husband always thought about his soldiers first. Its unfortunate we lost him but he died doing what he loves and that is really an honor,” Turner said.

David Rockwell is a Fort Drum veteran who served two tours in Iraq. He says Sgt. Major Turner was a good friend, but Rockwell says many of his friends' names are on these plaques too.

“I’m furious, I’m furious because we lost 37 men and 1 woman. We made incredible friends and incredible progress in Iraq,” Rockwell said.

His eyes well up with tears. Rockwell says he disagrees with President Barack Obama's military strategy in Iraq.

“He pulled us out.  Those Iraqis' would have fought ISIS if they had looked over their soldier and seen U.S. troops because they would have known we supported them. They didn’t see us. Four thousand men and women died in Iraq for nothing,” Rockwell said.

Three hundred and nine Fort Drum combat soldiers have died since troops were first deployed to Iraq  and Afghanistan after September 11th.