GONE
BUT NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN!
Our Thoughts and Remembrances
Lost
November 7, 2003
TIKRIT IRAQ
November 11, 2004 Dedication Service
Bill Griffiths pictures
Article printed in "The Leaf
Chronicle"
From Hannibal Bray,
Former Lancer Commander:
Ben Smith - Ben was all I could ever ask for in a platoon leader.
I pushed Ben hard. I often asked him to do things I knew he wasn't always
capable of, but he never let me down. He always gave all he had, and that was
always good enough for me. He was supremely dedicated to the welfare of his
troops and to getting the job done. He never failed me, and he never failed his
soldiers. I will miss Ben's unconquerable spirit and happy-go-lucky attitude. Ben's
wife Maggie is also a pilot in the 101st Airborne Division, assigned to 9th
Battalion. They do not have any children and have been married for about a
year. I believe that Maggie will be home later this week and will attend the
memorial. Ben is a West Point graduate and served a couple of years enlisted.
Ben is from Swinky, Missouri.
Kyran Kennedy - Kyran was a trusted confidant, advisor, and
friend. He never told me just wanted to hear - he told me what I needed to
hear. I respected his professionalism, courage, and loyalty. I will miss
working crossword puzzles with Kyran during our lunch breaks. And I'll miss our
flights together. To say I was an average aviator would be a compliment. But
CW3 Kennedy took a special interest in making sure I was not only safe, but
competent in the air. His wife Kathy and their 4 children live in Hopkinsville,
Kentucky, just north of Fort Campbell. Kyran and Kathy homestead on their farm
and Kathy homeschools the children. My last flight in an Army helicopter was
with Kyran as we circled over his farm and Kathy and the kids waved from below.
I will always treasure that memory. I believe that Kathy and the children will
attend the memorial. Kyran is from Massachusetts.
Scott Rose -the one word to capture Scott is professional. I
watched Scott mature from a young sergeant who was a top-notch crew chief and
one of the guys, to an impressive leader who possessed the conviction to stand
up for his troops, and always do the right thing. If I had the power, I would
have tripled his salary for the output he was producing on a daily basis. But
Scott wasn't motivated by money. He was a professional, who took pride in the
job he did. He took pride in maintaining his aircraft, and he took pride in
training the crew chiefs in the battalion to the highest standards. On more
occasions than I can remember, I had to kick Sergeant Rose out of the hangar to
go home. He never wanted to leave while any of his soldiers were still working,
or there was still more work to be done. His dedication to duty and commitment
to excellence were incomparable. I will miss his perseverance, loyalty, and
sense of humor. His wife Michelle lives in Clarksville and just had their first
child a few months ago. I do not believe Scott had ever seen the baby. Michelle
has been the leader of the Lancer family readiness group for the last several
years. Scott's father has flown into town and I believe they will all attend
the memorial.
Scott is from the
Northeast, but I cannot recall the town/state.
Paul Neff - Paul joined the Lancers just a couple of months
before I left, but his reputation preceded him as a tough-nosed
non-commissioned officer from the battalion's Quality Control shop. I couldn't
wait for him to join the team, and he immediately made an impact as the new 1st
Platoon Sergeant during our first field training exercise. I don't think he
slept for those first couple of days in the field, but he made sure every
aircraft was ready for mission, and he earned the respect of his troops by
proving that he was a leader who wasn't afraid to roll up his sleeves and get
his hands dirty to get the job done. Paul always led from the front and set the
standard for discipline, teamwork, and excellence. I will miss his intensity,
and positive attitude. Paul's fiancée Sabrina Campbell and son, Christopher,
live in the Fort Campbell area and I expect they will attend the memorial. Paul
is from Michigan.
Image courtesy of Lil Doc's