Ft. Riley honors 153 of their fallen brethren
8:34 p.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008
A bell rings for every Fort Riley soldier killed in Iraq, 153 fallen soldiers since 2003.
Families gathered, soldiers saluted and flags waved in dedication to these men and women recognized in the unveiling of a fallen soldier memorial.
And Tom and Romayne McGinnis were especially proud of their fallen hero, their son Ross, who threw himself on a grenade to protect four members of his platoon.
"They depend on each other for each other's lives. When one person makes a mistake another one dies. And if that person makes a mistake, then this one dies. They formed a bond so close that it's not surprising that he would do such a thing," McGinnis' father Tom said.
Early mishap
At Fort Riley this morning, a parachutist and three members of a military band were hurt during a special ceremony. One parachutist landed safely, but the second drifted away from his target and landed on the band. Those band members went to the emergency room. One of them was knocked unconscious. Their injuries are not serious, but the crash landing was strong enough to destroy several instruments.
Ross died in December, 2006.
Last month, Ross was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for his courageous act. He's the second soldier to receive the nation's highest honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"The choice for Ross was simple. But simple does not mean easy. His straightforward answer to a simple but difficult choice should stand as a shining example for the rest of us," Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin said. "We all make simple choices, but how often do we make simple choices to get the right answer?"
Though surprised by Ross' choice, his family says they are proud of his courage to protect others.
"It really brings home the fact that his death wasn't in vain. People are going to remember him a long time for what he did. It's important for the soldiers out there that are still out there that when they do something good, we remember."
More than 4,000 U.S. soldiers have died during Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
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