Service honors fallen guardsmen

Annual remembrance at Camp Robinson draws families

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MELISSA SUE GERRITS - 05/03/15 - Billie Warren is helped by sergeant Susan Sharpe to the memorial plaque for her son, William T. Warren April 3, 2015 at Camp Robinson's Fallen Soldiers Memorial during a memorial service at Camp Robinson. The service honored the memory of 20 Arkansans killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as Guard members and militia predecessors killed in wars dating back to the War of 1812.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MELISSA SUE GERRITS - 05/03/15 - Billie Warren is helped by sergeant Susan Sharpe to the memorial plaque for her son, William T. Warren April 3, 2015 at Camp Robinson's Fallen Soldiers Memorial during a memorial service at Camp Robinson. The service honored the memory of 20 Arkansans killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as Guard members and militia predecessors killed in wars dating back to the War of 1812.

The teenage son of a deceased Arkansas National Guardsman stared at his father's name inscribed on the Killed in Action monument at Camp Joseph T. Robinson on Sunday, while his mom patted his back.

April Brandon; her son, Jonathan; and daughter, Brianna, took a moment to look at the name of their husband and father, Staff Sgt. Stacey C. Brandon, before taking their seats at an annual memorial service honoring killed Arkansas guardsmen.

The memorial has been held at the North Little Rock post every spring since the Killed in Action monument was dedicated in September 2005. It recognizes the 20 guardsmen killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as three killed in the Korean War, two in World War II, 20 in the War with Mexico and an untold number of soldiers in the Arkansas Militia killed during the Civil War.

"For the sacrifice that you, the families, have made for this great state of Arkansas and the sacrifice of the soldiers, I just want to say thank you," said Maj. Gen. Mark Berry, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard, to the families in attendance. "We're all going through a healing process."

About 100 guardsmen stood in formation Sunday morning around the families, who were facing the monument on the grounds of the post's small chapel.

Col. James Treece read aloud the names of the guardsmen killed in action, and another guardsman rang a large bell after each name was called. In between each name and bell toll, the only sounds were birds chirping and the splash of the monument's waterfall.

When Chief Warrant Officer Patrick Kordsmeier's name was called, a family member of another fallen guardsman put his arm around Barbara Kordsmeier, Patrick Kordsmeier's sister. A guardsman walked up on the other side of Barbara Kordsmeier and put her arm around her, too.

Her brother, then 49, was killed on April 24, 2004 -- the same day as Stacey Brandon, 35. Kordsmeier, Brandon and two others with the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were killed in Iraq when a rocket landed in the mouth of their bunker.

Eleven years later, their families and Arkansas National Guardsmen, some of whom served with them, gathered to remember.

"I didn't know your loved ones, but I know the story" said Berry, a veteran of the Air National Guard who was appointed adjutant general in December.

"The soldiers have shared your story with me. I can only imagine the grief you have suffered."

After the ceremony Sunday, the Brandon family again stepped up to the inscription of Stacey Brandon's name on the monument.

Before leaving, April Brandon said simply, "I miss him."

Metro on 05/04/2015

Upcoming Events