Who will you be remembering this Memorial Day [2015]? How did their lives impact your life?

Memorial Day is the day this nation honors its war dead. As service members we each have known other service-members who were killed or who died while in the service of this nation. Some died in or as a result of combat while others died in accidents in the area of operations, of disease and unfortunately this nation has seen in increase in suicides among veterans for some time. Memorial Day occurs on Monday May 25 this year. This Memorial Day I will be remembering and pausing to honor four US Army soldiers, one WWI British Army Soldier and my father-in-law. My thoughts about these 6 men are not limited to this time. I think about them during the year.
1. Reggie Johnson died May 1980 while assigned to the US Army Corps of Cadets at West Point, NY. He drowned during the annual Sandhurst military competition 21 days before my class was to graduate. He was originally part of the class of 1980 but was "turned back" to the class of 1981 and then reinstated back into the USMA class of 1980. I first became acquainted with Reggie during what was known as Beast Barracks when we were squad mates. He was a quiet, trustworthy and a solid soldier in the making. I saw him periodically throughout our shared time at West Point. I like the rest of the friends who knew him was mourning his death which was brought home by the playing of taps by a lone bugler across the plain at West Point while we were by the barracks.
2. CPT Winburn Drew Harrington died December 1984 while assigned as Platoon Leader to Company B, 2nd Battalion (Ranger) 75th Infantry (Ranger) in Honduras during a training mission. I knew Drew Harrington as an acquaintance more than as a close friend. He was a daredevil, poet and athlete – boxing and football. I think Drew and I may have been in the same IOBC class at Fort Benning. What struck me most about Drew was the way he died and where and when he died.
3. 1SG George Brewster died October 1992 while assigned to C Co, 3rd BN, 327th Infantry Regiment. He was killed by a SPC in 1SG Brewster’s office following a maneuver exercise. I first knew 1SG Brewster when he was one of my squad leaders while I was a PLT Leader in A Co, 1st BN, 52nd IN and later as Drill Sergeant SFC Brewster at Fort Benning Georgia in 1989. George Brewster was one of the finest infantrymen I have ever served with. As a leader he challenged his men to do their finest and work as a team yet staunchly defended them when required. When as a Captain I was being fare-welled from Fort Benning along with Deputy Commanding Officer of the USAITC, everybody took note when SFC Brewster and another NCO who served with both of us stood up to testify about my service, courage, and care for soldiers when the event was focused on the DCO’s farewell. I was deeply saddened to learn that he died and how he was killed while doing his duty. [I uploaded a picture of SSG Brewster in happier times at Grafenwoehr, Germany in 1982.]
4. GEN Wayne Downing died soon after military retirement from meningitis in July 2007. The sudden death of this warrior shocked many. I first knew him as COL Wayne Downing who was the incoming brigade commander for 3rd Brigade 1st Armored Division in Bamberg, Germany. He always led from the front and by example. He challenged the officers of the brigade to be better leaders of the brigade soldiers. He left Bamberg and became the first commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment and eventually became SOCOM Commander.
5. LCPL John Ford, British Army died in 1967 after my family visited him in England. I believe he hung on to life to be able to see the group of grandchildren who lived in the USA. He was wounded somehow during the trench fighting in France and Belgium of WWI. Records for enlisted soldiers were largely destroyed during the V bombing of London during WWII. I do not have many memories of him having only visited him for a brief time. However, the character of his son my father was above reproach and I feel that my dad learned to be a man from his dad. I am very thankful for my heritage.
6. Pablo Estrada, Cuban farmer and my father-in-law, died on May 24, 2014 in Loudoun County VA. He was one of the most loving, gracious and trusting people I have ever met. He smiled at everyone he met and would help however he could anybody who was in need. He is especially missed this memorial day since this weekend is the one year anniversary of his death.

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