Austin American-Statesman November 17, 2006
Fort Hood honors its fallen
Post pays tribute to soldiers who died in October.
By Marty Toohey
FORT HOOD — Following one of the most violent months in the Iraq war, this Army post on Thursday celebrated the memories of a renowned military artist, a former city council member and 18 other soldiers killed in October in Iraq.
"We've stood behind them the whole time," said Valerie Lauer, whose husband, 25-year-old Cpl. Tim Lauer, was killed Oct. 14. "They really believe in the things they're doing. It just pains me that I had 26 days left to go" until Tim Lauer came home.
October saw 105 U.S. troops killed — the third most in any month since the 2003 invasion of Iraq — including 23 soldiers from Fort Hood's 4th Infantry Division, which has been responsible for the Baghdad area during the past year.
The division has lost 134 soldiers during this deployment, 53 more than were lost during its yearlong tour in Iraq that ended in April 2004.
"October was a tough month," said Col. Dick Francey, a division spokesman. But, he added, "I think anybody who wears this uniform, they embrace the fact that suiting up is dangerous business."
Now the division's 18,000 members are in the process of coming home. Spokesmen said about 35 percent of the division has returned, and the rest will be with their families before Christmas.
Among those who did not make it back are 48-year-old 1st Sgt. Charles King, who created a collection of art depicting the experiences of African Americans in the military. His works are on display in the Pentagon and military installations around the country.
Also gone is Pfc. Dean Bright, a 32-year-old who served as a city council member in Sutherlin, Ore.
Neil Moseley remembered his brother-in-law, 37-year-old 2nd Lt. Johnny Craver of McKinney, as someone who earlier in life thought of himself as "whiskey bent and hell bound" — in the words of a Hank Williams Jr. song — and someone who had expert knowledge in "trucks and guns and Civil War generals and women." Craver had three children, and Moseley said, "It will be an honor to recall his memory for them as they grow."
The 4th Infantry Division is returning when polls show American sentiment turning against the war. In Baghdad, things also have become increasingly complex, as it has become the focal point for the insurgency.
One of the division's main focuses was training the Iraqi military. Maj. Gen. James Thurman often used the popular phrase that 2005 would be the "year of the police." The U.S. says the Iraqi military and police improved dramatically, but as U.S. forces began turning sections of Baghdad over to Iraq forces, some proved incapable of controlling their territory, requiring American troops to conduct sweeps to calm those areas.
"A lot of these (Iraqi) units have not matured to the point where they can handle things independently," said John Pike, director of Globalsecurity.org, an organization that tracks security issues. "If there's a prairie fire in that country, it's gonna be in Baghdad."
Preventing that now falls to another set of Fort Hood soldiers, the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cav took control of Baghdad on Nov. 15 — the second time in 18 months it has been responsible for the city — and it is scheduled to be there about a year. Some of its 19,500 soldiers are still making the transition from Texas to Iraq.
The division lost its first soldier, 42-year-old 1st. Sgt. Ricky L. McGinnis, on Oct. 26.
© Copyright 2006, Austin American-Statesman
