3rd ACR honors 3 'heroes' Posted On: Thursday, Dec. 11 2008 05:37 AM By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald

Children across the country read about heroes from past wars, Maj. Paul Dirksmeyer told the families of Sgt. 1st Class Miguel A. Wilson, Sgt. Jose Regalado and Spc. Corey Shea.

These soldiers put human and familiar faces on that history and word "hero," the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment chaplain said.

The regiment conducted a memorial ceremony for Wilson, Regalado and Shea on Wednesday at Fort Hood.

The three were from different parts of the country – Texas, California and Massachusetts – but their service and bravery united them. In those areas of the country and all parts in between, the people of our nation are grateful for their sacrifices, Dirksmeyer said.

"We have lost three of our brothers," he said. "Allow us the honor to grieve with you."

Wilson was a 36-year-old native of Bonham, which is 70 miles northeast of Dallas.

He died Nov. 21 in Abu Sayf, Iraq, of injuries he received during a rescue attempt of another soldier while their unit was conducting a dismounted reconnaissance mission, according to information from Fort Hood.

Wilson loved being a soldier and deeply cared for his soldiers, said Capt. Patrick Collins. He was known for dishing out tough love and to many in the platoon he was a father. Wilson died saving the life of one of his soldiers, just as a father would do, Collins said.

Wilson enlisted in the Army in 1997. He deployed to Bosnia with the 1st Cavalry Division and, with an Arkansas-based military transition team, in May 2005 to Mosul. He was assigned to Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in September 2006 as the troop's mortar section sergeant. He left for Iraq with the regiment in November 2007.

Wilson is survived by his wife, Carolyn; son, Bryce; and daughters, J'Nai and Lexus.

Regalado and Shea died Nov. 12 in Mosul, Iraq, when an Iraqi army soldier wearing a uniform approached them and opened fire, according to information from Fort Hood.

The incident gained worldwide attention, and the incident is under investigation.

The men deployed November 2007 to Iraq with the regiment's 3rd Squadron.

Regalado, 23, was a native of Los Angeles. His first assignment was with the regiment's 3rd Squadron, with which he deployed to Iraq in March 2005. He re-joined the regiment in November 2007 and immediately deployed to Iraq again.

Regalado, who served as a team leader in Killer Troop, pushed his soldiers to be the best, said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Flading.

He also balanced family life with the Army, speaking often of his wife, Sharri, and daughter, Jaimie. He even showed his fellow soldiers photos of his golden retriever.

The sergeant looked forward to camping and fishing when he returned from Iraq, Flading said, and talked about attempting golf.

He is also survived by his parents, Jose and Raquel Regalado.

Shea was an expert on everything Boston.

He played high school varsity hockey at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Mass., and enlisted in the Army in March 2006.

The 21-year-old's first duty station was with Killer Troop.

Spc. Brandon Duggan considered Shea one of his best friends and said that of all the people he met in several years of Army life, none were more important to him than Shea.

He could be quite stubborn, Duggan said, but after getting to know Shea, one would find that he was so stubborn because of his strong convictions.

Shea is survived by his mother, Denise Anderson; stepfather, Jeff Margolin; and sister, Kristin Anderson.

Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at astair@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7547.