1st ID honors its fallen
Posted On: Friday, Jan. 30 2009 05:06 AM
By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily HeraldFORT HOOD – Ezra Dawson joined the U.S. Army Reserve in late 1999 as a supply specialist. Five years later, he kept the job but switched to active duty.
Dawson left the military and rejoined in mid-2007, this time as an infantryman. Nearly a year later he deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
Sgt. Dawson, a 31-year-old Las Vegas native, died Jan. 17 in the Konar Province when the Chinook helicopter he was in made a hard landing under combat conditions, according to information from Fort Hood. He and two other brigade soldiers were honored at a memorial service Thursday at Fort Hood.
Dawson joined the Battalion Reconnaissance Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in January 2008. He served as a junior scout and sniper team member, and a leader for a reconnaissance team in the Korengal Valley.
His awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Rath and Spc. Keith Essary died Jan. 8 in Maywand of wounds they received when their dismounted patrol was hit by a bomb. The infantrymen were assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, and left Fort Hood for Afghanistan in July 2008.
Rath, an Alabama native, died nine days before his 23rd birthday.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (four Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal (one Bronze Knot), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Infantry Badge and Combat Infantry Badge.
He is survived by his parents, Darlene and Leroy Rath.
Essary is a native of Dyersburg, Tenn., and joined the Army in 2006.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Parachute Badge.
He is survived by his parents, Mary Essary and Charles Hall, and grandmother, Anita Essary.
Contact Amanda Kim Stairrett at
astair@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7547.