Officer awarded the Joint Commander's Commendation Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 04:10 AM By Amanda Kim Stairrett
Killeen Daily Herald

FORT HOOD – The British army honored a former 1st Cavalry Division officer Wednesday for his and his former company's work in capturing those responsible for the deaths of six soldiers.

Six from a Royal Military Police detachment were killed by a mob on June 24, 2003, while working with newly-recruited Iraqi forces in al Majarr al Kabir, according to information from the 1st Cavalry.

More than six years later, those responsible were detained and are set to be tried for the deaths in an Iraqi court.

In the fall of 2008, Multinational Division-Southeast began Operation CORRADE to identify suspects in the case. It was a United Kingdom operation, according to information from the division, but "success fundamentally rested on the motivation of the U.S. Army commander of the Forward Operating Base in Majarr al Kabir."

That commander was Capt. Brent Harrington, who led the 4th Brigade Combat Team's Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He was given the Joint Commander's Commendation by British Col. John Rouse, assistant military attaché to the British Defense Staff in Washington, D.C.

Rouse presented the award on behalf of the British Joint Commander of Operations.

The brigade returned this summer from a year in Iraq. Harrington recently moved from the 1st Cavalry to First Army Division West's 120th Infantry Brigade.

"This award acknowledges the great debt of gratitude that the U.K. has for the efforts of Capt. Harrington and his men to pursue those suspected of killing the British soldiers," said Maj. Peter Little,the 1st Cavalry's British exchange officer.

Harrington deflected credit from himself, saying it was a joint effort by Bravo Company, British investigators and Iraqi Security Forces. This operation highlighted a wider partnership between the American and Iraqi forces and the U.S. and British armies, he added.

"It's not just an American show; it's everybody out there," Harrington said.

Rouse talked about that friendship and how it has contributed to a significant level of cooperation and team spirit around the world. British combat forces left Iraq this year, but more than 9,000 British soldiers are fighting in Afghanistan, he added.

"We will fight together with you until that mission is successful," Rouse said.

Arresting the suspects also shows families of the fallen soldiers that the British army hasn't forgotten about them and recognizes their sacrifices, Rouse said.

Harrington added later that it wasn't about him or the soldiers standing in formation by the 1st Cavalry Museum, but about bringing closure to the families.

First Lt. Richard Hedgecock led Bravo Company's 1st Platoon. He said the soldiers were motivated to take part in the operation.

"If it had been us, we would want the same thing," Hedgecock said.

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