- Location
- Aransas Pass, Texas
**
Just wanted to pass this along. As always, my thoughts are with those that serve, as well as those that made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as their families.
Glenn
**
By Spc. Erin E. Robicheaux, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
CAMP AL TAHREER, Baghdad--Some may say Sgt. Christian Engeldrum had the most significant job following the attacks of September 11, 2001. In the famous picture of New York City firemen hanging a United States flag on a pole rising from the rubble, Engeldrum was the burly man holding the ladder.
He was steadying the way for his colleagues of Ladder 61, Co-op City, to follow him to the gates of freedom. Four years later, Sgt. Engeldrum once again led the way, this time for three of his fellow Soldiers.
Only this time, he's holding the ladder to the gates of heaven.
In less than a week, the 256th Brigade Combat Team has said good-bye to four honorable veterans: Sgt. Christian Engeldrum, Spc. Wilfredo Urbina, Spc. David Fisher, and Staff Sgt. Henry Irizarry.
Sgt. Christian Engeldrum was loved by everyone who crossed his path. He was a loving father and devoted husband. As a firefighter, he lived for life in Ladder 61, Co-op City. He was a key player in the recovery of New York City following the terrorist attacks and believed in the cause so deeply, that he took the fight to Iraq.
Engeldrum was very mission-oriented and a constant positive source for his company and his platoon. No matter what challenges faced him and his troops he surged onward and refused to quit until the task was complete. He kept those around him calm and level headed and cooled the occasional hot tempers by the mere soothing calm of his presence. Though his sense of humor has been described by some as a little stale, his friends get a good laugh when they recount that the huge man’s favorite movie was “Clueless.”
Engeldrum remains immensely loved by his fellow Soldiers. Staff Sgt. Mike Brown, a close friend of thirteen years, says that he and the rest of the Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, will have a long year ahead of them without their beloved buddy.
“The hardest part is that there’s nothing that you can do,” Brown said. “We don’t even know who to get angry at. Do you get angry at the insurgents? Do you get angry at the civilians because they know what’s going on, but won’t talk because they’re scared? You get mad because it doesn’t feel like it’s worth your buddy’s life.”
Spc. Wilfredo Urbina was one in a million to his friends of 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment. He was truly excited to be serving in this war as an infantryman.
To bring to light the kind of person that he was, when he learned that a close friend, Spc. Nicholas Wilson, could not be eligible for the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) due to the fact that he was an engineer, he told him, “I will get that award for you.”
Urbina had goals and wanted to make the Army a permanent occupation. He wanted to be a leader and he took all tasks with the notion that every noncommissioned officer was watching him. Urbina not only wanted himself to look good, but what others thought of his team, his squad and his platoon also made a difference to him. His courageous behavior fueled his ambitions on succeeding in today’s Army.
According to friends, Engeldrum and Urbina were closer than any two Soldiers in Company A’s 2nd squad. Engeldrum was a person who demanded perfection. He loved to look good. Urbina loved to look good in front of Engeldrum and this only made him stronger and their relationship more cohesive. It is believed by their fellow Soldiers that Urbina devoted himself to every task partly because he wanted Sgt. “Drum” to be proud of him, and that made him a vast asset to the 1-69th team.
An asset to D Troop, 101st Cavalry, Spc. David Fisher was born on June 12, 1983 in Albany New York. He was a very proud older brother and referred to his 11 year old
sister, Andrea as his princess. Danny, his little brother, was the spitting image of his elder sibling and looked up to him very much.
Fisher came from a very close family to include his parents, grandparents, and his girlfriend of one year, Tara. His father was a police officer and after returning home from the deployment to Iraq, Fisher had plans to attend the police academy and follow in his dad’s footsteps.
His best friend, Spc. Christopher Holland, has been an inseparable part of his life since the first grade, so much so that they came across the world together to defend the United States in the war on terrorism.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, both Soldiers were in school at Hudson Valley Community College in Albany, New York. When the attacks happened just two hours away from their front doors, they went home together to watch the coverage on television. Only three weeks earlier, the best friends had discussed getting out of school to do something different. When the terrorists struck the World Trade Center, the military seemed like the perfect answer. Two months later they were officially tankers in the New York National Guard and were attending basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Holland recalled an incident that happened shortly after returning home.
“For one of our first drills we went down to New Jersey and they had brand new M1A2 tanks,” Holland remembered. “They let us drive them and when Dave was parking it, he clipped the side of the brand new tank on the side of the brand new garage. It couldn’t have happened to a more perfect person.”
Holland explained that Fisher was the kind of person who would have a friend everywhere he went. He was always the center of attention but he never intended for it to be that way. It was just the kind of personality he had. According to him, Fisher was quiet around a big group of strangers, but if he was in a room with four or five friends he lit up the room.
Fisher was a jokester and loved to play pranks when no one was expecting them. During the ‘Y2K’ New Year’s Eve, he snuck out of the room as the countdown was happening, and at the stroke of midnight he turned all of the lights in the house off. Moments later, the lights in the house came back up and he walked into the living room with a big grin on his face.
Holland also recalls that his buddy was very athletic and competitive. He said Fisher was also a leader.
“Dave was the organizer of our flag football team but his passion was basketball,” recalled Holland. “If he would have played in high school, he would have probably earned a scholarship.”
Staff Sgt. Henry Irizarry was looked to by his fellow Soldiers for his leadership, guidance, his sense of humor, and his ability to emit a positive light into any situation, regardless of the circumstances. He was a loving father, grandfather, and a devoted husband. Those who served with him deem him as a devoted Soldier whose willing service to his country speaks for itself.
"Izzy" will be remembered by those who knew him for his friendly smile, his calm presence, and his kind demeanor. Though he was widely known for his sense of humor, Irizzary was a mission-oriented Soldier who was always ready and willing when duty called.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he served with the Fighting 69th at Ground Zero. He further demonstrated his patriotism and allegiance to the unit by volunteering for duty with the 1/69th for Operation Noble Eagle at the U.S. Military Academy.
When the Fighting 69th was called upon in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, once again, Izzy was there. He deployed in the difficult capacity as a section leader in the Scout Platoon. He was chosen for this position due to his proven competence and courage. There was never any doubt that he was completely devoted to the success of the unit and that he would give everything he had in order to ensure the success of the Soldiers in this squad.
Lt. Col. Geoffrey Slack, commander of the 1-69, isn't surprised with the impact that the four Soldiers have made on the rest of the Fighting 69th.
"It hurts them immensely, especially since they all knew each other so well,” he said.
Slack also said that the brigade chaplain and a few mental health professionals have come to the aid of his Soldiers, helping them through this difficult time with their services.
The fact that the terrorist attacks happened to New Yorkers more than any other collective group of Americans is compounded by the tragedy that, to date, the deaths in the 256th BCT have all been Soldiers from New York. Slack said this fuels a fire within his Soldiers that is beyond compare.
"The mood of the battalion is much more dangerous," he said. "Their anger is channeled, and they are more focused than ever on what they do."
Three years ago the United States was shown that, in an instant, the world can be turned upside down. In early December, four Soldiers, their families, and all 3,900 members of the 256th ‘Tiger’ Brigade are still being shown daily that everything can change...in a New York minute.
www.talkmilitary.com Military News and Forums
Just wanted to pass this along. As always, my thoughts are with those that serve, as well as those that made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as their families.
Glenn
**
By Spc. Erin E. Robicheaux, 256th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
CAMP AL TAHREER, Baghdad--Some may say Sgt. Christian Engeldrum had the most significant job following the attacks of September 11, 2001. In the famous picture of New York City firemen hanging a United States flag on a pole rising from the rubble, Engeldrum was the burly man holding the ladder.
He was steadying the way for his colleagues of Ladder 61, Co-op City, to follow him to the gates of freedom. Four years later, Sgt. Engeldrum once again led the way, this time for three of his fellow Soldiers.
Only this time, he's holding the ladder to the gates of heaven.
In less than a week, the 256th Brigade Combat Team has said good-bye to four honorable veterans: Sgt. Christian Engeldrum, Spc. Wilfredo Urbina, Spc. David Fisher, and Staff Sgt. Henry Irizarry.
Sgt. Christian Engeldrum was loved by everyone who crossed his path. He was a loving father and devoted husband. As a firefighter, he lived for life in Ladder 61, Co-op City. He was a key player in the recovery of New York City following the terrorist attacks and believed in the cause so deeply, that he took the fight to Iraq.
Engeldrum was very mission-oriented and a constant positive source for his company and his platoon. No matter what challenges faced him and his troops he surged onward and refused to quit until the task was complete. He kept those around him calm and level headed and cooled the occasional hot tempers by the mere soothing calm of his presence. Though his sense of humor has been described by some as a little stale, his friends get a good laugh when they recount that the huge man’s favorite movie was “Clueless.”
Engeldrum remains immensely loved by his fellow Soldiers. Staff Sgt. Mike Brown, a close friend of thirteen years, says that he and the rest of the Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, will have a long year ahead of them without their beloved buddy.
“The hardest part is that there’s nothing that you can do,” Brown said. “We don’t even know who to get angry at. Do you get angry at the insurgents? Do you get angry at the civilians because they know what’s going on, but won’t talk because they’re scared? You get mad because it doesn’t feel like it’s worth your buddy’s life.”
Spc. Wilfredo Urbina was one in a million to his friends of 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment. He was truly excited to be serving in this war as an infantryman.
To bring to light the kind of person that he was, when he learned that a close friend, Spc. Nicholas Wilson, could not be eligible for the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) due to the fact that he was an engineer, he told him, “I will get that award for you.”
Urbina had goals and wanted to make the Army a permanent occupation. He wanted to be a leader and he took all tasks with the notion that every noncommissioned officer was watching him. Urbina not only wanted himself to look good, but what others thought of his team, his squad and his platoon also made a difference to him. His courageous behavior fueled his ambitions on succeeding in today’s Army.
According to friends, Engeldrum and Urbina were closer than any two Soldiers in Company A’s 2nd squad. Engeldrum was a person who demanded perfection. He loved to look good. Urbina loved to look good in front of Engeldrum and this only made him stronger and their relationship more cohesive. It is believed by their fellow Soldiers that Urbina devoted himself to every task partly because he wanted Sgt. “Drum” to be proud of him, and that made him a vast asset to the 1-69th team.
An asset to D Troop, 101st Cavalry, Spc. David Fisher was born on June 12, 1983 in Albany New York. He was a very proud older brother and referred to his 11 year old
Fisher came from a very close family to include his parents, grandparents, and his girlfriend of one year, Tara. His father was a police officer and after returning home from the deployment to Iraq, Fisher had plans to attend the police academy and follow in his dad’s footsteps.
His best friend, Spc. Christopher Holland, has been an inseparable part of his life since the first grade, so much so that they came across the world together to defend the United States in the war on terrorism.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, both Soldiers were in school at Hudson Valley Community College in Albany, New York. When the attacks happened just two hours away from their front doors, they went home together to watch the coverage on television. Only three weeks earlier, the best friends had discussed getting out of school to do something different. When the terrorists struck the World Trade Center, the military seemed like the perfect answer. Two months later they were officially tankers in the New York National Guard and were attending basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Holland recalled an incident that happened shortly after returning home.
“For one of our first drills we went down to New Jersey and they had brand new M1A2 tanks,” Holland remembered. “They let us drive them and when Dave was parking it, he clipped the side of the brand new tank on the side of the brand new garage. It couldn’t have happened to a more perfect person.”
Holland explained that Fisher was the kind of person who would have a friend everywhere he went. He was always the center of attention but he never intended for it to be that way. It was just the kind of personality he had. According to him, Fisher was quiet around a big group of strangers, but if he was in a room with four or five friends he lit up the room.
Fisher was a jokester and loved to play pranks when no one was expecting them. During the ‘Y2K’ New Year’s Eve, he snuck out of the room as the countdown was happening, and at the stroke of midnight he turned all of the lights in the house off. Moments later, the lights in the house came back up and he walked into the living room with a big grin on his face.
Holland also recalls that his buddy was very athletic and competitive. He said Fisher was also a leader.
“Dave was the organizer of our flag football team but his passion was basketball,” recalled Holland. “If he would have played in high school, he would have probably earned a scholarship.”
Staff Sgt. Henry Irizarry was looked to by his fellow Soldiers for his leadership, guidance, his sense of humor, and his ability to emit a positive light into any situation, regardless of the circumstances. He was a loving father, grandfather, and a devoted husband. Those who served with him deem him as a devoted Soldier whose willing service to his country speaks for itself.
"Izzy" will be remembered by those who knew him for his friendly smile, his calm presence, and his kind demeanor. Though he was widely known for his sense of humor, Irizzary was a mission-oriented Soldier who was always ready and willing when duty called.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he served with the Fighting 69th at Ground Zero. He further demonstrated his patriotism and allegiance to the unit by volunteering for duty with the 1/69th for Operation Noble Eagle at the U.S. Military Academy.
When the Fighting 69th was called upon in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, once again, Izzy was there. He deployed in the difficult capacity as a section leader in the Scout Platoon. He was chosen for this position due to his proven competence and courage. There was never any doubt that he was completely devoted to the success of the unit and that he would give everything he had in order to ensure the success of the Soldiers in this squad.
Lt. Col. Geoffrey Slack, commander of the 1-69, isn't surprised with the impact that the four Soldiers have made on the rest of the Fighting 69th.
"It hurts them immensely, especially since they all knew each other so well,” he said.
Slack also said that the brigade chaplain and a few mental health professionals have come to the aid of his Soldiers, helping them through this difficult time with their services.
The fact that the terrorist attacks happened to New Yorkers more than any other collective group of Americans is compounded by the tragedy that, to date, the deaths in the 256th BCT have all been Soldiers from New York. Slack said this fuels a fire within his Soldiers that is beyond compare.
"The mood of the battalion is much more dangerous," he said. "Their anger is channeled, and they are more focused than ever on what they do."
Three years ago the United States was shown that, in an instant, the world can be turned upside down. In early December, four Soldiers, their families, and all 3,900 members of the 256th ‘Tiger’ Brigade are still being shown daily that everything can change...in a New York minute.
www.talkmilitary.com Military News and Forums
