Colonel Garrett, Lieutenant Colonel Balcavage, Command Sergeant Major Turnbull and Command Sergeant Major Knight welcome and thanks for coming. As I stand here looking at the men of Apache Company, I can only think of their accomplishments. I am proud of the fact that I am only one of one hundred and fifty-one. I am reminded of numbers. They sat that liars always figure, but figures never lie. One Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty. That is the number of combat patrols you men conducted. Far more than your share. Doing more than your share seems to be a common virtue among you men. Twenty-Three. The number of you who have a piece of you to Iraq. Twenty-three of you were wounded during your time in Iraq. I can’t add to that. No one can ever ask more of you. Nine. Nine of you were awarded medals for your valor. Most of you think you did nothing to deserve a medal for heroism. You’re wrong. Each of you should be proud of yourself. Your actions were above and beyond. Three. The number of men from Apache Company who will be forever missed. There is nothing we can do to bring them back, but for the rest of our lives we will live in their shadows. I only hope we will measure up. One. In a war where Victory is so hard to define, you defined it. Even the most Liberal of Reporters could only think of one word to describe your efforts. Victory. You were given a very difficult mission and you won. For the rest of your lives no one can ever take that away from you. Winning isn’t everything, it is the only thing. You won. You won. I am proud to have served you. I will forever remember the men of Apache Company and thank you so much for the opportunity to serve you. Geronimo was an Apache. This was my going away. I love you guys.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 01:29:26 +0000
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