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Hard-hit Ft. Lewis mourns 3 of its own

Feb-25-2005 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT

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By Hal Bernton, Seattle Times

FORT LEWIS — Aaron Moore and his buddy Sgt. Adam Plumondore saw plenty of combat as they patrolled the streets of Mosul, which now rank among the most violent in Iraq. But they shied away from talking about death. Only once, Moore recalled, did they touch on it. They pledged that if either one should perish, the survivor would not cry or join in a sad memorial.

"I'm sorry, Adam. I broke that promise," Moore said yesterday in a tear-choked tribute to the 22-year-old Plumondore, who died Feb. 16 in a car-bomb explosion.

Plumondore was one of three soldiers from the Army's 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division who fell last week to enemy fire:

• Sgt. Frank Hernandez, 21, of Phoenix, who gave up a university golf scholarship to enlist in the Army and died on a Feb. 17 patrol.

• Spc. Clinton Gertson, a 6-foot-4 Texan known as "Big Country," who survived wounds suffered in a Dec. 22 mess-hall bombing only to fall to enemy fire on Feb. 19. He was 26.

Plumondore, Hernandez and Gertson were remembered yesterday in tributes, prayers, a rifle salute and taps. For this brigade, these memorials now unfold with wrenching frequency. [...]

On his last Stryker vehicle mission, Plumondore volunteered to go in place of another solider and then took one of the most dangerous positions that exposed him to enemy fire — behind a mounted gun.

The Texan, Gertson, was another sniper, who Kurilla said performed heroically in a Nov. 11 firefight with 60 insurgents, which left 25 of them confirmed dead. "He always had a cool, calm Texas manner about him — he wasn't cocky — but crisp and clean," said 1st Lt. Daniel Kearney.

Though injured by shrapnel in the December mess-hall bombing, Gertson focused his energy on helping more gravely wounded soldiers that day.

Hernandez, who left behind a wife and young son, had already done one tour of duty in Iraq with another unit that was engaged in the 2003 invasion of the country. The combat experience he gained made him a valued and respected comrade as the 1st Brigade arrived in Mosul last fall — full of soldiers who had yet to face enemy fire.

Hernandez accepted the hardships of a second tour of duty. But he did dream of life after the Army, hoping one day to join the FBI.

Related Article: Arranging memorial services is duty that never gets easier - The Seattle Times


Comments For "Hard-hit Ft. Lewis mourns 3 of its own":

My heart is heavy as I read this article...what amazing men these soldiers were. May God comfort their families and friends, and may they take their place is God's Holy Army...watching over their friends that were left behind.

Posted by: Susan | February 25, 2005 5:42 AM

I forget the danger that my son and others are in. May my thoughts comfort you. God Bless America and our soldiers.

Posted by: Gaile Gonzales | March 7, 2005 8:05 AM

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