Stryker Brigade News

Projected onto the curved wall behind the dais were photographs of three good-looking lads sporting Army uniforms and smiles that could melt an undertaker's heart.

They came to honor 1st Lt. Aaron Seesan, Sgt. Benjamin Morton and Spc. Tyler Creamean. The three were members of the 73rd Engineering Company, which bunks in the same compound as the Indiana National Guard 113th Engineering Battalion, and the 24th Infantry Regiment, the Deuce Four. Seesan and Creamean were killed when their Humvee was bombed. [...]

By the time the funeral started, the hall was full of soldiers. It seats about 400. There was another 100, maybe 200, standing reverently at the rear. They came as family members: Big tough blocky guys with buzz haircuts, lanky boys, seasoned veterans, soldiers in all shapes and sizes looking grim.

It was a hard thing to watch. Say what you will about the U.S. Army, it sure knows how to put on a funeral. If this doesn't get to you, get counseling.

The 113th was represented on the front row by Lt. Col. Richard Shatto and Sgt. Maj. Larry Smith.

There was a lot of brass up there, including two generals.

Many of the 113th officers were in the crowd, too.

So were Master Sgt. Mike Thomas, a Valparaiso High School alumnus, and Sgt. 1st. Class Steve Patterson. They had volunteered to take guard duty for members of the 73rd Engineering Company, to which Seesan and Creamean belonged, but the 73rd declined their offer. [...]

Upon returning to the 113th headquarters they learned that two of their units had been called out on missions. One was straightforward, the other assignment was riskier. Someone had reported a car bomb.

Think about that this Memorial Day weekend when you are sitting on your lawn chair having another cold one: Three members of the 113th were hurt Saturday night on those missions.

There were no explosives in the car. They towed it to an open field and blew it up. But a grenade exploded on the bullet run. The good news is that the injuries were minor. Two soldiers had cuts and were returned to duty. One sustained a concussion. He'll get a day of bed rest and is expected back on duty in 24 hours. Their names were not released.

The funeral began at 7 p.m. The grenade exploded an hour and 40 minutes later.