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Dozen Fort Lewis soldiers receive honor

Jul-16-2005 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

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BY LAURA MCVICKER, The Olympian

FORT LEWIS -- With his wife serving in Baghdad, Master Sgt. Judd Sweitzer of Tumwater was grateful his 5-year-old daughter, Kayleigh, was there to see him receive the Combat Action Badge on Friday.

"She probably won't remember, but it's just awesome to have someone from my family here," Sweitzer said.

Sweitzer was one of 12 Fort Lewis soldiers who received the badge, awarded to soldiers actively involved in battle against the enemy. The award goes to those who perform their duties satisfactorily while engaged in attack or while being attacked, Gen. Peter Schoomaker, Army chief of staff, told the audience.

Awards went to Sweitzer, First Lt. Ryan Gutzweiler, Sgt. James Grove, Staff Sgt. Armando Mejia, Sgt. Josiah Dolejsi, Spc. Brian Cochrain, Spc. Wesley Eaton, Spc. Leslie Frederick, Spc. Thomas Pirro, Cpl. Travis Graves, Pfc. Antonio Martinez and Pfc. David Perez. Each had served a tour in Iraq within the last two years and had been nominated for the award by superiors.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of this Army and these soldiers," Schoomaker told the 70 people who packed the auditorium at the Henry Lind Academy on Fort Lewis. Schoomaker approved the badge on May 2 to honor those serving in imminent danger overseas. [...]


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