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Soldier honored for courage, generosity

May-17-2006 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

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By STEFAN MILKOWSKI , Staff Writer

A soldier who rescued wounded soldiers during a deadly raid last year in Mosul, Iraq, was honored Tuesday during a memorial service on Fort Wainwright Army Post.

Guests at the service described Staff Sgt. Mark Wall as a warrior and leader who cared deeply for his troops and gave generously to the Iraqis where he was stationed.

Wall, 27, died of a heart attack April 27 in the dining facility of his unit's Mosul forward operating base. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Cpt. Michael Spinello called Wall a "true warrior and hero" and praised him for his courage and selflessness during a raid on Nov. 19 in Mosul that resulted in the death of Fort Wainwright soldier Pfc. Christopher Alcozer.

Soldiers from the 172nd had responded to a report that Iraqi police had been fired upon from a house. As the soldiers raided the building, they were shot at and attacked with grenades and improvised explosives.

A dozen soldiers were injured and two squads became trapped in the building's kitchen. As troops breached the wall of the house into the kitchen, Wall led a raid with grenades to clear a hallway for his squad to enter.

"This was the turning point of the battle," Spinello said during the service at the Northern Lights Chapel, reading from a narrative nominating Wall for the Silver Star. Wall was awarded a Bronze Star with valor.


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