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A son’s star

May-26-2008 » Filed Under: 3/2 SBCT

3/2 SBCT soldier profiled.

By MIRIAM MOELLER, The Mining Journal

MARQUETTE —Northern Michigan University President Les Wong carefully and protectively picked up a quarter-sized bronze star attached to a red, white and blue striped ribbon.

“Right now it’s typically on my dresser,” he said. “I look at it every day.”

The medal is a Bronze Star — the country’s fourth-highest combat medal, awarded for “meritorious” service while in combat in the United States Army — once belonged to Les’ son Brian, 27.

“He informed us he’s getting the Bronze Star, and then he shows up for Christmas and gives it to me,” Les said. “It was a surprise to me.”

In 2007 Brian was awarded the star for his 15-month service in 2006 and 2007 as a communications officer and company executive officer in Iraq. [...]

Brian, now a Captain and Squadron Communications Officer for the 1-14 Cavalry Regiment, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Wash., was deployed to Iraq in June 2006. He served in northern Iraq and central Iraq in cities such as Mosul, Tal Afar, Hammam al’ Alil, Taji and Baghdad proper.

“Every day was a hard experience dealing with the heat, sand, and constant enemy threat,” he said. “But the worst experiences were learning of friends’ and co-workers’ deaths.”

For his parents, Les and Phyllis, Brian’s time in Iraq was the toughest 15 months of their lives, Les said. [...]


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