Publication:Chattanooga Times Free Press
Date:Monday, May 30, 2005
Section:Front Page; Page:1

DISPATCH Iraq

By Edward Lee Pitts Military Affairs

CAMP CALDWELL, Iraq — Sweltering heat did not stop hundreds of 278 th Regimental Combat Team Support Squadron soldiers from saluting Saturday for a final time a comrade many remembered as a brother.

Sgt. Alfred Barton Siler, 33, of LaFollette, Tenn., died Wednesday in a traffic accident near Tuz, Iraq.

His commanders described him as a quiet soldier with a heart of gold who always could be counted on for dedication and loyalty.

"Barton, the friend, to those who truly knew him was a friend for life," said Capt. Rhonda Jones, commander of Support Squadron’s A Troop out of Jacksboro, Tenn., where Sgt. Siler served for eight years as a driver and platoon leader. "Bart … I ask you to speak to God on our behalf to send a little of that peace you are experiencing now down to us, so that we may deal with losing you."

Sgt. Siler died when an Iraqi taxi driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into Sgt. Siler’s armored Humvee. The impact threw Sgt. Siler, who as the rooftop gunner could not wear a seat belt, from the Humvee, which swerved out of control before overturning.

Officials said the factory - added armor protection on Humvees makes the vehicles much more top-heavy and susceptible to flipping.

The Iraqi taxi driver turned himself over to Iraqi police, and 278th soldiers later questioned him, officials said.

The memorial ceremony for Sgt. Siler began with the playing of "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes before a large assembly of soldiers standing in front of a symbolic display of empty boots beside an upside down gun draped with dog tags and a helmet. With thermometers showing the temperature already past 120 degrees at 11 a.m., at least one heat-stricken soldier had to step out of formation.

Many of those remembering Sgt. Siler emphasized Saturday the boundless love he had for all children, starting with his 3-year old daughter, Mikkah. Support Squadron’s Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Prather said most pictures of Sgt. Siler in Iraq show him surrounded by children and holding stuffed animals to give to the poverty-stricken Iraqis.

"When I spoke to him, he always turned the conversation around to his daughter," Command Sgt. Maj. Prather said. "She was the joy in his life."

Sgt. Siler, who joined the National Guard in 1997, brought the same focus and attention to detail into his military life that he displayed while employed as an ironworker and welder in the civilian world, according to Command Sgt. Maj. Prather.

Sgt. Siler exemplified the 278 th’s regimental motto, "I volunteer, sir," according to Support Squadron commander Lt. Col. Jeff Archer.

"Sgt. Siler volunteered when he joined the army, he volunteered when he deployed to Iraq and he volunteered to join the convoy security team," Lt. Col. Archer said.

Sgt. Siler, posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, left the squadron’s A Troop to become a member of convoy security about three months ago, officials said. Since then he had logged more than 5,000 miles throughout Iraq on about 50 logistics and supply missions.

This supply team unit marched in unison, boots crunching over the base’s gravel, into formation in front of the memorial display Saturday for one final roll call. When Sgt. Siler did not answer the calling of his name three times, the unit’s commander, Capt. Dan Brown, responded, "Not present," triggering a silent salute by the troops.

A 21-gun salute preceded the playing of taps by a white-gloved trumpeter. The service ended with high-ranking soldiers paying respects to a small picture of Sgt. Siler attached to the event podium beside the arrangement of Sgt. Siler’s equipment.

Sgt. Siler is the third 278 th soldier to die since the regiment arrived in Iraq last December. Organizers had to shorten this tribute under orders from the 42 nd Infantry Division after the regiment’s previous two ceremonies ran longer than the specified 30-minute time limit.

The length is restricted to accommodate division commanders’ and other dignitaries’ travel schedules, officials said.

But after the ceremony soldiers in the squadron lingered and improvised their own extension to the tribute. Forming a single-file line that wrapped around the parade ground, each soldier paused before the memorial display for his or her own final salute. Finally, the convoy unit marched back before his rifle, boots, helmet and dog tags to salute as one.

Support Squadron soldiers then formed a ring around the display, dropped to one knee, joined hands and prayed.

"A G uard unit is different in a lot of good ways than an active duty unit," said Command Sgt. Maj. Prather. "When something happens of this magnitude, we come together as a family. An active duty soldier would not come up and hug a commander." But ranks became blurred by tears Saturday as soldiers from the regiment struggled to say goodbye to Sgt. Siler.

E-mail Lee Pitts at lpitts@timesfreepress.com

U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika - Sgt. Danny Wilhoit and Capt. Rhonda Jones, commander of A Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 278 th Regimental Combat Team, pray after a memorial service for Sgt. Alfred B. Siler, who was killed Wednesday.

U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika - Soldiers from A Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 278 th Regimental Combat Team, pay their respects after a memorial service Saturday for Sgt. Alfred B. Siler. Story Copyright to Chattanooga Times Free press