louBdub
4 of a Kind
Memorial Day is the one day out of the year marked as a time to honor, mourn & most of all remember those who were killed in service to this Country. For most of the country those memories and stories get lost in time and that’s how they truly die…. I won’t allow that, not as long as I’m still around…
So my reason for this thread is to remember them. Speak their names. Tell their story. Never forget.
“Paratroopers never die, they just slip away”
If you have a service member you’d like to honor and share a story about, please do so. It keeps them alive in all of our memories.
His squad was one of the tightest group of dudes because of his ability to create a team/unit. Every single guy around him would die for him, instantly, he was loved and respected by everyone that knew him. One day after a heavy round of Taliban attacks, Mike and platoon leadership decided that it was time for a RON site. The platoon was extremely beat down and needed a rest. There was a specific spot selected on a mountain top where it was extremely sketchy to get vehicles on, but also gave us a solid 360 for security which we needed. There was a problem though, getting the MRAP up the side of this mountain would require a walker out front to ground guide. Mike wouldn’t allow his Soldiers to volunteer (they all did) and he said he would ground guide up out front. This meant he’s taking the steps LEADING the crew up the mountain side. Every step was life & death, a chance Mike would punch you in the face for trying to do if he was in charge of your safety. His job was to get his boys home after the mission…. That day, as Mike led his men up a mountain side, he triggered an IED meant for all of them…. As we loaded him on the MEDEVAC to get surgical trans, his final words to us were still selfless…. No regret, no sadness, just pure Mike…. He died a couple hours later in surgery.
So my reason for this thread is to remember them. Speak their names. Tell their story. Never forget.
“Paratroopers never die, they just slip away”
If you have a service member you’d like to honor and share a story about, please do so. It keeps them alive in all of our memories.
Army 1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw
Brian was a heavy hitter, absolutely loved by the entire platoon. He was the first man up, and last man down, a true leader for younger Soldiers to admire and follow into war. He was destined for top side command level brass, an easy pick as the top performer within his peer group. Brian was KIA during a complex ambush attack on a convoy of civilians. One of the supply trucks hit a primary IED, which initiated a machine gun fire ambush. The platoon immediately reacted to contact and maneuvered positions to protect the civilians being attacked, but Brian without thought dismounted his vehicle and sprinted through machine gun fire to give medical assistance to the vehicle hit by the IED. We were pretty sure they were all dead, but Brian didn’t care and put his life on the line to save a possible life that was still hanging on…. On his way to the vehicle, being missed by two machine gun nests firing directly at him, he stepped on a secondary IED - being killed instantly. He was the first man lost that year…. His sacrifice will never be forgotten.Army SSG Michael C. Murphrey
Mike was a husband, father, leader, friend.His squad was one of the tightest group of dudes because of his ability to create a team/unit. Every single guy around him would die for him, instantly, he was loved and respected by everyone that knew him. One day after a heavy round of Taliban attacks, Mike and platoon leadership decided that it was time for a RON site. The platoon was extremely beat down and needed a rest. There was a specific spot selected on a mountain top where it was extremely sketchy to get vehicles on, but also gave us a solid 360 for security which we needed. There was a problem though, getting the MRAP up the side of this mountain would require a walker out front to ground guide. Mike wouldn’t allow his Soldiers to volunteer (they all did) and he said he would ground guide up out front. This meant he’s taking the steps LEADING the crew up the mountain side. Every step was life & death, a chance Mike would punch you in the face for trying to do if he was in charge of your safety. His job was to get his boys home after the mission…. That day, as Mike led his men up a mountain side, he triggered an IED meant for all of them…. As we loaded him on the MEDEVAC to get surgical trans, his final words to us were still selfless…. No regret, no sadness, just pure Mike…. He died a couple hours later in surgery.
Army Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek
Matt & I went through JFO school together. He was what we’d call a sweetheart type. Super happy, rosy cheeks always smiling, HUGE heart in everything he did. It would be blistering cold -40deg and we’d be on mile 22……. And Matt would be smiling, making us laugh and telling dumbass jokes. I remember him being the only dude to Ace the JFO course paper tests - no easy task…. He was so smart, extraordinarily capable, and had a bright future ahead of him. Matt was killed in action during a complex firefight. He sustained gunshots and ultimately catastrophic injuries from RPG shrapnel. This young man was taken far too soon…Army 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews
Darren was an older leader in another platoon. He was Matt’s PL above. I’d see him in passing but never got to know him. However, I do know his final actions during the firefight that killed Matt…. Darryn literally did what movies are made of…. First hand accounts are that during the firefight, an RPG was fired directly at his vehicle and being the Man and leader he was, he jumped into it trying to protect his men. RPGs fly oddly enough to see them coming in a weird squiggly way. Darryn undoubtedly saved lives doing this, but gave his own. Him and Matt did not make it, but the rest of the Soldiers in the vehicle lived. They live full lives today because of his actions in battle.
Army Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss
Kurt was the first dude I met when I reported to the 501st. This man didn’t know me, and immediately pulled me aside, sat me down, and started pouring out all the info he could to make sure I was dialed in and setup for success as I was a new inbound PCS type. We went to war together, in different companies, but still stayed friends in the hallways so to speak. I learned of Kurt being KIA during a raid conducted on a Taliban compound. Kurt was absolutely fearless and a hard charger. If there was war, you want 100 Kurt’s…. He was engaged by a PKM gun team and was KIA during that raid.Army Pfc. Morris L. Walker
Morris was the sunshine Soldier. He was helping everyone, everywhere and always lending a hand. Didn’t matter what it was…. It’s your turn to burn shit? Morris would ask if you needed help. Your pack busted and you didn’t have extra “fix a flat” kit to tie it off? Morris would literally give you his and suffer later. He was the shirt of his back kinda guy, and everyone loved him for it. The team player example, of all examples…. He was instantly KIA when his vehicle struck an IED.Army Staff Sgt. Clayton P. Bowen
Clayton was a Mortars Team Platoon Sergeant. A man who led with integrity and ensured his men were always training and ready to do the deed in any situation. I’ll always remember his quiet nature but direct leadership. It was respected and definitely appreciated as we wanted the best mortar men around, and Clayton provided just that. They simply didn’t miss…. That alone saved our asses more times than I can count. He was KIA with Walker.
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