Saturday, October 27, 2007

Randolph Airmen line streets, pay respects to fallen Soldier

Randolph Airmen line streets, pay respects to fallen Soldier
by Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond
Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
10/26/2007 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Hundreds of Airmen, Air Force civilians, and their family members lined both sides of Harmon Drive here to pay their respects to a Soldier killed in Iraq.
U.S. Army Spc. Vincent A. Madero, 22, of Port Hueneme, Calif., died Oct .17 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV.
Word spread quickly across the base that a warrior was making his final flight home this morning. The crowd filed past the Taj Mahal and began lining up along the route that would take the Soldier's body off base.

When Specialist Madero's body arrived just before noon today, members of his family were present to receive him. As the funeral procession slowly drove from the flightline, uniformed members saluted and civilians held hands over their hearts -- showing respect for a fallen comrade.
The specialist was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
Final respects
Hundreds of men and women at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, line the streets of Harmon Drive Oct. 26 as a show of respect for U.S. Army Spc. Vincent A. Madero, a soldier killed while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Specialist Madero died Oct. 17 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Specialist Madero's body was flown to Randolph Air Force Base and received by his family. (U.S. Air Force photo by Joel Martinez)
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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous27 October, 2007 18:05

    Thanks for showing this to your readers, Maggie!
    Having been there on that street, I can tell you it was one of the most touching and humble experiences of my career so far. The whole area fell completely silent as the procession approached, and there were few among us without either a lump in the throat or tears in our eyes. It was great to show his family and Army comrades that kind of respect for his sacrifice.

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