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Five trees added to Warriors Walk
Ceremony honors fallen 3rd ID soldiers
Kristi Smith
Kristi Smith caresses the marker put up for her husband, Sgt. Stefan Marc Smith, 24, who was originally from Valley, Ala. - photo by Photo by Randy C. Murray

Five soldiers assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were honored Thursday morning with a tree-dedication ceremony at Fort Stewart’s Warriors Walk.
With the dedication of these new trees, a total of 466 eastern redbud trees now memorialize the sacrifice of 466 Marne Division soldiers who’ve given their all since the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan began 10 years ago.
The youngest of these Vanguard Brigade soldiers was only 22, but the oldest was only 26. Three of the five soldiers were members of the same platoon with the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment. A fourth man was also assigned to the 3/15th Inf. The fifth soldier was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment.
Soldiers honored in Thursday’s memorial ceremony included:
First Lt. Jonam Russell was a 25-year-old platoon leader with only two years active service. Guest speaker Maj. Gen. John Murray, commander of the 3rd ID and Stewart-Hunter, called Russell a born leader. Russell was from Cornville, Arizona. Several members of Russell’s family attended the ceremony.
Sgt. Stefan Marc Smith was a 24-year-old junior noncommissioned officer with three years active service. Murray referred to as a “good old boy” from Valley, Ala., who was a big fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. Smith was a husband and a father of three. His wife Kristi, two of his children and several other family members attended the memorial.
Spc. Rob Lee Nichols was a 24-year-old infantryman from Rapid City, South Dakota with two years of active service. He was described by his fellow soldiers as “a guy who always had your back.” Nichols family members also attended the ceremony.
Spc. Nickolas Shane Welch was a 26-year-old infantryman from Klamath Falls, Ore. Murray said Welch is remembered for his 80-inch, flat-screen television he had in his barracks room. Many of Welch’s friends and family were there to honor him.
Russell, Smith, Nichols and Welch died as a result of wounds sustained from an enemy improvised explosive attack on July 23 in Soltan Kheyl, Afghanistan. Though his comrades died on the day of the attack, Welch survived until Aug. 6, dying in Bethesda, Md. as a result of his wounds.
Spc. Nicholas Brian Burley was a 22-year-old cavalry scout from Auburn, Calif. Family members and his fellow soldiers remember him for the love he expressed for riding anything, especially snowmobiles. His family and friends also came to the memorial service.
In fact, there were so many family members, it took eight full-size vans to bring the family members to Warriors Walk. Groups of family members were escorted to their reserved seats by members of their soldier’s unit. Murray began his comments by welcoming and thanking them for coming.
“There is no way we can completely understand your loss,” he told family members then focused his comments on the significance of Warriors Walk as a memorial to their soldier. “Every single person memorialized along this Walk is indeed an American hero.”
Murray also recognized three wounded warriors attending the ceremony. Staff Sgt. Michael Mosley, Cpl. Luis Ponce and Spc. Michael Andrade were wounded during the same July 23 attack that killed four of their comrades.

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Exchange Service salutes Vietnam vets with custom truck design
Army and Air Force Exchange Service redesigned logo 2011

To thank Vietnam veterans for their sacrifices, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is debuting a new truck design, part of the Department of Defense retailer’s efforts alongside the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration to honor veterans during the 50th anniversary of the war.

“The Exchange is privileged to have the opportunity to recognize Vietnam veterans through our fleet,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, who served in the Army during the Vietnam era. “These trucks will serve as rolling billboards, expressing gratitude for all who served during this era.”

The truck design features the silhouette of a lone service member set against the background of a faded horizon with a call to “thank a Vietnam veteran for service to our nation.” The single military member represents the warfighters who served during this time.

Three trucks in the fleet feature the commemorative design and will deliver merchandise to Exchange stores from the organization’s distribution centers in the continental United States.

The West Coast Distribution Center at Sharpe Army Depot in California; Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.; and the Waco Distribution Center in Texas will each have a truck in service on their standard delivery routes, serving the whole country.

Air Force veteran Pat Thompson served in Vietnam before coming to the Exchange as a truck driver and mechanic. In his 18 years with the Exchange, he has deployed four times to support the troops. The new design means a lot to him.

“They remember,” said Thompson, who is based at the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center. “We want to be remembered.”

The trucks also highlight the veteran online shopping benefit, which launched in November. The lifelong online military exchange benefit authorizes all who served honorably to enjoy tax-free shopping and exclusive military pricing at ShopMyExchange.com.

The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration is a program administered by the Office of the Secretary of Defense to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The U.S. began commemoration of the Vietnam War’s 50th anniversary in 2012 and will continue through Veterans Day 2025.

The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize Vietnam veterans and their families for service, valor and sacrifice in conjunction with the commemoration.

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