Re: 2 Soldiers Honored from Wars Decades Apart

Date: April 16, 2004

"Detrick military honor fallen Soldiers
Signal Soldiers provide military honors for post

by Ann Duble Standard Editor

Fort Detrick Soldiers honored two Soldiers from wars decades apart last week.

Soldiers from the 302nd Signal Battalion rendered military honors at funerals for Maryland Iraqi War veteran Pvt. Brandon Davis and Vietnam veteran Lt. Col. Richard Schott.

Twenty-year-old Davis from Cumberland, Md., was killed along with four fellow Soldiers March 31 in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Davis served with the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kan. His funeral was held April 9 in Cumberland, and he was buried at the Maryland Veterans' Cemetery at Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone, Md.

A full Honor Guard from the 302nd's Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and A Company traveled 90 miles to Cumberland and Flintstone to serve as pallbearers, fold and present the flag, and render the 21-gun salute.

Air Force Master Sgt. Richard Marion from the Joint Medical Logistics Functional Development Center accompanied them to perform taps. Marion has performed at funerals since he was 15 and now belongs to an organization called "Bugles Across America" where he is the assistant director for Maryland.

"The organization's nearly 3,000 members world-wide volunteered with one goal in mind--to provide a live bugler for veterans and their families," he said. "I look on what I do as a way to give back to those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines whose contributions help shape the military of today."

Two days before Davis' service, the Signal Soldiers and Marion were at Vietnam veteran Schott's funeral in Shepherdstown, W. Va. Schott was killed in 1972 during a battle between North and South Vietnamese where he was shot in the head. He was listed as Missing in Action and his body wasn't recovered until a few years ago. When he was positively identified, his remains were sent home for burial.

The day between the services, the Soldiers were out on the lawn in front of the 302nd Headquarters building on a chilly afternoon preparing for the next day's funeral. Some pointed rifles to the sky practicing the 21-gun salute while others lifted a plywood flag draped "casket" onto a makeshift bier. Not far away was Marion who lifted the bugle to his lips to play the poignant "day is done" taps. Soldiers watching saluted and several onlookers stopped and listened quietly.

First Sgt. Jack Gustafson with the Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, said the battalion was permanently tasked by the post years ago under the deactivated 1110th Signal Battalion to provide Honor Guard services when needed. The 302nd continues the tradition.

The requests come through the Military Personnel Division where Casualty Assistance Representative Sgt. 1st Class Howard Knight gets the calls to assist retirees and family members and Honor Guard requests. He forwards the funeral requests to Fort Meade, Maryland's Casualty Area Care Command who get in touch with the closest military unit. "Many times it's a National Guard or Reservist unit who provide the services," said Knight. "When Fort Detrick is asked to provide the services, the 302nd is always willing to take part."

Sometimes the unit is asked to provide one or two Soldiers to present the flag and other times the request is for the full 15-member Honor Guard.

Gustafson said every Soldier in Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment and A Company is trained to perform the military honors. "We still have our missions to accomplish, but we feel privileged to have the opportunity to honor fellow Soldiers," he said.

Gustafson met Schott's son Master Sgt. Chris Schott at the Vietnam veteran's funeral. "He really appreciated having an active duty unit there for his father. He said it gave him closure."

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