Fallen soldiers remembered at Fort Benning ceremony

The Rev. Richard M. Wright, a decorated military veteran who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, will never forget the two men who died in the Euphrates River Valley in 1991.

Staff Sgt. Raymond Hatcher and Sgt. Kevin Wright belonged to Company D, First Battalion, 18th Infantry Division, of the 197th Brigade. They died in the Iraqi sand surrounded by comrades.

“These were soldiers from my company,” said Wright, who served as platoon leader and executive officer of Company D. “Sgt. Wright, who is not any relation to me, died in my arms.”

Wright shared the experience on Monday at a Memorial Day paver dedication ceremony on the Heritage Walk, located at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. More than 300 people gathered for the occasion, including military leaders, elected officials and the relatives of fallen soldiers. A total of 170 pavers were dedicated and added to the 5,000 already installed.

“The deaths of soldiers in combat are forever etched on the minds of those who were there on that day when they died in combat,” Wright said. “They’re remembered every day, not just on Memorial Day. Their memory is represented in paver bricks on this Walk of Honor. This walk stands as a testimony of the many sacrifices of the deceased and living warriors of freedom.”

In observance of the 25th anniversary of the Gulf War, Monday’s ceremony was dedicated to men and women across all branches of the military who died 25 years ago in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

“Heritage Walk at Patriot Park, where we gather today, is a special place where we honor the legacy of valor and sacrifice of the American soldier and their families,” said Ilene Kent, the museum’s director of dedications. “Today, especially, we pause to remember and thank the servicemen and women of the armed forces of the United States who have given their lives in the name of freedom.”

Among those present were about 20 relatives of Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Roy Morgan, a senior enlisted member of the 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 194th Armored Brigade at Fort Benning. Morgan died March 29 after another vehicle collided with his Jeep, forcing it to plunge off Oglethorpe Bridge in Columbus. Two pavers were dedicated in his memory — one donated by the unit he commanded and the other by the 47th Infantry Regiment Association.

“Command Sgt. Major Thomas Roy Morgan left a legacy of excellence with the 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment,” Kent said. “An Alabama native, he served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned medals for service and valor. But that is not what defined him. Command Sgt. Major Morgan was devoted to his family, his faith, Alabama football — roll tide — and jeep restorations.”

The last comment was in reference to a jeep Morgan was restoring for his son when he died, she explained.

Morgan’s wife, Tanya, sat in the crowd, along with four of his five children. Their 20-year-old son, Austin, said he couldn’t be more proud of his dad.

“I think all of us are happy that there’s something here that we can come and look at to remember him,” he said.

Kathy Strong, a California woman who wore a POW/MIA bracelet for an Alabama Green Beret for 38 years, also attended the ceremony. Strong was 12 years old when she received the bracelet inscribed with the name Spc. 5th Class James Moreland, who went missing in Vietnam. She had never met Moreland, but promised to wear the bracelet until he returned. She kept that promise, eventually placing the bracelet in Moreland’s coffin, after his remains were returned to his family in 2011.

Now, at age 56, Strong is on a mission to preserve Moreland’s memory. She recently launched a campaign to have a memorial brick with his name placed in each of the 50 states. On Monday, a paver she purchased for Moreland was dedicated as part of the ceremony.

This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Fallen soldiers remembered at Fort Benning ceremony."