The days of the week would tend to run together while we were in Iraq. But I’ll forever remember July 16th in 2005 was a Saturday.

It was a mail run day for Ron Wood and the other soldiers on his crew. They were on special mission toding Convoy Escort Security for the division’s eventual departure out of Iraq. They were based out of LSA Speicher near Tikrit operating on their own away from our main base in Kirkuk. They had been gone for several days and made a quick run back up to FOB Warrior to pick up their mail. They were in good spirts it seemed, glad to have a break, albeit a brief one.

Ron stopped into the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) to meet with the command element, Captain Darcy Burt and First Sergeant Kevin Martinez. Plans were reviewed, details covered. Ron was running this special ops mission, having recently been promoted to Sergeant First Class. But that wasn’t the only reason.

Ron made a concerted effort to do everything right. He pushed himself to become stronger physical, mentally, emotionally. Ron loved to work out. He was arguably the most physical fit soldier in our unit. One of my favorite memories of Ron is watching him lift weights with whatever could be improvised, like ammo cans and machine guns.

Ron was running the crew on the Special Ops mission because he was the right man for the job. Ron was the epitome of what a soldier should be. More than just physically strong and well-built, a result of years working out in the gym, Ron understood the Army and how it works. Ron was a gifted leader of soldiers, understanding how to motivate and lead in ways his men wanted to follow. They were loyal to him and would follow him anywhere.

Ron and his crew headed back to Tikrit that Saturday afternoon. They had only been gone about an hour when the radio traffic fired up about a convoy being hit by an IED. I was working in the Operations Center at the time and quickly realized this was the same route Ron’s crew was on. They were traveling piggyback with another unit so we weren’t in direct radio contact with them.

Our guys had experienced many IED attacks while in Iraq. Fortunately, every one of them had been nothing more than vehicles peppered with shrapnel and soldiers shook up. Too many close calls and I was afraid one of these times their luck would run out.

JULY 16, 2005, WOULD BE THE DAY.

A call for a MEDIVAC chopper came over the radio followed by reports of three casualties. The term casualty is used generically for anyone injured or killed. By now the command leadership was all in the Operations Center monitoring the radio traffic for more details.

Within a few minutes the units on scene reported one KIA (Killed in Action) and two WIA’s (Wounded in Action) with Battle Roster numbers to follow. Battle Rosters are identification numbers assigned to every soldier. As they read the first Battle Roster number, two people wrote it down while I checked it against our list. As soon as they got it out, we knew Ron Wood had been killed. My heart sunk and we were all stunned with the realization our worst fear had just been realized. Two more Battle Rosters were read indicating Sergeant Chris Olsen and Specialist Eric Lund had both been wounded.

While I could only imagine the chaos happening at the scene, inside the Operations Center it was starkly subdued. Work continued, the radio traffic continuously updating, but under an eerie halo of shock and disbelief. We had seen Ron and his crew less than an hour previous. Now Ron was gone, and Chris and Eric were in severe need of trauma care.

We stood down all operations and patrols for two days to regroup and mourn the loss of our brother-in-arms. Sometime before the ramp side ceremony, we had a chance to view Ron’s remains in the base morgue. The Battalion Chaplain offered words and prayer. Sergeant Ed Harris offered a ‘family’ prayer.

The following Thursday, a formal memorial service for Ron was held during which there were heart-felt tributes, a final roll call for the soldier, a moment of silence, a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps and the traditional empty boots, dog tags and an inverted rifle with a helmet on top to represent the fallen comrade.

First Sergeant Martinez has a phrase he repeated so often it almost become our official slogan:

“Do The Right Thing!”

Ron Wood was a warrior who did the right thing. Even in his death, he was doing all the right things. He was the very best soldier of Bravo Battery. First Sergeant Martinez said Ron lived his life by the Soldier’s Creed, and gave his life defending that creed.

Sunday morning there was a ‘ramp side’ ceremony. This is where Ron’s remains in a flag draped coffin were carried from the FLA (military ambulance) to the C-130 aircraft flown in to take him home. It’s a formal ceremony which all available personnel attend. I estimate roughly a thousand Army and Air Force personnel were there. I had only been to one before, that for Specialist French, a female soldier from Idaho belonging to the 145th Support Battalion in our 116th Brigade. It was very solemn and touching.

The ramp side ceremony for Ron was even more touching because he was one of ours. After a group of Bravo Battery soldiers retrieved Ron’s casket from the FLA, the chaplain offer his first prayer. ‘Present Arms’ is sounded and we all salute as the casket is then carried between the ranks of soldiers and airmen and past the color guard to the waiting aircraft. The casket bearers stopped at the bottom of the aircraft ramp and the chaplain offered a final prayer, this time a reading of the 23rd Psalms…

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

The casket was then walked onto the plane and the bearers offered a final salute before marching off. The aircraft loadmaster formally accepted the remains and the ceremony was finished.

Then it was time to say goodbye. Not a word was said but we all followed as Captain Burt slowly walked to the tail of the aircraft, pausing to say a final goodbye to Ron. For a moment I stood to the side of him, feeling for a brief moment the enormity of the weight he carried as our commander.

I took my turn to say goodbye. I stood at attention, slowly saluted, then moved away as my emotions overwhelmed me again.

Though death is part of life, it was a shock to lose a brother-in-arms. It hurts deeper than you can ever imagine. We wanted to fix it, find out who was responsible. But it’s not always that easy.

Captain Darcy Burt, in a touching tribute from Iraq, called Ron “the finest Soldier that the Utah National Guard has to offer.”

“Sergeant First Class Ronald Wood is the best noncommissioned officer I have ever worked with. He was the total package and I cannot replace him,” Burt wrote. “He has sealed his love for country, duty and honor with his own blood. We will never forget.”

Most military units have a slogan they shout when called to attention. Bravo Battery changed theirs to honor Ron Wood:

“Warrior First!”

TWENTY YEARS LATER

Twenty years since we deployed. Nineteen years since Ron Wood finished his journey.

That time in Iraq seemed like a lifetime ago.

Reading again this history, and looking through hundreds of pictures, has made it feel like yesterday.

I have visited Ron’s grave a few times over the years.  Each time has been a good moment.

I leave you with this final photo of the Boys of Bravo Battery in Iraq. This photo was taken sometime late summer 2005.

Ron Wood was not around to be in this photo.

Click this link to read Part 1 of the Boys of Bravo Battery.

❤️❤️❤️

Have a great Monday! Thanks for letting me share.

I Love You, friend!

Les Patterson

p.s. Take 13 minutes today to experience the Final Roll Call, TAPS, and Rifle Salute for Sergeant First Class Ronald Wood.

Author’s Note: Whenever one attempts to share a piece of history, that history will always be shared through the eyes of the author. Stated facts are given as best as I can recall or support through my personal journals, notes, and pictures. All pictures were taken by me except where noted.

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RESOURCES

“Boys” of local Bravo Battery train for Iraq – July 20, 2004
http://news.hjnews.com/news/boys-of-local-bravo-battery-train-for-iraq/article_605e0c45-de8e-5723-b06f-e1bae769a109.html

Boys march home – November 19, 2005
http://news.hjnews.com/news/boys-march-home/article_45ed257a-1307-578a-a1f3-1091203ae63a.html

Looking back in time – December 30, 2004
http://news.hjnews.com/archives-1/looking-back-in-time/article_a0c964b5-0c8d-52d9-9339-c631b6f122aa.html

Task Force 1-148 Field Artillery holds first combat dining-in at FOB Warrior, Iraq
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/2935/tf-1-148-field-artillery-holds-first-combat-dining-fob-warrior-iraq

U.S. troops donate 800 pairs of shoes to kids in rural Iraq – May 12, 2005
http://www.stripes.com/news/u-s-troops-donate-800-pairs-of-shoes-to-kids-in-rural-iraq-1.33108

Cache Guardsmen a year out – July 03, 2005
http://news.hjnews.com/news/cache-guardsmen-a-year-out/article_0d98ac8f-f249-512c-85b6-54faa79f16cb.html

‘Gentle giant’ soldier laid to rest in Cedar – July 27, 2005
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/600151458/Gentle-giant-soldier-laid-to-rest-in-Cedar.html?pg=all

Bomb kills Cedar City soldier; 2 are hurt, July 18, 2005
https://www.deseret.com/2005/7/18/19902816/bomb-kills-cedar-city-soldier-2-are-hurt/

Guardsman saluted as ‘total package’, July 19, 2005,
https://www.deseret.com/2005/7/19/19903088/guardsman-saluted-as-total-package/

Soldiers head home – November 08, 2005
http://news.hjnews.com/news/soldiers-head-home/article_a36af781-b780-53bf-b6db-0c9bfceffcf6.html

So happy to be back – November 22, 2005
http://news.hjnews.com/news/so-happy-to-be-back/article_1c4f21e6-758b-5262-8cf3-dbf110cdc74b.html

Fallen soldiers to be honored ahead of memorial – November 09, 2012
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=22903863

Web sites hail fallen soldiers – Ron Wood’s parents share thoughts, find healing, Dec 3, 2005
https://www.deseret.com/2005/12/3/19925947/web-sites-hail-fallen-soldiers/

Forever changed: War in Iraq has had a major impact on lives of many Utahns, Dec 26, 2005
https://www.deseret.com/2005/12/26/19929467/forever-changed-war-in-iraq-has-had-a-major-impact-on-lives-of-many-utahns/

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