Three weeks ago tonight

(submitted to 56572)

"Once again tragedy has struck the Bearcats here in Iraq. On 30 August SSG Joshua Hanson was killed in action after his vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in the Anbar Province. We held a memorial service here at Camp Taqaddum for him on the 4th of September. During this solemn event he was eulogized by his “Battle Buddies.” His friends remembered Josh as always having a joke to lighten the stressful moments. They also remembered him as a true friend, the kind that only comes along once in your life. As I looked around the chapel, I could see the impact that this young warrior had on the entire unit. We collectively grieved for Josh as only a unit in combat can understand. SSG Hanson was a great American who will be forever remembered by all of the Bearcats. We go on fighting here today knowing that our brother in arms has not died in vain. The cause of freedom remains worth fighting for more than ever.

These past months have been important ones for our unit. We have established contact with the enemy in our sector and are dealing with him on a daily basis. Our soldiers through their personal courage have dominated the in enemy in every engagement we have participated. The soldiers of SSG Hammac’s 2nd Squad 2nd Platoon Bravo Company are definitely to be commended for their actions while defeating a complex attack against their unit. Their personal courage and ability to think quickly under fire allowed them to succeed against a much larger force. Also to be commended are the soldiers from 2nd Platoon Able Company who repeatedly risked their own lives to help one of their soldiers trapped in a burning vehicle. These soldiers are all heroes in my eyes. Every day here I see personally acts of courage from my soldiers. I am not the least surprised by their actions because of their desire to accomplish our mission.

As many of you know, I had the opportunity to go home on leave during the month of August. While on at home most of the people that I ran into wanted to know one thing: Can you see any progress being made? My answer to this is ABSOLUTELY! In the time since the Bearcats have arrived on the ground we have seen some tremendous steps forward here. The Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police now have a capable presence within our area. When we first arrived on the ground there was neither Iraqi Army nor Iraqi Police operating in our area. They have proven themselves to be an effective fighting force and their professionalism grows every day as they gain confidence. We have personally conducted missions side by side with the Iraqi Army and they have gained our confidence. We have also seen the establishment of the Iraqi government. The Iraqi politicians are establishing themselves as effective leaders as they grow this emerging democracy. Finally we see progress being made in the efforts to defeat the insurgency within Iraq. The number one and number two leaders of Al Qaida in Iraq have been killed or captured. The bottom line is that progress is being made and our efforts are helping to move Iraq in a positive direction. Iraq still has a long way to go as a country. However, most Iraqis are demonstrating daily their desire to build an enduring peace to give their children the opportunity to grow up in a free country. When you talk to the local citizens, the one theme that that all talk about is peace for their families; I am proud that the Bearcats are playing a role in creating a terror free Iraq."

Lieutenant Colonel Gregg Parks

At their Annual Meeting two weeks ago The Friends of Maplewood State Park decided to take on the project of building a picnic shelter in memory of Josh Hanson. A classmate sent us this link where we can show our support for a $10,000 grant towards this shelter. It would be a great head start to get the Friends off and running.

Maplewood picnic shelter to honor soldier (Fergus Daily Journal article)

Pelican Rapids High School painted the number 56 on its football field in honor of player Josh Hanson who recently died in battle. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

Team tributes
By Terry Vandrovec, The Forum
Published Thursday, September 28, 2006

Aaron Field never met Josh Hanson. In fact, no one on the current Pelican Rapids football team was truly sure they had known the 1998 graduate when word came that he had been killed during an Aug. 30 battle in Iraq.Yet Field, a senior center with bushy blond hair, felt compelled to drive – the night before a game – from Ada to Pelican Rapids and back as part of a processional to honor the 27-year-old Hanson.“He’s from my hometown and he died for his country and he played on this same football field here,” Field explained. “It meant a lot to do something for him.”And that, doing for others, was what Vikings coach Dave Haugen remembered most about Hanson, an offensive lineman and linebacker turned National Guardsman.“He wasn’t one of our stars, he wasn’t one of the guys anybody would look at,” Haugen said, “but he was a great team player, whether it was going in a game and being ready or if you needed a guy on the scout team. He’d step in and do whatever it took to fill the holes and help teammates.”Hanson’s team won the Minnesota Class 2A state title in 1997, the only football championship in school history. The triumph is commemorated with an orange sign hung below the scoreboard at Chauncey Martin Field and now Hanson’s number, 56, is painted in white above and below the Vikings logo at midfield.Eventually, the number will be retired, another school first.While Field never knew Hanson, Haugen simply lost contact with his former player after high school graduation, unsure even when he joined the Guard. Now, he’s trying hard to remember.“We’ve talked about him now and what he’s done and the sacrifice he made for the country,” Haugen said. “That’s a whole lot bigger deal than us playing a football game and that puts everything in perspective. You wish it wouldn’t take something like that to do it, but it sure shakes things up in a hurry.”