Soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood honor five fallen warriors

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. -- Five military police Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan were remembered by the U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regiment during a memorial tribute, Sept. 23.

The ceremony was held on the U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regimental Memorial Grove, at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., which is the home of the Military Police Corps Regiment.

Sgt. Donna Johnson, Sgt. Jeremy Hardison and Sgt. Thomas Butler, 514th Military Police Company, 60th Troop Command; Sgt. Enrique Mondragon, 173rd Special Troops Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team; and Sgt. 1st Class Trenton Rhea, 603rd Military Police Company, 530th Military Police Battalion, 300th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command; were remembered in this year's roll call of names of military police Soldiers who gave their lives to further the military police mission worldwide and to preserve the freedom of our country.

Command Sgt. Maj. John McNeirney, U.S. Army Military Police School regimental command sergeant major, said that the purpose of the memorial tribute was to remember fallen comrades and reflect on their great service and selfless sacrifice.

Most of these Soldiers were only in elementary school during the attacks in the United States Sept. 11, 2001, said McNeirney.

Whether they enlisted because they felt a call to duty, they received an education benefit, it was part of a family tradition or it signified adventure, each of the Soldiers shared a common bond to assist, protect, and defend our country, he said.

They will be missed every day, and they will not be forgotten, said McNeirney.

McNeirney concluded in saying that the sacrifices of these Soldiers can never be acknowledged enough and can never be repaid to them or their families.

"We can only offer gratitude of a grateful nation and promise that we will never forget them as Soldiers, warriors, heroes and great Americans," he said.

Following the ceremony, Gold Star Families placed a brick with their Soldier's name in the memorial grove in honor of their Soldier.