Command Honors Three Fallen Warrior-Citizens in Memorial Ceremony

By 1st Lt. David ChaceJuly 9, 2009

Memorial Held for Soldiers Killed in Action
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The family of Sgt. Federico Borjas, 451st Civil Affairs Battalion, render honors and show emotion during the playing of Taps at a memorial ceremony honoring Borjas and two other U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Memorial Held for Soldiers Killed in Action
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – During a memorial ceremony to honor three U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) Soldiers killed in action held May 21, a family member of one of the fallen Soldiers wears dog tags upon which an image of their lost lo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Memorial Held for Soldiers Killed in Action
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BRAGG, Fayetteville, N.C. - The U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) honored its fallen soldiers Thursday morning in a ceremony at Fort Bragg.

The ceremony, which included a wreath-laying as well as remarks from the commanding general, was held in honor of Sgt. Federico G. Borjas, Maj. Scott A Hagerty and Maj. Dwayne M. Kelley - three Army Reserve soldiers who died while serving their country overseas over the past year.

"It\'s a difficult day for all of us. It's difficult every time we lose a soldier," said Maj. Gen. David Morris, the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) commanding general, following the ceremony.

Morris said the soldiers in his command work as hard as they do because they see themselves as citizens with an obligation to their country. "The fact that they put themselves in harm's way with the realization that they could lose their lives speaks significantly to me of their character," he said.

Each of the three soldiers memorialized Thursday were Army Reserve Soldiers, working as members of America's military as well as members of the civilian community and work force.

"The three that we've lost in the last year ... were warrior-citizens - twice a citizen. They had civilian careers, they had families, they had hopes, they had dreams, just like everybody," Morris said.

"They volunteered to go forward into harm's way to serve our nation," he said. "It's an honor for me to be their commander."

Borjas, Hagerty and Kelley were each trained and qualified civil affairs soldiers, and were each a part of the Army's mission to foster relationships between American forces and foreign civil authorities. Civil affairs soldiers have the cultural knowledge and training to conduct civil-military operations such as school, hospital and facility planning and construction in any area where American forces operate.

The command's Fort Bragg personnel and guests paid their respects to their fallen comrades, with the laying of a memorial wreath in their honor. Plaques with the three soldiers' names were presented in memorial displays among the names of the civil affairs and psychological operations soldiers who have also sacrificed their lives in the line of duty since the command's establishment in 1991.

"Each one will always be the most honored among us," said Master Sgt. Kate Chapman, the ceremony's spokesperson. "They gave their love of country for us all."