Other Soldiers
For the sake of consistency, Soldier's ranks are presented from Company records at the eve of deployment to Iraq and in many cases are not current. Some awards may not be listed. Soldiers are presented in alphabetical order.
Bravo Company Messages Home Video
Click on the image at the right to watch Bravo Company messages home filmed just before entering Iraq in March 2003. Sgt. 1st Class Smith's message is the last one.
Sergeant Louis Berwald
Bravo Company, Team Leader
Twenty-three year old Sergeant Berwald was a Team Leader in Bravo Company and was manning the .50-Cal. machinegun on the APC before it was struck with a mortar. He sustained injuries to his face, shoulder, and hand and was evacuated from the courtyard by Sgt. 1st Class Roush. Sergeant Berwald received the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and a Purple Heart in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Second Lieutenant Brian Borkowski
Bravo Company, 2nd Platoon Leader
Lieutenant Borkowski, 27, of Cleveland, was on a mission with A Company of the 2-7 Infantry, breaching a wall with an armored combat earthmover (ACE) on the south side of the highway when the combat in the courtyard occurred. He was Sgt. 1st Class Smith's Platoon Leader and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
First Sergeant Timothy Campbell
Bravo Company, First Sergeant
First Sergeant Campbell, Bravo Company's First Sergeant, organized a fire team to attack enemy troops in the tower from the southern side of the main wall while Sgt. 1st Class Smith was firing from the APC inside the courtyard. He earned a Silver Star with Valor Device and a Purple Heart in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Private Gary Evans
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Private Evans of Mulino, Oregon was with Smith at the metal gate on the far side of the courtyard. He assisted Sgt. 1st Class Smith and Sgt. Keller in firing AT-4 against enemy positions. When he ran low on ammunition he returned through the breach in the wall to get more. Again Evans returned to the courtyard where he attempted to unhook the trailer from the APC along with several other Soldiers. After Sgt. 1st Class Smith was killed Private Evans drove the APC through the breach to the aid station. Private Evans received the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device for his actions in Operation iraqi Freedom.
Sergeant Joshua Henry
Bravo Company, Team Leader
Sergeant Joshua Henry went to the metal gate and used Private First Class Ketchum's rifle scope to look out at the field. He was the first to spot the Iraqi troops massing for attack. He informed Sgt. 1st Class Smith of the enemy presence and then began to engage Iraqi's climbing over the wall. When the APC was hit, Henry helped evacuate Staff Sergeant Yetter and Sgt. Berwald to the aid station.
Specialist Tony Garcia
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Specialist Garcia was one of the Soldiers guarding the metal gate at the far end of the courtyard. He engaged enemy forces with Sgt. 1st Class Smith from his position.
Private Jimmy Hill
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Private Hill, 20, a Combat Engineer with 1st Platoon, was driving the APC when it was struck by the mortar round. He received a shrapnel wound to the neck and was evacuated. For his actions in Iraq, Hill was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device and a Purple Heart.
Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid
Bravo Company, Squad Leader - Killed in Action April 7, 2003
Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid from Malden, Illinois, crossed the courtyard with Sgt. 1st Class Smith and Sgt. Pelletier to look through the metal gate for enemy troops. When they discovered the massing Iraqi force Staff Sergeant Hollinsaid ran back to find a Bradley Fighting Vehicle to engage the enemy. When Sgt. 1st Class Smith was killed, Staff Sergeant Hollinsaid became the new Platoon Sergeant in place of his fallen friend. Three days later on April 7th, 2003 Lincoln Hollinsaid was killed in the 3rd Infantry Division's attack on the center of Baghdad. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Sergeant Matthew Keller
Bravo Company, Squad Leader
Sergeant Keller, a 25-year-old from Key Largo, Florida, crossed the courtyard with Staff Sgt. Hollinsaid and Sgt. 1st Class Smith to look through the metal gate after the wall was knocked down. When the Bradley Fighting Vehicle knocked down the gate he followed Smith through it and fired AT-4s and his weapon at Iraqi positions and then returned through the breach while Sgt. 1st Class Smith fired the .50-Cal. machinegun from the APC. Sgt. Keller received a Bronze Star with Valor Device in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Private First Class Thomas Ketchum
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Private First Class Ketchum was one of the Soldiers guarding the metal gate at the far end of the courtyard. He engaged enemy forces with Sgt. 1st Class Smith from his position.
Private James Martens
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Private Martens was one of the Soldiers guarding the metal gate at the far end of the courtyard. He engaged enemy forces with Sgt. 1st Class Smith from his position.
Specialist Daniel Medrano
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Specialist Medrano helped to evacuate Staff Sergeant Yetter from the APC after the mortar round struck it. Then he joined the fire team First Sergeant Campbell organized in attacking the tower from the southern side of the wall.
Private First Class Jason Meyer
Bravo Company, tracked vehicle driver - Killed in Action April 7, 2003
Private First Class Meyer was a member of 1st Platoon, Bravo Company. He was killed in action on April 7th, 2003 in the attack on the center of Baghdad. Meyer was the third 11th Engineer Battalion casualty of the war. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device.
Sergeant Derek Pelletier
Bravo Company, Team Leader
Sergeant Pelletier was with Sgt. 1st Class Smith beyond the metal gate and fired several AT-4s at enemy positions along the far wall and in the tower. Sgt. 1st Class Smith was Pelletier's Platoon Sergeant and they had known each other for nearly four years. Pelletier earned a Bronze Star with Valor Device in Iraq.
Sergeant First Class Rodney Roush
Bravo Company, Platoon Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Roush was on the southern side of the wall with elements of 1st Platoon. When the APC was hit he moved into the courtyard and evacuated Sergeant Berwald who had been injured in the blast.
Private Michael Seaman
Bravo Company, Combat Engineer
Private Seaman, 21, was engaging the enemy near the APC when it was struck by the mortar. On Smith's order he got in and backed it up into the courtyard. From the driver's seat Seaman fed ammunition to the .50-Cal. machinegun Sgt. 1st Class Smith was firing. Smith ordered him to "stay down." When Seaman saw Sgt. 1st Class Smith get hit he got out of the vehicle and began calling for a medic. Private Seaman received an Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Yetter
Bravo Company, Squad Leader
Staff Sergeant Yetter was in the APC when it was struck by the mortar. He received shrapnel wounds to the face and eyes and was evacuated to an aid station by Private Medrano. Yetter earned a Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
