SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The Army describes Selfless Service as putting the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates above your own.
The 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, held a dedication ceremony Aug. 6 at the Schofield Barracks Medical Hospital to honor Cpl. William L. McMillan III who gave his life serving his first tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq, June 8, 2008, when his patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device.
"The important thing here is that we are able to name a clinic after Cpl. William L. McMillan," said Lt. Col. Brent A. Clemmer, commander of 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2SBCT. "For the Soldiers, it's always important to see people who have come before you; who have done great things during their time in service that you can gain inspiration from."
Family members and friends who attended the ceremony were overwhelmed with emotion to be a part of the ceremony.
"There are a whole range of emotions that is going through me right now." said Maj. Scott Bailey, a native of Calif., a master student at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. "The overwhelming emotion is the sense of belonging of being a part of this organization when we were. Of course we lost Doc. McMillan so having an opportunity to positivity remember his death in a very positive way is a wonderful thing and I am glad to come back and able to be part of this."
According to Sgt. 1st Class Gracie Best, from Mechanicsville, Md., the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Medical laboratory at Schofield Barracks Medical Hospital, McMillan always placed his Soldiers first.
"McMillan was a Soldier who always took care of his Soldiers and his Soldiers always felt as if they could go to him for anything," she said. "He was an outstanding junior leader; Soldiers looked up to him and he put his life on the line to save their lives by sacrificing his own."
Best also stated by dedicating this wing to McMillan it allows the unit to have ownership and a sense of pride to the hospital.
"We are very excited to host this event here at the clinic," said Best. "It's very important for the unit and Soldiers to have pride in their medical homes and really take ownership. We are not just a facility that takes care of the dependents but also the Soldiers and that is what Cpl. McMillan did and that's why it's so important to have a building dedicated to him."
While the dedication is just a wing at the SBMH now the plans is to make it a standalone building in the future that will serve nearly 5,000 Soldiers.
"No matter where the clinic maintain its physical presence it will always represents the honor, commitment and courage associated with McMillan's name," said Clemmer.
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