Posted on 03/05/2002 6:11:09 AM PST by janee
Family Pays Homage to Slain Soldier Family Pays Homage to the First U.S. Military Casualty in Latest Afghanistan Campaign The Associated Press FORT BRAGG, N.C. March 5 — They were identical brothers and also brothers in uniform. They both followed their father into the Army and made a life as military officers.
On Monday, Steve Harriman spoke with sadness and grief about the death of his brother, the first U.S. casualty in the latest assault in Afghanistan.
Chief Warrant Officer Stanley L. Harriman, 34, of Wade, was killed by enemy fire in a ground attack Saturday. On Monday, the Pentagon said seven more American soldiers were killed and 11 were wounded in the assault.
"He had been gone for so long that I don't even remember if I told him that I was proud of him and loved him. I hope he knows that," Steve Harriman said.
Stanley Harriman had spent 16 years his entire adult life serving his country, his family said. He enlisted at the age of 18 and was stationed for 13 years at Fort Bragg.
"Stanley died for you and you and you," said his wife Sheila Harriman, gesturing to a gathering of reporters, "and for your freedom. All Stanley ever wanted to do was be an American soldier."
The couple's two children, daughter Darbi, 6, and son Stanley Christopher, 3, peered at reporters through a picture window at the front of the house. His father, Buzz Harriman, a retired Army major who flew helicopters during three tours in the Vietnam War, was also there.
Stanley Harriman was killed in a ground attack shortly after American forces, joined by Afghan and other allied troops, began the offensive against hundreds of al-Qaida fighters near the town of Gardez.
He had been a member of the Army's elite Special Forces, known as Green Berets, for eight years. His unit, the 3rd Special Forces Group, is one of seven such groups.
Each specializes in teaching and training soldiers in certain parts of the world, while developing an understanding of the people and culture. The 3rd Special Forces Group specializes in Africa.
Sheila Harriman said her husband went to Nigeria on a training mission shortly after Sept. 11 but returned in December. The couple spent almost a week together, but Stanley was suffering from malaria. Though running a high fever, he returned to duty and was sent to Kuwait. He had been in Afghanistan for only a few weeks when he was killed.
Harriman, a native of Nixa, Mo., had recently written an e-mail to Sheila and his two children saying how excited he was about taking part in the war on terrorism.
"He said `Don't worry about me, the team and I will take care of each other and I will be home soon,'" Sheila Harriman said.
This week's quote in my planner seems appropriate:
...the place a man leaves is in the hearts of those he leaves behind, and in his work, not upon a slab...
~Louis L'Amour
Somehow, I don't think the reporters will absorb those words.
Thanks Stan, for defending our right to be free. May you rest peacefully in the loving arms of God.
Army:
Sgt. Bradley Crose
Sgt. Phillip Svitak
Spec. Mark Anderson
Pfc. Matthew Commons
Navy:
Petty Officer 1 Neil Roberts
Air Force:
Tech Sgt. John Chapman and Sr. Airman Jason Cunningham
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