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Article that was in an Ohio Newspaper

February 14, 2005

Solemn ceremony honors the fallen

ZANESVILLE -- Sunday's homecoming ceremony for the 660th Transportation Company was intensely moving.
As the Zanesville-based Army reserve unit entered Secrest Auditorium, a crowd of about 400 people whooped, hollered and clapped. While there was much to celebrate, none could forget those with the 660th who did not make it back.
A blue light fell on the soldiers on stage, some of whom clutched each other's arms and wiped tears from their cheeks. In front of them stood four soldier memorials -- empty boots and helmets honoring the fallen.
Staff Sgt. James Harlan, 44, of Owensboro, Ky., died May 14, 2004 at Camp Anaconda, Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Donald Davis, 42, of Saginaw, Mich., died Aug. 24, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq.
Spc. Allen Nolan, 38, of Marietta, died Sept. 30, 2004 at Fort Houston, Texas from injuries he received Sept. 18 in Balad, Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Richard L. Morgan, 38, of St. Clairsville, died Oct. 5, 2004 in Latifiyah, Iraq from injuries he sustained Oct. 4. John Kunkel, Secrest Auditorium manager, talked about the wives and children these men left behind as the song "All Gave Some, Some Gave All" played quietly in the background. Like others in the auditorium, Kunkel succumbed to the overwhelming emotion at one point.
A moment of silence held for the fallen was punctuated with sniffles and muffled cries.
In addition to the losses, the unit received 15 Purple Hearts.
The 660th was called up in December 2003 and arrived in Iraq in February 2004. In approximately one year, the unit had 246 missions in country, drove 935,000 miles and transported 23 million gallons of fuel, boasted Capt. Joe Shalosky, company commander.
Dignitaries made brief remarks at the afternoon ceremony, and U.S. Reps. Bob Ney (R-St. Clairsville) and Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon) presented the unit with a flag that flew over the U.S. House of Representatives.
"For every tear that has been shed ... for every night a spouse yearned for (your) presence, we thank you," Strickland said.
Ohio Sen. Joy Padgett encouraged the crowd to shout out and "shake the rafters" during the proceedings.
"Thank you for our freedom!" a man in the back of the auditorium yelled.
"We love you!" a woman cried.
After a closing prayer, those soldiers from Zanesville were introduced. The group of 40 was then allowed to depart from the stage and go home with their families.
"It's so good to come home to this kind of welcome," Shalosky said.