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Badge of
courage
More than 500 people crowded into the gym Thursday night to pay tribute to three members of C Company, Alabama Army National Guard 115th Signal Battalion. The three were decorated with Purple Heart medals. With family, friends, veterans and well-wishers in attendance, Sgt. John W. Hatton, Sgt. Rickey Hall and Spc. Joseph Gibson stood at attention to receive their medals. All three were injured while deployed with the battalion in Mosul, Iraq. "There are none more deserving (than these),'' said C Company Staff Sgt. Darren Gross. "I'm proud of these three guys. "I ask you to keep the soldiers of the 115th in your prayers. Your support, phone calls, e-mails and mail mean a lot to us." C Company Commander Capt. Dan Durbin, who is still in Mosul, sent his remarks via an e-mail, which was read by Sgt. First Class David Carney, a public affairs officer with the 142nd Signal Brigade, the parent unit of the 115th. "I wish I were there with you myself to look you in the eye and tell you how proud I am of these soldiers,'' Durbin said in his e-mail. "All of them deserve the honor they will receive as veterans for the rest of their lives. "Their courage and valor comes from training and experience, yes, but mostly from the heart. These men truly love each other and hold the words of Jesus close, 'greater love has no one then this, that he lay down this life for his friends.' "I'm thankful that it has not come to that over here. But every soldier in Charlie Company would do just that.'' After brief remarks from family and friends, Brig. Gen. Dallas Fanning, commander of the 142nd Signal Brigade, presented the Purple Hearts to the three soldiers. "This is a great turnout to honor these great warriors,'' said Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Quinn, of the 142nd Signal Brigade. "It's a great honor to receive a Purple Heart, but every day, we pray that we don't give out any more Purple Hearts.'' Maj. Riley Brewer, rear detachment officer in charge for the 115th Signal Battalion, said the Purple Heart is not a reward. "Each one of these soldiers earned these,'' Brewer said. "The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration in the world and the first commendation made available to American heroes. "These three men put their lives on the line for you, me and the United States of America. This is a true badge of courage.'' Hall thanked the audience for their attendance and their support. "You are our heroes. We miss you, and we love you,'' Hall told the audience. "Thanks for the support, and keep us in your prayers,'' Gibson added. Perhaps Hatton summed up the feeling of the night with his remarks: "God Bless America,'' he said. Tom Smith can be reached at 332-0140 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.
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