This page is dedicated to the memory
of Lauderdale County's soldiers, sailors and airmen of Operation
Iraqi Freedom who made the ultimate sacrifice. Once a
soldier myself. and member of a burial squad serving heroes of
another war, I cannot now enter a cemetery without hearing the
haunting tones of Taps being played by a lone bugler from a
place just over the horizon. It is a solemn and fitting
salute. May God bless them.
 Sgt.
1st Class Clarence D. McSwain
Age: 31 years
Died: June 8, 2006 in Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
Assigned to: U.S. Army, 2nd
Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Official Report: SFC McSwain died
in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised
explosive device detonated near his convoy vehicle during combat
operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry
Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky
According to the Associated Press
McSwain's sister said the he "believed hw was protecting his
family and his country by serving in the Middle East. This
was his fifth overseas deployment in his 12 year military
career."
 Spc.
Robert A. McNail
Age: 30 yearsDied: June 8,
2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Assigned to:
Army National Guard's 150th
Combat Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team,
Quitman, Miss.
Official Report: Spc. Robert A. McNail, 30, of Meridian,
Miss., died Feb. 11 in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when his HMMVW struck
another military vehicle.
In an interview with Holbrook
Mohr of the AP, Robert's father, Marvin McNail, said “I’m very
proud of my son. He did what he thought had to be done. I’ll
miss him but I’m a career military person and I’m proud that
both my sons saw fit to serve their country.”
 Spc.
Robert S. Pugh
Age: 25 years
Assigned To: Army National
Guard's 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry, McComb, Mississippi.
Official Report: Pugh died 2
March 2005 in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive
device detonated near his military vehicle.
SGT Pugh was a platoon medic for
A Company/ 1-155 Infantry. SGT Pugh's
platoon was conducting a combat patrol in a hostile area. While
providing security for a group of engineer soldiers, an
Improvised Explosive Device detonated seriously wounding SGT
Pugh and SFC Ellis Martin. Although in extreme pain, SGT Pugh
directed treatment instructions to the members of his platoon
for both he and SFC Martin. He remained calm and continued to
give instructions until the medical evacuation helicopter
arrived. Unfortunately, SGT Pugh passed away on route to the
hospital. However, his heroic actions saved the life of SFC
Martin. SGT Pugh is a true hero who was more concerned for the
treatment of his fellow comrade than himself. For his actions,
SGT Pugh was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. |
