5 Schofield soldiers die in Iraq
The 5 from Schofield are killed in a bomb attack on their vehicle
Schofield Barracks and Hawaii's congressional delegation mourned the death of five 25th Infantry Division soldiers killed Wednesday when a roadside bomb detonated near their Humvee.
The five Task Force Lightning soldiers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team were on patrol near Kirkuk in northern Iraq, according to the Department of Defense.
It was the bloodiest single incident for Hawaii-based troops in Iraq since Jan. 26, 2005, when a helicopter crash killed 27 Kaneohe Marines and a Pearl Harbor Navy corpsman. On Oct. 30, 2004, seven Kaneohe Marines were among eight Marines killed when a suicide bomber drove into their convoy in Fallujah.
While the military has yet to name the five soldiers killed Wednesday, the identities of two were revealed by family members, according to media reports.
The Shreveport Times and KTBS television in Louisiana said Sgt. Joshua Madden, 21, had just visited his family, including his wife, Dani, and his 3-month-old son, Jaxson, who was born shortly after he went to war.
"He just got back to Iraq Sunday," his father, Jerry Madden, a music minister, told the newspaper. "We put him on the airplane in Shreveport" the morning of Dec. 1.
Joshua Madden joined the Army in June 2003 and had served one tour in Iraq. He got married in October 2005.
"He was honorable. He was good. He was thoughtful. He always wanted to be in the military -- always," his father told the TV station. "Everything he did, he did for family and country."
Jerry Madden said his son was supposed to leave the Army after his Iraq combat tour.
He is also survived by his mother, Cindy Madden; a sister, Jennifer Banamati; and two brothers, David and Kevin D. Madden.
Guam media, meanwhile, reported that 25th Infantry Sgt. Jesse Castro, 22, was also killed in the Wednesday blast.
Television station KUAM reported that a Catholic Mass was held for Castro. Guam Gov. Felix Camacho offered condolences to the family of Castro, who was known on that island for being a mixed martial arts fighter, according to the Pacific Daily News.
Condolence messages for all five soldiers stretched from Schofield to Washington.
Col. Tim Ryan, rear detachment commander at Schofield Barracks, said in a written statement: "Learning that someone you love isn't coming home is the most difficult news to hear, and this incident speaks to the incredible sacrifice borne not only by our soldiers but by families across our nation. And it strengthens our resolve to comfort and support these families and our community during these difficult times.
"These soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, and the somber news of their death is especially difficult at this time of year when our thoughts move toward families and loved ones during the holidays.
"We will keep the names and memories of all of the soldiers who have given their lives in our hearts, and we must also continue to keep the many soldiers still in harm's way in our thoughts and prayers, as well," he said.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, a World War II veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor, noted in a news release: "These soldiers willingly answered our nation's call and served in harm's way without hesitation or fear. While we as a nation continue to debate our presence in Iraq and the best course we should now take, I am certain we are united in our support of our service personnel who serve under dangerous conditions far from home."
Recalling that the soldiers' deaths came on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka said: "I pray too for all our men and women who are serving our country to promote democracy and peace. It is my hope that a change of course in Iraq will occur in the near future, our soldiers deserve no less. May God bless our soldiers and their families."
And newly elected U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, who campaigned on a platform opposing President Bush and the Iraqi war, said: "Whatever our differences regarding our country's involvement in the region, we all stand united in supporting our men and women who have answered their nation's call to duty. On this day, as we observe the events 65 years ago that brought our country to war, let us also remind ourselves of the service and dedication of all of the brave Americans who have served in our armed forces."
Meanwhile, memorial services for Army Sgt. Keith E. Fiscus, another member of the 3rd Brigade, who was killed on Saturday in Taji, will be held next week in Middletown, Del., with burial at Arlington National Cemetery, the Associated Press reported.
The death of the five soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team raises the unit's death toll to 14 since September and it still has at least eight more months of combat duty. That is compared with 13 deaths for its affiliate unit, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, when it was sent to Iraq for a year in 2004.
When the 3rd Brigade served in Afghanistan from January 2004 to June 2005, 15 of its soldiers were killed.
