Those Who Did Not Return
Memorial Day is a time to remember those veterans who gave all they had to give for us. I always think of 1SGT Saenz at times like this. Some 100 of us IRR members met at Ft. Jackson on March 13, 2005. We reported to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina for in-processing and reintroduction to the US Army. We knew we would be deploying to Iraq. Then MSGT Carlos Saenz had a huge laugh and a booming voice. He laughed a lot.
Those first few days, some Reservists were angry about being called up. Some were happy to be there. MSGT Saenz was reasonably happy to be where he was, preparing for duty in a war zone. Later, as I learned, he performed very well. He inspired his soldiers. He did everything a competent, dedicated leader would be expected to do.
He died in the dusty streets of Baghdad near the end of our tour. We were leaving Iraq in just a couple of weeks when his HMMWV was struck by an IED. He was out on a convoy training members of the incoming unit. Some of his regular team members were not with him on that run. He died doing what he did best, serving others.
We should all serve our country half as well as 1SGT Saenz. See a tribute to 1SGT Saenz at the Arlington cemetery website here.
After Ft. Jackson, we, the IRR folks, were assigned to various Civil Affairs units. I was assigned to the 445 CA Battalion. We called ourselves the Pirates. Whenever we snapped to attention, we would all let out a gutteral “arrgh” in true Pirate fashion. Paul A. Clevenger was a Pirate. He was one of the younger soldiers. SGT Clevenger was promoted from SPC4 during our time In Iraq. He did well, from what I heard. I just remember that he smiled, often. His obituary is here.
Like many of us, PVT Clevenger returned to the States with some demons deep inside. He took his life some two years after we returned. SGT Clevenger is another casualty of the war – he too gave his country all he had to give.
On this Memorial Day, let us recall the fallen – including the Confederate fallen.