In Memory of SPC David Lee Leimbach
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And so here is the private tribute written by CSM
Jeff Mellinger in honor of our latest fallen warrior, SPC David Lee
Leimbach, who gave his life in our defence:
Afghanistan
This morning at 0600, we paid final respects
to SPC David Lee Leimbach, a Taylor, South Carolina, National Guard
soldier killed yesterday in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Just before 0500, an announcement came across the Bagram Airfield PA system for everyone to dress in their combat uniforms and assemble along the road which cuts through the middle of Bagram Air Base.
Little by little, troops from all services and many coalition countries began lining the main street of the base. They stood literally shoulder to shoulder on both sides of the road for nearly a mile.
At about 0530, a USAF C-17 landed (ironically from Charleston, SC), taxied, pulled into a space in front of the formed troops, turning its tail towards them. The ramp dropped, the engines shut down, the crew disembarked and lined up in front of the plane. All down the flight line, warriors stood at parade rest; talking and whispering stopped.
At 0600 on this bright, sunny day, the vehicle bearing the casket, having completed its drive from the mortuary to the airfield, turned onto the airfield. A single soldier walked in front of the vehicle to lead the way.
Along the road leading to the airfield, the troops that lined the road were standing at attention and saluting. On the airfield you could only hear the birds flitting around. In the distance were the sounds of aircraft flying their missions.
Now, the troops on the airfield came to attention and saluted as a bagpipe played Amazing Grace. The color guard moved into position, and those of us assembled near the plane came to attention and saluted.
Two cameramen ran ahead of the vehicle, recording the entire procession, and now the unloading and movement of the casket.
The casket, carried by soldiers of the unit, moved forward to the plane. The band played My Country, Tis of Thee. The casket was loaded on the plane, the senior personnel present (to include five general officers) walked onto the plane behind the casket, and final prayers and remarks were made, then those leaders and casket bearers disembarked.
As the assembled began to move from the site, the crew embarked, the ramp closed, the C-17 taxied and took off, and the fight continued.
I hope the family of this warrior knows that we loved him, too.
From every mountain side, let freedom ring!
Happy Memorial Day.
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Michael Yon
P O Box 5553
Winter Haven, FL 33880-5553
I will continue to do my part in telling the stories that are not being told. Readers must also do their part by keeping the cash flowing. Cash is essential .
Thank you!
Michael
Comments
Thank you for sharing
Richard
My grandfather served in WWI, my father in WWII, I served in Vietnam and my oldest son spent 15 months in Iraq. Today I reflect on all which has been given by so many families, and thank God for the opportunity to be counted among those men and women who served with grace, dignity, honor and courage, just as David Lee Leimbach did.
I thank God for providing and raising such men and women who carry the fight to an enemy that wants to destroy not only us but also all that we believe. It is humbling to realize that men and women consider it important enough to fight for this country, as as SPC Leimbach has shown, to die for this country. We owe a debt to these men and women we can never repay. Let us never forget the ones who have suffered, the ones who have died, the ones who are serving now. They, and their brothers and sisters, are the ones who keep us free.
Subject Memorial Day 2008
Comments
My wife Sandy and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our military men and women that have served, or now are serving to preserve Freedom for all of us in the USA and the free world!! Your personal and family sacrifices are the most important thing that has ever been done for our country and your countrymen and women! God bless all of you. For those who have been seriously wounded, or paid the supreme sacrifice of your life, we pray that you will have the medical attention you require and that your comrades and David Lee Leimbach, will rest in peace. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you CSM Mellinger, and thank you, Mike for this.
I was asked recently when I felt the most spirituality and I have to say it was not ever in any church but in the presence of these great men and women and esteemed military heroes, spirituality goes down to the bone. I have the greatest sympathy for the families of all our fallen heroes and I wish them solace and comfort on this most important of American holidays. One of the motto's of the Vietnam Veterans is: All gave some, Some gave all! This applies to all veterans who have honorably served their country and we should never forget the sentiment.
The quote from the Book of John is most appropriate on this day.
And thanks to all of you who serve to keep us free
Thank you, too, Michael.
My thanks and my love go to all who are serving. May God bless you!
Thank you Michael for all that you are doing.
Craig
But on another note, if you look at the Afghanistan in general you can see that the country is struggling especially with the Taliban activity increasing in the southern boarder with Pakistan. I'm not sure if anyone in the states heard but, the "Pakistani Taliban" had issued a decree stating that they were no longer going to bomb, oppress, destroy, or kill on Pakistani soil but insead they were going to carry out their unholy activities in Afghanistan more so. And to think that some of the Pushtun tribal areas support them. Truly sickening.
I still can help but feel that we are slowly losing Afghanistan to these warlords and drug traffickers...
Good Luck Michael! As an aspiring journalist myself, I hope to have as much bravery as you exhibit in your dispatches.
Thank You Michael for this story and so many others you have shared, keep up the good work.
I am deeply thankful for their service -- words don't suffice but they're the best I can do for now. Thanks to you, too, Michael!
As many of us celebrated Memorial Day, we honor those who have given their lives in defence of our great Flag. Napolean once said, "A Soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of ribbon". Those of us who have served know that call.
Thank you CSM Mellinger for caring too much for your Soldiers. May God lay his soothing hand on your troubled heart and keep you and all our troops safe.
Thanks to all of those still serving and those that have served. Stay safe.
In sunshine bright, their faces alight.
They move with grace across my mind,
Their voices laughing, hearts in flight.
So sad the days and nights of thought
Of loved ones pained, of life drained
On ground so far away from where we trained
To end the lives of who dare kill freedom.
Memory, my altar and prayer to The Trinity,
For they who swore the oath of allegiance freely,
And bore the battle's brunt with bravery.
Give them Peace. They died for Liberty.
GOD"S SPEED,
CW4 King
Army Sustainment Command
Truly, i beleive in my heart the God has a special place reserved in heaven for every man and woman who give their lives for others in the pursuit of freedom for all.
May God bless you, David Lee Leimback and may God bless your family and loved ones and give each one the abundant grace needed to walk through these dark days and know that you are in the Savior's arms and are at peace.
Thank you for the posting area & the opportunity to express my heart felt sympathy to the family.
I know not the pain of losing a loved one to combat. Hence, I cannot say that I understand SPC Liembach's loved-ones' grief. Yet I grieve for each of these service personnel for their passing.
John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Although I doubt that I ever met you, David Lee, I will consider you my friend.
May God bless and keep you David Lee. And bless you as well Michael Yon, CSM Jeff Mellinge, and the rest who walk the line and fairly tell their stories.
God Bless!
To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord
No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
To the Mansions of the Lord.
Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord.
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