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46 www.army.mil/publications IT’S a duty all Soldiers dread, yet when called upon, they welcome it as an honor and perform it as such. And while training is offered to prepare them as casualty as- sistance officers, there are those who are “naturals;” blessed with just the right blend of professionalism and compas- sion to guide a family through the most devastating situation they may have ever known. Master Sgt. Tyrone Russell, former noncommissioned tactical officer at the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Monmouth, N.J., is one of those “naturals.” At our initial meet- ing I never detected a creative or lighter side to him, just a “spit and polish” devout Soldier, assigned the anguish- ing duty of CAO on behalf of a young Soldier’s family. During those first hard days, Russell lived up to that “backbone of the Army” reputation, helping with arrangements and talking to the family about war and their beloved son. He joined them in their sorrow as they grieved for their son and for others like him who would never come home. “Every time we lose a Soldier we lose a piece of our soul,” Russell counseled. He also praised the family for continuing to support the Army in spite of their sacrifice. “There are those who have lost nothing and yet refuse to support the armed forces,” he added. Story by Renita Foster It was the day of the young Sol- dier’s funeral, however, when Russell’s extraordinary talents took over, begin- ning with “Airborne Angel,” an original poem (shown above) he masterfully penned to honor the fallen paratrooper. Granted, the military slang might not have been understood by everyone, but there was no mistaking the heart- felt camaraderie Soldiers have—that brotherhood that comes with wearing a uniform. I have no doubt the words soothed and comforted many troubled hearts that morning. “I was thinking about writing something after I left the family one day,” said Russell, who has been writing poetry since high school. “I started the words as I was driving home and fin- ished it a few hours later. Afterwards, I sent it to the family and told them it was dedicated to their son. The father called back and insisted I read it at his son’s funeral.” Russell’s amiable personality also earned him the respect and admiration of several of the fallen Soldier’s friends. This was evident at the cemetery fol- lowing the funeral service when one whispered to me that Russell had told her she had big feet which made her unfit for the airborne. She giggled while sharing the comment, indicat- ing she understood it was just teasing. Glad to see the young woman smiling, I jokingly replied, telling her that as a senior officer I could “order” Rus- sell to do pushups for his thoughtless remark. The smile produced laughter so I immediately informed Russell of his “punishment.” Before I could finish the instructions to do them sometime following the final goodbye ceremo- nies, he dropped to the ground and immediately began not just two-arm but one-arm pushups. My initial reaction was one of heart failure as the mourners saying their farewells turned to watch the bizarre spectacle. And while they first appeared stunned as Russell executed the exer- cise, the performance almost seemed a natural curtain call to the poem he’d shared an hour earlier. Sorrow unanimously turned to amusement and overwhelming ap- proval. And I couldn’t help but believe the young Soldier who was reputed to love the Airborne, enjoyed it as well. By strategically employing a simple Army asset, Russell had once again made the family’s tragedy a little more bearable. Later, when I quizzed Russell at length to reveal the secret to knowing “the right thing to do, at the right time, in the right place,” he claimed inno- cence, that he was simply following my orders. It’s my belief, however, that wonderful GI ingenuity all Soldiers seem to be born with instinctively told him it was the Soldier thing to do. v Soldier helps soothe the hurt of families 46 www.army.mil/publications You soared through the air like a screaming eagle No fear of heights, unafraid that you might fall Where others gave just a little of themselves You ultimately gave your all. You epitomize what an American Soldier is You arrived in an iron bird from East To give the Iraqi people back their lives To pull them safely from the belly of the beast. God is your new jumpmaster Stand tall Soldier and don’t be late Execute the most perfect PLF (parachute landing fall) Land softly behind heaven’s pearly gate. You are now on God’s manifest Grab your chute and get onboard Glance down proudly on your tab You are now a Ranger for the Lord Rest in Peace, Airborne Angel
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