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By Sgt. Miguel A. Rivas
3rd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade
Not since June of 1945, while the allies occupied territory
of the former Nazi Reich, had the United States conducted a formal
awards ceremony on enemy territory. But on April 4,1991, gunners
of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery, Third Armored Division
renewed the tradition.
The 2/3 had distinguished itself during the ground war by
firing more than 75 tons of steel in support of the "Ready
First" Combat Team. Now, in southern Iraq, the battalion
would honor its own.
At 2:00 p.m., "Steel 6," Colonel John F. Michitsch,
commander of the 3rd Armored Division's artillery, called the
battalion to attention. Shortly afterward, 38 soldiers marched
to the center of the parade field. First Brigade Commander William
L. Nash joined Michitsch, battalion Commander Lt. Col. Richard
J. Treharne, Division Artillery Sgt. Major Thomas E. Carr and
First Brigade Sgt. Major James H. Davis. Together, they decorated
11 soldiers with the Bronze Star and 27 others with Army Commendation
medals.
But the most poignant moment followed. Trehame pinned a Meritorious
Service Medal, the nation's second-highest award for bravery,
to the sling ofanM-16 held at present arms by a battalion section
chief. The recipient of the medal could not be present It went
to Sgt Tracy Hampton, howitzer section gunner from Alpha Battery,
the only 3rd AD gunner to have died during deployment on Operation
Desert Storm.
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