Moody community pay respect to fallen warrior

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frances Locquiao
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) --  Members of Moody Air Force Base came together Dec. 3 to pay their respects to a fallen Army Soldier during a fallen warrior ceremony as he was transferred from the base to Harrington Funeral Home located in Valdosta, Ga.

Army Staff Sgt. Briand Williams, originally from Sparks, Ga., which is located 23 miles north of Moody AFB, died Nov. 22 in Iraq from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Heavy Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga.

"When I got the notification that my son died, I thought it was a dream," said Fred Williams Jr., father of Sergeant Williams. "I still think it's a dream, but I know that he died serving his country."

The fallen Soldier, who recently was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant, enlisted in the Army in June 2002 and was a combat veteran with a total of three deployments under his belt.

"Briand loved being in the Army and planned to make a career out of it," Mr. Williams said. "He was a good son and loving father. I feel lost knowing that he is no longer with us."

Mr. Williams, along with his wife, was joined by Col. William DeMaso, the 23rd Wing vice commander, as they waited for Fort Benning's honor guard members to provide the dignified transfer of the casket from the plane to the hearse.

"Sadly Sergeant Williams' life was cut short by a sniper as he dismounted his vehicle near an Army forward operating base in Iraq, and his return to the United States is yet another reminder of the grim sacrifices we make in service to our great nation," Colonel DeMaso said.

After the dignified transfer on the base flightline, members of Moody AFB lined the streets side-by-side to render a salute as a procession of vehicles escorted the remains of Sergeants Williams to the funeral home.

The Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group dedicated to paying their respect to fallen servicemembers, escorted the fallen Soldier to the funeral home in Valdosta.

"We are here to escort and stand in honor for veterans of all wars," said Willie Black, a Patriot Guard Riders member. "Our group holds the utmost respect for our servicemembers and we just want to show support to the fallen heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice defending this country."

On Dec. 5, the Adel Police Department escorted Sergeant Williams to Holy Community Church in Adel, Ga., for his final funeral service. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Adel, Ga.