Carter, Top Leaders Honor Victims of Chattanooga Attack

By Terri Moon Cronk

DoD News Features, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, August 15, 2015 — The lives of the five “fallen patriots” who were killed as a result of the July 16 attacks in Chattanooga, Tennessee, were “truly exemplary,” Defense Secretary Ash Carter said today during a memorial service in that city.

Carter joined Vice President Joe Biden, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Navy Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the chief of naval operations, and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the current commandant of the Marine Corps who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other officials at the ceremony.

Those in attendance honored the service of Marines Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Skip Wells, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, who died from the shooting attack on the Navy Operational Support Center Chattanooga.

Never Forget

Speaking to the service members’ families, Carter said “we have no words for what you feel today because, try as we may, and try as we do, we can never fully know.  But we do know what the lives of your loved ones meant to the security of our country, and we will never forget.”

The defense secretary praised the service and sacrifice of the slain Marines and sailor.

“Many of them served abroad, and fought on the front lines of faraway battlefields in places like Iraq and Afghanistan,” Carter said. “And here at home, they were serving among the many men and women in uniform who represent our military communities – in communities across the country, on the front lines of the force of the future.”

Carter said U.S. leaders take acts of harm against Americans “personally” and will do what it takes to protect the service members who serve and protect the nation.

“The few who threaten or incite harm to Americans -- violent extremists or terrorists, wherever they are -- will surely, very surely, no matter how long it takes, come to feel the long arm and the hard fist of justice,” he said, drawing audience applause.

More United

“Those who attempt to inspire fear or terror will find no satisfaction, have no success, in the United States of America. Instead, we come back -- we come back from tragedy stronger and more united than before,” the secretary said.

Carter said he has directed the military services to fundamentally review their domestic security procedures and take immediate steps “to improve the security and force protection of our personnel. And we will do more if necessary,” he said.

Despite the attacks, recruits are lining up to volunteer, “in some cases, more than they were before,” the secretary noted.

“Young men and women are still signing up to serve and defend their country,” Carter said. “They will carry forward the legacy of the fallen, and like them, they too will serve in the finest fighting force the world has ever known.”

Courageous Families

The vice president told the grieving families their courage is an inspiration to “hundreds of thousands of people across the country who are struggling with their own sense of loss. “I promise you give them hope … America owes you just for being here,” he said.

“You’ve lost so much and you’ve given so much,” Biden told them, adding that one day, the memory of their loved ones will bring smiles to their faces.

Biden said the five were members of “The 9/11 generation,” part of the “finest generation of warriors the world has ever known.”

Extraordinary Heroism

Mabus praised the courage of the slain Marines and sailor, as well as that of their fellow service members, first responders and Chattanooga police officers who put their lives on the line to shield others from the gunfire.

“Together we will assure that they, like those that went before, will be remembered as heroes, because that is what they are,” Mabus said. “Ordinary people, facing extraordinary circumstances. An ordinary Thursday became a day of extraordinary horror, but also extraordinary heroism.”