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.”
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