Honoring America's Best: The call nobody wants to hear

Guest Opinion

By JACK EVENSIZER

Press correspondent

The phone rang at zero six hundred. It was the ominous call that Captain Steve Keeton was prepared for but hoped would never come. The call was from the Department of Defense to inform him that Specialists Nathan Beyers, 24, and Nicholas Newby, 20, had been killed in action in Baghdad when their HUMVEE was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device. Also reported was 30-year-old Staff Sergeant Jason Rzepa, the gunner in the HUMVEE, had sustained serious leg injuries in the same attack.

Keeton is the casualty reporting officer for the Post Falls 145th Brigade Support Battalion of Idaho's National Guard. Some 170 troops from North Idaho are on duty in a task force of 2,700 in Idaho's 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team, deployed in Iraq on a security mission in Operation New Dawn. He is the commander of Idaho's 126th Engineer Company headquartered in Moscow, and former commander of Bravo Company of 145th Support Battalion, home of the three soldiers attacked in Baghdad.

Formally trained by the Army in Casualty Assistance, officers are tasked with the primary mission of next of kin notification in the scope of grief, shock and denial, and have rigorous role play training in the classroom to prepare them for the real thing. Keeton said it is difficult and emotional. "You don't really have the words, and you struggle to find the words in such a tragic time" when duty calls to inform families of casualties, he said. He was assigned as the notification officer for the Beyers family. Another officer was assigned for notification for the Newby family.

Closely aligned with casualty notification is ongoing family assistance. Support is integral to the organization and helping families through the maze of final arrangements in a time of tragic and sad times is the primary goal of assistance. Keeping the family informed about military matters is long term, and the Family Assistance Coordinator is the catalyst for family involvement. Christmas cards, names, telephone numbers and contact information for military families are some of the functions of the Family Readiness Group, which is led by spouses of deployed soldiers.

Among other duties, Captain Keeton is formally trained in Honor Guard ceremonies, and has been involved in 30-40 funerals in the past two years. However, the services for Specialist Beyers, posthumously promoted to Sergeant, and Specialist Newby are important to him, as they were in Bravo Company when he was their commander. It makes it personal.

Chaplain Rob Morris accompanied Keeton to the Beyers residence. As they arrived in uniform at the house in Spokane, a neighbor in his front yard knew what it meant. He introduced himself and said that the family was having a barbecue in the back yard and he would tell the family that there were some visitors at the front door. Ms. Beyers greeted the two officers at the door with a smile, recognizing them as friends. Keeton had to inform a friend the fate of her husband. Tragedy had struck. Sadness prevailed, and all of the training had not prepared him for this emotional moment. He performed his forlorn duty along with the Chaplain and felt the emptiness of his words, saying the scripted verbiage prescribed by the Army. Not only as a duty, but as friend, this was the start of an arduous journey. Helping the family was paramount now.

Community support for the families was voluminous, evidenced by hundreds of people lining the streets to honor Specialist Newby on his voyage to his final resting place. Kerri Thoreson related to that day in her Main Street article that Friday, July 15 was both "heart breaking and uplifting." A flag-draped coffin was escorted from the Coeur d'Alene airport to Yates Funeral Home by law enforcement vehicles with flashing lights, HUMVEES form the 116th, motorcycles of the Patriot Guard, and a long procession of friends and family.

The next day a memorial service for Beyers and Newby was held to honor them, as the Patriot Guard stood as sentinels holding American flags at the entrance to Lake City Community Church. Fellow soldiers related stories of their fallen friends, as did family members. The service was well attended by the community, including many uniformed military personnel, and Governor Butch Otter. Funeral services for Specialist Newby were on Monday at the church, and Sergeant Beyers was laid to rest on Tuesday at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake. Captain Keeton was the Honor Guard officer. Both services were complete with full military honors.

For the families now, their journey is just beginning. We mourn for you and say prayers, although it provides little solace for your loss. Be it known that your soldiers died with honor, dignity, respect and gave their all in service to their country. They died proudly doing their duty and are examples of the best America has to offer. God Bless.

Jack Evensizer is a resident of Dalton Gardens.