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419th reservist designs memorial for fallen Iraqi comrades

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Mindy Bloem
  • 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq --  On Feb. 23, members of the 506th Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team gathered on their compound at Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq for an unveiling ceremony of a memorial wall to honor three Iraqi men killed in an improvised explosive device attack last year.

Tech. Sgt. Eric Eberhard, EOD team leader from Hill Air Force Base's 419th Fighter Wing, designed and painted the wall, which includes likenesses of the three men -- Saman Barzan Mohamed, Ahmed Salih Rasheed and Twana Salam Salim. Arabic script beneath the images reads "We will never forget."

The reservist, who returned from his six-month deployment last week, said he felt compelled to honor his fallen Iraqi comrades and raise money for their families.

"I wanted the mural to be dedicated to and focused on these men who gave their lives, so I designed it with that goal in mind," he said.

The concrete wall measures 13-by-8 feet and took about 50 hours to complete, but the work was well worth it.

Sergeant Eberhard also spoke at the ceremony and presented a check for $1,600 to the victims' families. The money was raised during a 5k, which three EOD team members ran while wearing 80-pound bomb suits. The families also received certificates of appreciation.

"My hope is that the mural will help strengthen the bond we have formed with the Iraqi EOD technicians, as it is a display of support and dedication in our effort to see them succeed," Sergeant Eberhard said. "They come to our compound often and will be reminded of the selfless sacrifice those who came before them have made."

Sergeant Eberhard said EOD technicians, American or not, are members of a family -- a small and courageous career field.

Many family members listened during the ceremony with tears in their eyes to the deference being paid to their loved ones.

Salam Hama Salim, Twana's father, spoke about his son's memory.

My son was very funny and friendly with everybody, he said through an interpreter. Everyone who worked with him liked him. I feel honored, and it's a special day for us, especially with all the respect the EOD guys have shown my son.

(Bryan Magaña, 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, contributed to this story.)