'Stand Behind Us'

Army Capt. Ralph "Jay" Harting III
April 2005 (letter to the "Lady Reaper Tribune," a newsletter at Fort Irwin for wives and family members of deployed soldiers)

Dear Lady and Family Reapers,
I regret to say that on 6 May 2005 my time as the Echo Troop commander will come to an end. I will pass the ceremonial Echo Troop Guidon to CPT Frank, the incoming commander who will no doubt continue to lead our troops to future success. I have had an extraordinary experience and will never forget the people of this great organization.

Please allow me to say thanks to certain people without whom my command in Echo Troop and the success of our FRG would have been impossible: To my wife, Jen, I would have been lost without you. You always listened to my complaints with a tender heart and you always looked for ways to make my job easier despite the rigors of babies, daily life, and the myriad of tasks that I have always been too busy for. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To Joanna Frazier, you truly made the Echo Troop FRG. Thank you for your time, effort and genuine concern for soldiers' families. You are truly an irreplaceable asset to the troop. Thank you. To Mary Provost, thank you for taking such an active interest in Echo Troop. You have helped Jen and Joanna immeasurably. You are a wonderful supporter of the troop and truly care. Thank you.

Finally, as the time winds down on my adventure as the commander of Echo Troop, I would like to say a few words to mark the journey. The soldiers of this troop have never ceased to amaze me. THEY are the reason why America is great. It is not the businessmen or the rich entrepreneurs that make America great but seemingly ordinary soldiers and their families who make extraordinary sacrifices for the good of our country and destitute countries, like Iraq. Soldiers like SPC Webb and SPC Maida, who jumped at the opportunity to deploy and fight with Echo Troop despite cushy non-combat Fort Irwin jobs. Soldiers like 1SG Renteria, SGT Becerril, SGT Nun, SSG Villacorte, SGT Smith, SPC Marroquin, CPL Roblero, SGT Lewis, SSG Lombardy, SPC Jones, SPC Marquez, SGT Myers, SSG Anderson, SSG Bondarenko, SGT Cruzatte, SSG McNickles, SFC Frazier, and SGT Lopez who are all on their second year-long combat tour upholding the ideals of our fore-fathers; those of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I have spent many days analyzing the fact that truly no other country in the world possesses the caliber of people necessary to do the amazing things that our soldiers do as a matter of course. There is no other country that can even come close to doing what our soldiers do. I have now seen that fact first hand working with the inept Polish unit to the south of our Squadron. The world truly relies on and idealizes the great Americans like those who compose Echo Troop, your loved ones.

The soldiers of Echo Troop are truly making a difference on a national scale here in Iraq, just because of the type of Americans they are. Our soldiers are idealistic, steadfast, compassionate, tough and courageous. It has been a humbling experience serving with them. Thank you for allowing me to lead these unsung heroes, your husbands, fathers, sons, or brothers. It has truly been my privilege. This has been the greatest job of my life. A piece of my heart will always be with the soldiers of Echo Troop. I will never forget what I have learned from the Reapers and their families. Thank you all. Fear the Reapers!
Very Respectfully, Capt. Jay Harting

Harting, 28, of Union Lake, Mich., was killed April 29, 2005, when an explosive was set off inside a truck he was inspecting in Diyarah, south of Baghdad.