Music is served … - Irish American News

26 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS January 2006Dying Together: From Bull Run to BaghdadB y J o s e p h E . G a n n o n ,TheWildGeese.comMillions of people across theworld were horrified when theyheard reports of the tragedy of HurricaneKatrina in New Orleans. Onesuch group was far from home andsurely more horrified than any other:the men and women of the LouisianaArmy National Guard in Iraq. Nowthey have returned home, but forsome it may not be to the same livesthey left behind a year ago.While in Iraq they served withanother group of soldiers whobecame familiar with immensetragedy: The famous “Fighting”69th of the New York Army NationalGuard, which was calledupon to assist their fellow NewLooking for a Great Atmosphereand Custom Menus for Your Special Event?Call and Make YourReservation NOW312-335-8121FAX 312-335-8151We’ve Got the Answer!Get with the craicIRISH STYLEat Chicago’s Newest Hot SpotThe Kerryman661 N Clark StYorkers on 9/11. This was notthe first close contact betweenthe 69th and combat units fromLouisiana, however.On a late afternoon of a pleasantJuly 1st, southeast of Richmond,Va., in 1862, grimly determinedmen dressed in blue from the 69thand 88th New York Volunteers ofthe Irish Brigade were orderedinto a wooded section of MalvernHill. There, they encounteredequally determined men wearinggray, including the men of the 10thLouisiana Volunteers.Soldiers seldom met in hand-tohandfighting during the AmericanCivil War, but on this occasion theydid. Face to face, they killed andwounded each other with bayonets,bowie knives, clubbed muskets, andbare hands. The 10th Louisiana,which would come to be known as“Lee’s Foreign Legion,” includedmany men from Ireland. No doubt atsome point in the tangle of humanityIrishmen foughtIrishmenWhen it was over the Confederateshad been repulsed with heavylosses, but the New York regimentshad suffered, too, losing 22 killedand more than 100 wounded. The10th had lost 22 dead and 36 wounded,with 26 captured, including theircommanding officer, Colonel Waggaman.The dead and wounded werestrewn along the ground, as they hadbeen at the first major battle at BullRun and would be in every majorbattle in the East during the war.On Jan. 6, 2005, just outsidethe village of Awad Al-Hussein, inIraq, six National Guard soldiersfrom Louisiana and one from NewYork, serving in the 256th InfantryBrigade, the “Tiger” Brigade,died in the same Bradley fightingvehicle, after a roadside bombdetonated. Louisianians and a NewYorker, dying together again, 142years later, but this time fighting acommon enemy.The New Yorker was newly wedKenneth VonRonn, from upstatePine Bush. The Louisianians wereKurt Comeaux, of Raceland; HueyFassbender, of LaPlace; WarrenMurphy; of Marrero; and threemen from Houma, with a populationof about 30,000: BradleyBergeron, Christopher Babin, andArmand Frickey. That three froma town could perish while servingtogether in a conflict illustratesa danger that exists in NationalGuard units. As was the case inthe Civil War, volunteer units fromwhom many Guard units tracetheir lineage: Bad news from thebattlefield can wreak tremendouspain on small communities.The 256th Infantry “Tiger” Brigade(Mechanized) is based inLouisiana, and traces its nicknameto the 1st Special Louisiana “Tiger”Battalion of the Civil War. Duringits deployment to Iraq, it includedNational Guard troops from Minnesotaand Wisconsin, as well asthe men of the 69th. The permanentunits of the 256th include the156th Infantry and the 141st Field80 Years and 4 Generations of ServiceIn 1924 Harry P. Sullivan opened on 63rd and Claremont in Chicago.His son, Raymond J. Sullivan worked with him and helped open a second location at 63rd and Western.His son, Terry M. Sullivan, worked with him, and in 1984Terry opened the Downers Grove location.For the last 5 years, his son Brian has worked withhim.When the need arises, the Sullivans and their staff of specialistswill be there to help you make arrangements.Whether you choose burial or cremation, their beautifulfuneral home provides a perfect setting where families canmeet, console, reminisce and share.630.968.10004343 Main Street, Downers GroveTerry & Brian Sullivan