Slain Ft. Sill Soldiers Honored in Oklahoma

Seven soldiers, including six from Ft. Sill, who were killed in Iraq when their helicopter was shot down were remembered Thursday as brave men who died while fighting for their country.

More than 1,000 soldiers, family members and friends packed the Sheridan Theater to pay tribute to the Ft. Sill soldiers, who were killed Nov. 2 by Iraqi insurgents.

“They were wonderful young men with a passion for life and who represent all that is great about our country,” said 212th Field Artillery Brigade commander Col. Al Schneider.

Pictures of all six of the Ft. Sill soldiers lined the stage, which was bordered with U.S. flags, flowers and artillery shells.

“They were courageous men who lost their lives while defending our way of life,” Schneider said. “What greater sacrifice is there?”

Meanwhile, more than 200 people packed into Faith United Methodist Church in Genoa, Ill., to remember Army 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas, 30, who also died in the attack.

“I met him as a freshman in high school and I never heard him put another kid down,” said Phil Heinisch, one of nine friends who told humorous and sometimes touching stories about Slavenas.

The Ft. Sill soldiers killed in the attack were Staff Sgts. Paul A. Velazquez, 29, San Diego, and Joe N. Wilson, 30, Crystal Springs, Miss.; Sgts. Keelan L. Moss, 23, Houston, Ross A. Pennanen, 36, Shawnee, Okla., Joel Perez, 25, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; and Spc. Steven D. Conover, 21, Wilmington, Ohio. Six more Ft. Sill soldiers were wounded in the incident.