LZ DERBY

Story by Sgt. Christopher Kozloski
Date: 04.07.2009

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MAREZ, Iraq - Propeller wash from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter christened the official renaming of a landing zone on Forward Operating Base Marez, March 20. The landing zone was renamed to honor the memory of LTC Gary Derby, former commander of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, and four members of his personal security detail who were victims of a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in February while en route to a combat outpost in Mosul to conduct a combined operations patrol with Iraqi security forces.

Colonel Gary J. Volesky, commander of 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force "Greywolf", gathered with fellow soldiers to memorialize Derby and his team's dedication to the preservation of freedom both at home and abroad.

"We will never forget our fallen Soldiers," Colonel Volesky said. "They were great Americans who fought for the freedom of others."

Command Sergeant Major James Pippin, who cut the ribbon to reveal a new sign designating the landing zone as "Derby LZ," bypassed the proverbial scissors and sliced through the ribbon with a combat knife, a gesture he felt that Derby would deem appropriate. The sign itself was erected as a reminder that fallen Soldiers should never be forgotten.

"This will be a standing memorial that shows we will never forget our Soldiers," said Colonel Volesky.

Sergeant Major James Pippin uses his combat knife to cut the ribbon, revealing the sign with the new name of the landing zone on Forward Operating Base Marez, in Mosul, Iraq, March 20th, 2009. The landing zone was renamed in honor of Lt. Col. Gary Derby and four members of his personal security detail who were lost to a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in February.

Colonel Gary Volesky speaks to fellow soldiers about remembering fallen Soldiers like Lieutenant Colonel Gary Derby and his personal security detail at "Derby LZ" on Forward Operating Base Marez, in Mosul, Iraq, March 20th, 2009. The landing zone was renamed in honor ofLieutenant Colonel Gary Derby and four members of his personal security detail who were lost to a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in February.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter lands in the newly named "Derby LZ" landing zone on Forward Operating Base Marez, in Mosul, Iraq, March 20th, 2009. The landing zone was renamed in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Gary Derby and four members of his personal security detail who were lost to a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in February.