Tennessee pays tribute to service members slain in 2015 Chattanooga attack

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam talks about the commitment the state has to Volkswagen Wednesday outside the Tennessee Department of Transportation Management Center in Chattanooga. The governor had just come from visiting with workers inside the plant Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2015.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam talks about the commitment the state has to Volkswagen Wednesday outside the Tennessee Department of Transportation Management Center in Chattanooga. The governor had just come from visiting with workers inside the plant Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2015.

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and top state military officials paid homage today to the four U.S. Marines and sailor killed in last July's terrorist "inspired" attack in Chattanooga while also honoring their families at a Memorial Day ceremony outside the state Capitol.

"Over the years, we have met families and heard the courageous stories of their loved ones killed in battlefields abroad, but last July, five service members were killed serving right here in Tennessee," Haslam said. "The tragedy in Chattanooga is one of many reminders of the dangers facing our troops today. We honor those five brave men who lost their lives that day and remember all the men and women who willingly lay down their lives for our freedom."

Officials also paid tribute to a U.S. Army lieutenant killed during World War II as well as a sergeant killed in Iraq in 2005.

"Those we honor today came from all across this great state and from all walks of life," Tennessee Adj. Gen. Max Haston told the audience assembled on Legislative Plaza before the state's War Memorial Building. "And they shared some of the same qualities. They embodied courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and a great personal integrity."

All went toward "serving a cause larger than themselves," said Haston who went to note "Memorial Day is not just another holiday. It's about honoring heroes and the heroes are amongst us today."

Haslam presented family members or representatives of those slain July 16 in Chattanooga with Tennessee's Fallen Heroes Medal as well as state memorial flag and an iris, the state's flower.

Among the family members attending was Cathy Wells, whose 21-year-old son, Marine Lance Cpl. Squire "Skip" K.P. Wells of Marietta, Ga., was serving as a cannoneer with Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Chattanooga when he was killed during the attack on the Naval Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway.

"I think it's important with Memorial Day that they all be remembered," Wells later told reporters. "Not just ours but all of them being honored."

Such events don't bring closure, Wells she said, adding that "it's nice, it's a nice gesture but it doesn't bring our boys back. It doesn't bring them back.... So all of this, as nice as it is, it doesn't bring them back. We still go home without them."

But Wells noted her personal support system and the relationships she now has with the families of the other four service members slain have helped.

"It's a bond that we didn't want, didn't need," she said. "But having it now, it's nice. I mean it's comforting to know they're all going through the same thing. We all have the same struggles and we all share each other. We understand what each is going through."

The July 16 attack was carried out by 24-year-old Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez. FBI Director James Comey said the attack was "inspired" by terrorist groups. All five men were honored with posthumous Purple Hearts.

Besides Wells, others honored were:

* Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan of Springfield, Mass. Assigned to Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Chattanooga where he served as Battery Gunnery Sergeant.

* Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, who grew up in Ozark and Russellville, Arkansas. He was serving as Operations Chief at Mike Battery. He was buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery last July. Retired Gunnery Sgt. Brian Marzluf and his wife Gretchen Gilliam Marzluf represented the Wyatt family.

* Sgt. Carson Holmquist of Grantsburg, Wisc., was assigned to Mike Battery. His wife Jasmine Holmquist received the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal on her husband's behalf.

* Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith of Paulding, Ohio was assigned to the Navy Operational Support Center and died from wounds during the attack. Smith was buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery. His father Tracy Smith received the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal on his son's behalf.

Also honored was Marine 1st Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr. of Knoxville who was killed in 1943 during World War II after several days of intense combat at the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. Bonnyman was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for personal acts of exceptional valor during the battle. After more than 70 years, he was finally brought home from the battlefield and laid to rest in Knoxville last year.

Another honoree was Sgt. Gary "Lee" Reese died on Aug. 13, 2005, from blunt force trauma caused by a massive explosion in Iraq when the Humvee he was riding in struck an improvised explosive device during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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