Sean D. Tharp

Pfc. Sean D. Tharp, 21, of Orlando, Fla., died in Baghdad, Iraq on March 28, 2006, when his element came under enemy small arms fire
while conducting dismounted patrol operations. Tharp was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

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Although we suffered fewer wounded this month than previous months, we lost Private First Class Sean Tharp of B Company to enemy fire
on March 28, 2006. We held the Memorial Ceremony on FOB FALCON a few days later where we said goodbye to him
and I was happy to see the unit truly support each other during that time. I spoke to Sean’s mother shortly after his death to offer her our condolences
for her loss and she told me how much Sean loved being a Soldier in B Company and how much he wanted to be here with his brothers –
it is where he felt he belonged. Because he touched our lives and lived as a Regular, I know that he will never be alone and he will never be forgotten.

LT COLONEL Craig Osborne, Commander 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry- April 15, 2006

MG James D. Thurman and CSM Ronald T. Riling paying their respects at the memorial for PFC Tharp, Baghdad, Iraq.

MG Thurman and CSM Riling salute their fallen brother Soldier.

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4th Infantry Remembers 8 Who Sacrificed Everything

By Emily Baker
Killeen Daily Herald

April 21, 2006

FORT HOOD - Just a few months ago, some of these Soldiers were at their senior proms. They no doubt endured dozens of photographs
and hugs from parents proud of their children who had suddenly grown up.

These same parents sat across from photos of their children in the 4th Infantry Division's chapel Thursday.
Strong smiles from young faces sitting in front of American flags were placed around a Kevlar helmet perched atop a single rifle,
a somber reminder that we'll never see these Soldiers' smiles again.

Five of the eight Soldiers honored at Thursday's memorial service had been in the Army for less than two years.
Half of them were 21 years old or younger when they died in Iraq.

"I think they are tremendously brave," said Col. Dick Francey, the division's rear commander. "If you take a look across the nation,
we are an Army of volunteers. During a time of war, you have young men and women step up.
It's always amazing, but especially during a time of war, I take my hat off to them."

The young Soldiers, especially, were remembered for their professionalism and their dedication to duty.

"They served us and our nation proudly," Francey said.

Pfc. Sean D. Tharp was another Soldier who proved to be outstanding in just a few months.
Tharp, 21, joined the Army just 10 months ago and served with the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

"He was a warrior who went above and beyond his job every time the crap hit the fan," said Capt. Warren Litherland, the Battalion's rear commander.

Litherland read a statement from one of Tharp's sergeants in Iraq.
The sergeant remembered a March 2 patrol during which their vehicles rolled over a roadside bomb.
Tharp was one of the first two people to jump from the vehicle and shoot in the direction of the person who set off the bomb.

Then, when the suggestion came to search a field, Tharp immediately ran to the field without being told to do so.
All he had was a rifle with a half-empty magazine and a radio.

Tharp's last patrol took place March 20. His sergeant asked whether he was nervous,
and he replied that where ever the sergeant goes, he would be there, too.

"Less than 10 minutes later, he died on a battlefield for his country," Litherland said.

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