NU corps of cadets honors fallen SEAL

On a warm and partly cloudy morning in Stamford, Conn., one lone casket lay. Filling the parking lot, courtyard, basement and pews of the Church of St. Cecilia were over a thousand guests.

Some attendees, dressed in their best summer attire, were teachers of Stamford's Trinity Catholic High School. Others were close family to a fallen brother, son or cousin. And a few were old Rook buddies; coming to reminisce in the memory of their beloved Delta Dog.

All had come to honor Chief Petty Officer Brian Bill, Norwich class of 2001, who was killed in Afghanistan.

Some of the guests were members of the U.S. Navy. A few were Seabees (the construction battalions of the Navy), others were Riverine Craft Sailors (deliverers of special warfare operators), but most military members in attendance were part of an elite team: The U.S. Navy SEALs, most notably, members of the exclusive SEAL Team 6.

Also present were a group of Norwich cadets who requested to attend, and assist, in the Aug. 19 funeral.

Bill was killed in action on Aug. 6 over the Wardak Province of Afghanistan, part of a 38-man team aboard an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter that was shot down by Taliban forces. The SEALs, along with U.S. Army and Air Force personnel, as well as Afghan nationals, were being delivered into a combat zone to support offensive actions in the region.

Among those aboard the craft were seven Afghan National Army special operations troops, five U.S. Army aviation personnel, three U.S. Air Force special warfare operators, and an Afghan civilian interpreter.

According to the Stamford Patch obituary, "During his career (Bill) was decorated with the following personal awards: three Bronze Stars with Valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and three Good Conduct Medals."

The obituary continues: "Brian was a skilled fly-fisherman, skier and skydiver. He was an accomplished mountaineer with successful summits of Aconcagua in Argentina, and Mount Elbrus in Russia. He had completed several marathons and obtained his commercial pilot's license. He independently studied Russian and became fluent in French."

Fourteen Norwich cadets, along with two faculty members, attended. The cadets were asked to play a key role, according to a cadet officer.

"I was humbled to find out the family had asked to have Norwich students participate in the funeral," said Kyle Guinan, a 22-year-old senior psychology major from Binghamton, N.Y. "I was honored to have a role in the service, helping to place a religious pall covering the casket."

Attending were Kelsey Monroe, Kyle Guinan, Terrell Coleman, Alex Taupier, Sean Kennedy, Zachariah Wetzel, Robert Cottrell, Frank Halstead, Robert Kelley, John Powers, Cory Mowbray, Donald Gray, Matthew Hawley and Matthew Roberts. Commandant staff members Command Sergeants Major Geraldo Mercado and Richard Bergen also attended.

Norwich President Richard Schneider flew in the night before to join the cadets at the funeral. Schneider also attended the second ceremony for Bill in Arlington, Va.

The president said he was emotionally touched from attending the ceremony at Arlington, and remembers the finest details of that somber day. He describes how the second ceremony event in Arlington buried the most service members in one day, including Bill.

The cadets placed the pall over Bill's casket, served as ushers for over a thousand guests and folded the flag for his family. Without the diligence and attention to detail of these cadets, said one cadet, "The funeral would not have been possible."

The commandant of cadets, Col. Rick Van Arnam, addressed the cadet funeral party before leaving for Connecticut: "There was an incident, years ago, when a plane filled with U.S. Army soldiers went down delivering troops. More than 200 soldiers were lost that day; this was a huge blow to the army," Van Arnam said. "Now imagine how these SEALs must feel; by the numbers, 22 SEALs lost in one incident … that's a terrible loss for such a small, closely-knit, and elite team."

The morning of the funeral began briskly, as the cadets slid into their best dress uniforms, the commandant faculty ensured the cadets were looking their best. After driving to the Church of St. Cecilia, the cadets helped set up, position and practice the ceremony.

At 11:45 a.m., Bill's body arrived, surrounded by members of the Patriot Guard Motorcycle Riders, all presenting American flags. Salutes were given by veterans and current service members, while the local Stamford Fire Department displayed a fully extended, 20- by 38-foot American flag across two fire ladders.

It was "a sight to see, a true resemblance of patriotism at its finest," reflected Frank Halstead, a 20-year-old junior criminal justice major from Ghent, N.Y. "I am truly humbled to even be here, let alone attend and help manage this hero's funeral."

Six SEAL Team members close to Bill delivered the body to the front of the church sanctuary.

"I was mesmerized by the event; I saw his family, his rook buddies, his SEAL Team members… It's hard to see such an amazing man go," said cadet officer Kelsey Monroe, a 21-year-old senior criminal justice major from Mendon, Mass.

Monroe helped fold Bill's first American burial flag; his second flag would be folded at the ceremony in Arlington, Va.

When the procession reached the front of the church, the cadets marched forward with a light cadence, through a quiet sanctuary.

Guinan noted, "The most moving moment for me was watching an Air Force Captain fall to his knees in tears after the playing of Taps, and during the playing of ‘Amazing Grace.'"

"After the funeral service, (the captain) approached and thanked me for what I had done. I said it was my honor, and he replied simply; ‘It is our honor to have all of you here knowing our service, and Brain's legacy, will be in the hands of such professionals like you.' Having him say this to me at that time floored me, and I stood there in awe, replaying the statement in my head… as the captain walked away," said Guinan.

Guinan's experience was shared by all cadets in attendance.

"I was there in the church when (Bill's) body reached the doorway … to see such a hero pass by, and to witness his remembrance, was emotional for all of us," said Terrell Coleman, a 21-year-old senior political science major from Olympia Fields, Ill.

After passing the flag to a Navy SEAL Captain, a click of the heel signaled the Norwich cadets to march off. With the pall laid out over the casket by cadets Guinan and Powers, the Catholic funeral service began.

Stories were told by Bill's SEAL team members, men who trained and worked alongside Brian. One of bill's friends, also a member of the SEALs, described their time together through the SEAL qualification course.

"We were living together through the training," the unidentified SEAL said. "And at points in the training, we would have mandatory room inspections. Of course, he was used to these sorts of things, having attended a military school!"

Failing a room inspection meant doing two hours of grueling physical training the next Monday. When his roommate asked what they should do about this room inspection on the Friday before, Bill thought silently.

"He eventually spoke. But he said something I didn't expect from Brian, being so disciplined. He said; ‘Well, we can enjoy this weekend for two days, slack off on this inspection, and just put up with (the punishment) on Monday!'" the SEAL speaker said.

"Of course, we had a good laugh, but went on to clean the room. We emptied everything from that room, the racks, the desks, the drawers… we dusted and swept, swabbed and cleaned. And guess what? We failed the room inspection anyway, and had to PT the following Monday together! But it was alright… we were together, Brian and I. Those were the fondest memories," said the SEAL speaker.

None of the SEAL Team members in attendance broke their professional bearing; each, including the speakers, made it a point to hold back their tears, in professional reverence towards their fallen friend and fellow warrior.

SEAL team members escorted the body to the airport for Arlington, Va. The cadets joined Schneider at the funeral reception, where he presented a framed certificate of gratitude with an American flag to Bill's mother, Patricia Parry. She accepted the gift, and reminded the Norwich ensemble of her gratitude to the school.

"Several weeks later, President Schneider showed us a plaque that was presented to the university by Brian's Casualty Assistance Team," said Guinan. "It thanked us for our honorable service, and the honor shown would have not been possible without our support. Seeing, and touching, that wooden plaque brought back the humility, pride, honor, and somber feelings that all of us had experienced that day."

A video of Bill having milk and cookies with his toddler cousin played in the lobby of the funeral reception. The two were playfully dipping their Oreos, three at a time, and laughing with heartfelt joy.

On a nearby table sat a large, clear glass bowl of Oreo cookies.

"Take one," the small sign read. "And remember our sweet son, our loving friend. We'll never forget you, Brian."

(Writer Ben Cottrell attended and participated in the funeral service, helping fold the flag.)