Ohio National Guard News

Ohio National Guard Special Forces Soldiers honor fallen comrade by dedicating drop zone in his name

Photos by Staff Sgt. Randall P. Carey, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Ohio Army National Guard

Soldiers with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) pose with Family members of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills Oct. 16, 2011, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, prior to a military freefall jump onto H.R. Mills Drop Zone. After the jump, the drop zone was dedicated to Mills, a former commander of Company B, 2-19th, who died of injuries suffered during a static line airborne operation Oct. 24, 2010.
Soldiers prepare for a military freefall jump. A CH-47 Chinook helicopter lands to pick up Soldiers.
Soldiers prepare to load the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Family Members of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills watch Soldiers prepare to load the helicopter.
Soldiers stand in observance while Family of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills await the presentation of a marker (covered by tarp on ground) . Soldiers stand at attention during the ceremony dedicating H.R. Mills Drop Zone.

Walt Emerson (third from left), president of Chapter 35 of the Special Forces Association, presents a coin to Joyce Mills, mother of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills, during the ceremony.

State Sen. Frank LaRose (at podium), of Ohio's 27th Senate District and a former member of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), speaks to friends and Family members of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills during a ceremony dedicating H.R. Mills Drop Zone in honor of Mills at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio.

State Sen. Frank LaRose (from left), of Ohio's 27th Senate District and a former member of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne); Maj. Joseph K. Dickerson, current commander of Company B, 2-19th; Walt Emerson (second from right), president of Chapter 35 of the Special Forces Association; and Jesse Boyd (far right), president of Chapter 45 of the Special Forces Association, stand with the Family of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills following the ceremony.

Family of Chief Warrant Officer 3 (Maj.) H. Roger Mills, a former commander of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who died of injuries suffered during a static line airborne operation Oct. 24, 2010, stand at the drop zone marker Oct. 16, 2011, on H.R. Mills Drop Zone at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. They are holding a plaque commemorating the drop zone being named in Mills' honor.