Army Major Brian M. Mescall
April 18, 1987 ~ January 9, 2009
Operation Enduring Freedom
1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment
Hohenfels, Germany
33, of Hopkinton, MA; killed in action by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his vehicle in Jaldak, Afghanistan.
Operation Enduring Freedom
1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment
Hohenfels, Germany
33, of Hopkinton, MA; killed in action by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his vehicle in Jaldak, Afghanistan.
Brian always knew that he would be a soldier, dressing the part every Halloween. He was a track team member at Exeter High School and graduated in 1993. His family moved to Hopkinton, Massachusetts, after graduation. His friend Keith Tode remembers the first time he met Brian, when the two worked stocking shelves at Shaw's Supermarket. "There he was, just a 6-foot-3 bean pole that said, 'Hi, I'm Brian, and I'm going to go into the Army,"' said Tode. "It was his dream. He was one of those guys from the time he came out of the womb; he wanted to be a soldier."
Brian’s desire and commitment to his plans to enter the Army stood out from other graduating seniors who were looking forward to college parties and socializing, according to Tode. While he did apply to the University of New Hampshire, Brian had no plans of actually attending. "Brian purposefully messed up his UNH application so he could go to The Citadel," Tode said. "He didn't even want to apply to West Point because he didn't think it was hard-core enough. He said he would only go to The Citadel because he said it was where the toughest guys go." The two remained friends and stayed in touch.
Brian attended college at the The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina at Charleston SC. He was a member of the company F-Troop and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He also took summer school classes at Framingham State College.
When Brian was stationed in Korea, he met his wife Chi-un, they married 2001. The couple had a son Nathan and lived in Birmingham, AL, when not stationed overseas. Chi-un said Brian was an avid chef whose specialty was the seafood dish cioppino. He loved to cook Italian and Korean recipes. He also had a soft side, as a funny, talkative husband and father who liked to cook for guests, surprise his wife with flowers, and take their son on camping trips, she said. "He was always a very positive person, very energetic, very optimistic, and very friendly and sweet," Chi-un remembers fondly. She could always count on him to cheer her up, whether by bringing her sunflowers, arranging food on the plate into a smiley face, or telling jokes. She worried when he was sent to Iraq, but he was able to joke about it. Buying a new pair of sunglasses before his departure, he asked her whether he looked good, saying, "I still have to look sexy at war".
In a 2003 interview with the New York Daily News, he spoke of his shock in the aftermath of an insurgent rocket attack that injured three soldiers in Iraq. According to the Boston Herald, Brian, then a 28-year-old Captain with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, said the incident was "one of those things that you fear in a way that you fear you will lose your edge. ... Partially, it's a wake-up call."
Brian served multiple tours of duty in Iraq before he was transferred to Germany. He and Maj. Allen Harris got to know each other when they were observer-controllers together in Germany. During their long nights on rotations and in the field or on early morning bike rides around the post, they spent most of their time talking about their kids. “I would say 80 percent of Brian’s conversations were about his son, Nathan, back in Alabama,” Harris said. “You could tell how proud he was, how much he loved him and how important he was to him.”
Harris’ wife and two children were with him in Germany, but Brian’s wife and son remained in Birmingham, AL. Harris said Nathan came to Germany with Brian’s parents the previous year (2007) for a visit. Before Brian deployed to Afghanistan in 2008, he went back to Alabama in May to see his Chi-un and Nathan.
On Jan. 9, 2009, 30 days before he was to return to Germany, an explosive devise struck his vehicle. The blast killed him and two others, and left a fourth soldier in critical condition.
“Brian was a real fun guy and real easy to get along with,” Harris said. “He sponsored me when I came to Germany. He was the first contact for me before I even arrived. He and I became friends pretty quick. He loved to joke around and he loved to go on bike rides and hike.”
He said Mescall carried photographs of his son with him everywhere he went and talked to him often on the telephone.
“Brian would call him just to see what’s up,” Harris said. “He was absolutely infatuated with his son. It’s hard now thinking about Nathan.”
Army Major Kevin Poole, The Citadel Class of 1999, worked with Brian at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels. He spoke about Brian’s dedication to his country on The Citadel Web site. "Brian was an aggressive war fighter and a magnificent trainer. He never backed down from a mission," Poole said. "Having already served two tours in Iraq, one as a tank company commander and the other as a military transition team chief, Brian truly exemplified The Citadel spirit.”Brian was truly dedicated to the Army and his family, and it showed in everything that he did," Poole said. "As a soldier/leader and a friend, he was someone that we all should aspire to be. Brian Mescall is an American hero who will be sorely missed."
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star and Purple heart, Medal of Honor of the Romanian Land Forces. *If you can provide additional information on Brian's awards please contact us.
Brian is survived by his wife Chi-un and son Nathan; parents, John and Peggy Mescall; brother, John; two sisters Jamie and Stacey and his extended family.
Brian’s desire and commitment to his plans to enter the Army stood out from other graduating seniors who were looking forward to college parties and socializing, according to Tode. While he did apply to the University of New Hampshire, Brian had no plans of actually attending. "Brian purposefully messed up his UNH application so he could go to The Citadel," Tode said. "He didn't even want to apply to West Point because he didn't think it was hard-core enough. He said he would only go to The Citadel because he said it was where the toughest guys go." The two remained friends and stayed in touch.
Brian attended college at the The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina at Charleston SC. He was a member of the company F-Troop and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He also took summer school classes at Framingham State College.
When Brian was stationed in Korea, he met his wife Chi-un, they married 2001. The couple had a son Nathan and lived in Birmingham, AL, when not stationed overseas. Chi-un said Brian was an avid chef whose specialty was the seafood dish cioppino. He loved to cook Italian and Korean recipes. He also had a soft side, as a funny, talkative husband and father who liked to cook for guests, surprise his wife with flowers, and take their son on camping trips, she said. "He was always a very positive person, very energetic, very optimistic, and very friendly and sweet," Chi-un remembers fondly. She could always count on him to cheer her up, whether by bringing her sunflowers, arranging food on the plate into a smiley face, or telling jokes. She worried when he was sent to Iraq, but he was able to joke about it. Buying a new pair of sunglasses before his departure, he asked her whether he looked good, saying, "I still have to look sexy at war".
In a 2003 interview with the New York Daily News, he spoke of his shock in the aftermath of an insurgent rocket attack that injured three soldiers in Iraq. According to the Boston Herald, Brian, then a 28-year-old Captain with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, said the incident was "one of those things that you fear in a way that you fear you will lose your edge. ... Partially, it's a wake-up call."
Brian served multiple tours of duty in Iraq before he was transferred to Germany. He and Maj. Allen Harris got to know each other when they were observer-controllers together in Germany. During their long nights on rotations and in the field or on early morning bike rides around the post, they spent most of their time talking about their kids. “I would say 80 percent of Brian’s conversations were about his son, Nathan, back in Alabama,” Harris said. “You could tell how proud he was, how much he loved him and how important he was to him.”
Harris’ wife and two children were with him in Germany, but Brian’s wife and son remained in Birmingham, AL. Harris said Nathan came to Germany with Brian’s parents the previous year (2007) for a visit. Before Brian deployed to Afghanistan in 2008, he went back to Alabama in May to see his Chi-un and Nathan.
On Jan. 9, 2009, 30 days before he was to return to Germany, an explosive devise struck his vehicle. The blast killed him and two others, and left a fourth soldier in critical condition.
“Brian was a real fun guy and real easy to get along with,” Harris said. “He sponsored me when I came to Germany. He was the first contact for me before I even arrived. He and I became friends pretty quick. He loved to joke around and he loved to go on bike rides and hike.”
He said Mescall carried photographs of his son with him everywhere he went and talked to him often on the telephone.
“Brian would call him just to see what’s up,” Harris said. “He was absolutely infatuated with his son. It’s hard now thinking about Nathan.”
Army Major Kevin Poole, The Citadel Class of 1999, worked with Brian at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels. He spoke about Brian’s dedication to his country on The Citadel Web site. "Brian was an aggressive war fighter and a magnificent trainer. He never backed down from a mission," Poole said. "Having already served two tours in Iraq, one as a tank company commander and the other as a military transition team chief, Brian truly exemplified The Citadel spirit.”Brian was truly dedicated to the Army and his family, and it showed in everything that he did," Poole said. "As a soldier/leader and a friend, he was someone that we all should aspire to be. Brian Mescall is an American hero who will be sorely missed."
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star and Purple heart, Medal of Honor of the Romanian Land Forces. *If you can provide additional information on Brian's awards please contact us.
Brian is survived by his wife Chi-un and son Nathan; parents, John and Peggy Mescall; brother, John; two sisters Jamie and Stacey and his extended family.
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Fallen U.S. soldiers honored by Romanian land forces
By 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command Public Affairs January 22, 2009 GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY — Three U.S. soldiers, who were killed in action while serving with the Romanian Land Forces (ROULF), were posthumously honored during a ceremony at ROULF Headquarters in Bucharest, Jan. 16. The soldiers of the 1st Bn., 4th Inf. Regt. (1-4) were attached to the ROULF, when they were killed Jan. 9, in the Zabul Province of Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle in Jaldak. "By conferring these awards, we offer these distinctions as a sign of respect and appreciation of the sacrifice made in the name of freedom," said Lt. Gen. Teodor Frunzeti, PhD, and chief of staff of the ROULF. "The U.S. and Romanian Army servicemen train together, fight together, and honor their heroes together."Frunzeti, conferred the Medal of Honor of the Romanian Land Forces to U.S. Army Maj. Brian Michael Mescall; the Badge of Merit, "In the Service of Peace," 3rd Class, to U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Ray Parsons and U.S. Army Cpl. Joseph Michael Hernandez. "We are devastated by the loss of Maj. Mescall, Sgt. Parsons and Cpl. Hernandez. But we are also profoundly proud and humbled by their service and their sacrifice in the defense of our Nation and the Afghan people," said Brig. Gen. David R. Hogg, commander of the 7th U.S. Army Joint Multinational Training Command. "The selfless service and commitment to duty displayed by these soldiers, their Families, and 1-4 Infantry truly reflects what being a part of the Army Family is all about. We will keep Sgt. Lands, of the 1-4, and Lt. Col. Pegulescu, of the ROULF, in our prayers, as they recover from wounds received that tough day in combat." The 1-4 has supported the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since 2004. It deploys a company-size unit, during each ISAF rotation to Afghanistan. When not deployed, the 1-4 serves as the Opposing Forces at the JMTC's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, providing realistic training for U.S. and allied soldiers preparing for deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan. "For the ROULF to decorate our fallen soldiers with their highest honors proves there is a commitment to peace, cooperation, and camaraderie that extends beyond the battlefield," said Hogg. "We are deeply honored by the recognition given our soldiers by the Chief of Staff of the Romanian Land Forces, Lt. Gen. Frunzeti and their continued commitment to fight side by side with our Soldiers in Afghanistan." The awards were presented to Ms. Geri Guthrie-Corn, the Charge d' Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, to be sent to the fallen soldiers' families."The price for the defense of freedom has never been small. We are greatly honored by the way in which the memory of our compatriots was honored," said Guthrie-Corn. |
NMCB 7 Completes Mescall Water Well Story Number: NNS120307-09Release Date: 3/7/2012 2:45:00 PM By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Yan Kennon, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan (NNS) -- After five weeks of around-the-clock operations, Seabees assigned to U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7 Water Well Detachment successfully completed the drilling of their first fresh water well at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mescall. The detachment of Seabees departed the Battalion's mainbody site at Kandahar Airfield Feb. 7 and began base camp setup the next day at FOB Mescall, located 4,595 feet above sea level in the Shah Joy District of Zabul Province. Detachment personnel were divided into three separate crews (towers), led by Equipment Operator 1st Class Michal Shafer, Equipment Operator 2nd Class Mark Palmer and Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Scott Klausner. Each crew worked equal eight hour shifts, through snow, high winds and single digit temperatures to keep the drilling operations going 24 hours a day. The crew was prepared to drill in excess of 1,200 feet for its projected water table, but hit its mark after drilling through 903 feet of sand, stone, and clay. The Seabees' success did not come without minor setbacks. Delays in getting needed fuel and water, due to a two-day snow storm, were a couple of obstacles the Seabees had to overcome. "Fuel and water shortages really compressed our drilling timelines," said Equipment Operator 1st Class Michal Shafer, a native of Sioux Falls, S.D. and assistant officer in charge. "But I had very high confidence in our crew that we would finish this mission on schedule. That's what Seabees do, complete their mission and prepare for the next." The Seabees began the exploratory drilling using a 6 inch pilot hole, sampling the earth at predetermined depths. The Seabees hit their first water formation at 500 feet. After testing water samples, they decided to continue drilling where they hit another water table and their ultimate stopping point at 903 feet. At that point, the crew widened the borehole and installed casings, screens and gravel pack to allow water to flow into the well and keep unwanted materials, such as sand and dirt out. Next the crew mixed and pumped cement between the casing and borehole wall, a method often referred to as "grouting the well", to make a sanitary seal to prevent any downward leakage of contaminants from the surface, which also prevents intermixing of ground water between water-bearing zones encountered while drilling. The Seabees then developed the well, the final step before declaring the well operational. Development is a procedure used to maximize the well yield. The two main reasons for well development are to clean the filter cake from the borehole wall and to remove unwanted sediments and particles from the pipe so that water will flow more freely into the well. The well completion at FOB Mescall, named after U.S. Army Maj. Brian Mescall who was killed January 2009 when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near his vehicle in Jaldak while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, allows the Romanian army controlled FOB to be completely self-sufficient without concern for cost consuming water contracts. "This is our team's first official drill down range," said Chief Equipment Operator Jerry Greer, a native of Helena, Ark. and the detachment's officer in charge. "Drilling this well provided a lot of good training for our crew, which will make the next drill easier for us. We're very happy with the results and are looking forward to our next assignment." The Seabees will return back to the battalion's mainbody site to make minor equipment repairs and perform scheduled maintenance before redeploying to their next drilling site, which has yet to be determined. NMCB 7 deployed to the Combined Joint Operations Area - Afghanistan, from its homeport of Gulfport, Miss. Jan. 9, to provide a highly responsive and maneuverable engineer force and resources to conduct contingency, mobility and general engineering support operations across supported commander's lines of operation throughout CENTCOM, to improve the operational capabilities of Coalition forces. NMCB 7, often referred to as the "Magnificent Seven", is one of the original 10 Seabee battalions authorized by the Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks, in 1942, and is currently one of nine active NMCBs in the Naval Construction Force, a military engineering force of nearly 17,000 active and Reserve Component Seabees operating worldwide. Upon completion of their current deployment, NMCB 7 will decommission Sept. 30 as part of the Fiscal Year 2012 force reduction plan. |
