Saturday morning family, friends and fellow soldiers of Specialist Arronn D. Fields was honored with a Wall of Honor Ceremony at the Plymouth Armory.
Retired Colonel John Bailey welcomed those in attendance and introduced the official party which included Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter, District 17 State Representative Tim Harmon, Sheriff Tom Chamberlin and several military dignitaries. He also introduced special local guests including Bud Ross National DAV Commander, Kevin Huff from the local DAV, Julian Keiser from the Plymouth American Legion and Hurshel Hunter from Plymouth FOP Lodge 195.
Specialist Fields’ family was also in attendance for the ceremony including his mother Jackie had step-father Bill Pilkin, his sister April and husband Keith Cavanary who are both in the National Guard and their children.
The State Armory Board approved local armories creating a “Wall of Honor” for individuals who have fallen as a result of combat operations.
On Saturday Specialist Arronn Fields was honored. Deployed in February of 2012 with the 381st MP Unit at the Plymouth Armoy , Fields was killed as a result of a rocket grenade attack while on patrol in Afghanistan.
Several individuals spoke including a fellow soldier Spc. Davis who said Fields was a rough tuff kind of guy who had a nice side but didn’t want to show it much. He also said he had a true love of his country and was probably looking down from his favorite fishing spot in the sky saying “Shut up Davis this is my time.”
Team Leader Sgt. James McCallum was a friend as well. He said the shadow box created for the Wall of Honor assures him that Specialist Firelds would not be forgotten. He too spoke of Arronn’s love of fishing and said he was going to show me how to fait a hook when we got home. McCallum closed his comments by saying to Arronn’s mom, “Time heals all wounds but some take longer.”
Fields’ mom, Jackie thanked everyone who came to honor her son. Speaking directly to his fellow comrades she said, “He loved each of you and would have been close to your side if you needed him.”
The Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard, Major Umbarger spoke at Fields’ funeral and noted that the other members of the unit weren’t able to attend since they were still overseas so he talked gave them a brief rendition of what had been said. He was impressed by the American Flags every 21 feel that lined the drive from the church to the cemetery.
He also noted that he had actually meet Specialist Fields in Afghanistan when he was his driver.
In a very moving ceremony the shadow box was unveiled and Fields’ family was the first to move to the front to see it. His fellow soldiers filed past at the conclusion of the ceremony.
