This website is a memorial to the life of US Army Pfc. Aaron J. Ward
19, of San Jacinto, California.
Aaron was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Washington and died for your and my freedom on May 6th, 2008 in Asad, Iraq.
Aaron passed away as a result of wounds sustained when his unit came under small arms fire while conducting cordon and search operations.
This is what Aaron lived by....
I am a soldier and proud member of the United States Army Military Police Corps Regiment. I am Of the Troops and For the Troops. I believe there is no higher calling than to ASSIST, PROTECT, and DEFEND my fellow soldiers, their families, and the basic ideals of our Constitution that guarantee our freedom and our American way of life.
I am always ready to help individual soldiers retain or regain their dignity. I assist commanders in performing their missions, safeguarding their commands, and maintaining discipline, law and order. I am proud of the Military Police Corps Regiment and fully understand the awesome responsibility given to all military police soldiers. At the same time, I am humble because I know that I am a servant of my country and my Army.
To perform my duties properly, my honesty, integrity, and courage must be balanced by competence, alertness, and courtesy. I know I am constantly in the public eye and my behavior sets the standards of excellence of my fellow soldiers. To my unit, my commander, and myself, I promise sustained, just and honorable support.
To my country, the Army and my Regiment, I promise the skills of my training, my physical ability, my mental initiative, and my moral courage, for I am a soldier in the MILITARY POLICE CORPS REGIMENT.
"Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love..."
Aaron and his mom, Debbie
"Aaron was a great kid... he was kind to everybody, and he was a very warm and loving soul...”
- Gary Tolle, Aaron's uncle
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around...
"You're just a picture - you're an image caught in time
We're no lie - you and I, but we're words without a rhyme..."
- From the song "Rainbow in The Dark" by Ronnie James Dio
"The family is a haven in a (sometimes) heartless world..." - Christopher Lasch
Aaron and Aunt Kathi
"A hero was stolen away from us. He made a difference defending our nation..."
- Army LTC Daryl Johnson, commanding officer, 716th MP Bn
Rejoice O young man in thy youth...
- Ecclesiastes
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow...
Aaron and a fellow soldier during night training
“He (Aaron) was a great soldier and an excellent friend...”
- Army Pfc. Eric Giles, a military policeman who served with Aaron since basic training
It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us family...
I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich....
“He always made the best of any situation...” - Spc. Nicholas Dechicko, 170th MP Co.
Courage is endurance for one moment more... - Unknown
"Aaron Ward was full of energy, full of life, and made you smile..."
- CPT Chad Johnson, commanding officer, 170th MP Co.
“He wanted to make a difference... he respected the military and he felt it was an honor to serve...” - Gary Tolle
"May you never forget what is worth remembering..." - Unknown
"A tragedy is a representation of an action that is whole and complete and of a certain magnitude. A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end..." - Aristotle
One has honor if they hold themself to an ideal of conduct even if it is inconvenient, unprofitable, or dangerous to do so...
"Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting..." - Elizabeth Bibesco
"When you're COOL, the sun is always shining..."
- Dallas Cowboys Linebacker, Thomas "Hollywwod" Henderson explaining why he often wore sunglasses indoors
Aaron in his shades
When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses... - Joyce Brothers
An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship... - Spanish Proverb