Fort Bliss Monitor

E Btry., 1-7 honors those who’ve served

SPC Jason Stadel
108th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Sgt. Cephus Wells gets ready to present a folded American flag to one of the relatives of Tommy Foster.

Tech 5th Grade Tommy Foster served his country in the Army during World War II. Friday he was laid to rest with military honors.

Family and friends gathered at Fort Bliss National Cemetery to celebrate a life that included service to his country during one of the most trying times in history. Giving the military honors at Foster’s funeral were Soldiers from E Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery.

Sgt. Cephus Wells, an Alabama native, never met Foster, never knew about his service record or even how long he served — but Wells said he was proud to have a part in recognizing a fallen, fellow American. “This is the last day the family is going to see him, and I have a part in this,” Wells said. “I don’t care if he served two years or retired [in the Army]. He still wore the uniform.”

Wells comes from a military family, his father retired as a sergeant first class and his grandfather as a sergeant major. He said he understands how important it is to recognize the footsteps he’s following in. “Everything we do is built on this. There are those that came before us, it’s an honor to do this.”

E Btry., 1-7 was tasked with the Red Cycle funeral detail. Funeral detail is one month long, and each unit involved conducts 25-30 funerals per month. The detail consists of eight-man and two-man teams. An eight-man team is used when the deceased was active or retired military; the two-man team is used for anyone who served.

The month prior to the detail is used for practice. The Soldiers picked for the detail, must become certified by Fort Bliss.

Wells, along with 1st Lt. Charles Johnson, were the two-man team for Foster’s funeral. Johnson said the funeral detail was a good experience for his Army career. He said it would be good detail for any Soldier to be a part of. “[Soldiers] need to see how these things work. This is all part of the military.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	November 4 , 2004

	E Btry., 1-7 honors those who’ve served SPC Jason Stadel 108th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Sgt. Cephus Wells gets ready to present a folded American flag to one of the relatives of Tommy Foster. Tech 5th Grade Tommy Foster served his country in the Army during World War II. Friday he was laid to rest with military honors. Family and friends gathered at Fort Bliss National Cemetery to celebrate a life that included service to his country during one of the most trying times in history. Giving the military honors at Foster’s funeral were Soldiers from E Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery. Sgt. Cephus Wells, an Alabama native, never met Foster, never knew about his service record or even how long he served — but Wells said he was proud to have a part in recognizing a fallen, fellow American. “This is the last day the family is going to see him, and I have a part in this,” Wells said. “I don’t care if he served two years or retired [in the Army]. He still wore the uniform.” Wells comes from a military family, his father retired as a sergeant first class and his grandfather as a sergeant major. He said he understands how important it is to recognize the footsteps he’s following in. “Everything we do is built on this. There are those that came before us, it’s an honor to do this.” E Btry., 1-7 was tasked with the Red Cycle funeral detail. Funeral detail is one month long, and each unit involved conducts 25-30 funerals per month. The detail consists of eight-man and two-man teams. An eight-man team is used when the deceased was active or retired military; the two-man team is used for anyone who served. The month prior to the detail is used for practice. The Soldiers picked for the detail, must become certified by Fort Bliss. Wells, along with 1st Lt. Charles Johnson, were the two-man team for Foster’s funeral. Johnson said the funeral detail was a good experience for his Army career. He said it would be good detail for any Soldier to be a part of. “[Soldiers] need to see how these things work. This is all part of the military.”