SULU, Philippines –
Service members from Marine Special Operations Company – Philippines (MSOC-P), Special Operations Task Force - Philippines, U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific, Joint Task Force - Orion, and Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) gave respect at a memorial ceremony atop Mount Bud Dajo, Sept. 29, 2024 for three service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2009.
Two U.S. Green Berets from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and member of the AFP were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) while they were on a humanitarian convoy. Abu Sayyaf militants are suspected of planting the IED.
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw and Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III were providing support for local development projects including construction of schools and artesian wells. The blast also killed a Philippine Marine and injured to three others.
Shaw, from Natchez Mississippi, was on his second deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines (OEF-P). He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
Martin, 26, from Bethany Oklahoma, had deployed once to Iraq before his deployment to OEF-P. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. “You can see the impacts made on local communities throughout Jolo,” said Robert Wadleigh, a Green Beret who was in the Philippines when the attack happened.
“The school dedication and memorial remembering both U.S. and AFP sacrifices are only a small portion of the tangible contributions. When you look at the overall advancements in the security and the decimation of the terrorist threat, that is the true indicator of the impacts Chris, Jack and the United States Special Operations Forces in partnership with our AFP brothers have had throughout the country of the Philippines,” he said.
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Alexander Grubbs, the commanding officer of MSOC-P had organized the ceremony.
“To me, the memorial has several different meanings. On the one hand it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and sacrifices warriors within our line of work face while serving their nation. On the other hand it shows the tight bond of brotherhood throughout the SOF community, agnostic of branch,” said Grubbs.
“By continuing to speak their names, highlight their accomplishments, and call attention to their sacrifice we ensure those who made the ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence, followed by speeches delivered by commanding officers and dignitaries, who spoke of the bravery, dedication, and sacrifice of Shaw, Martin, and the AFP Marine. They highlighted the importance of their mission and the impact they had on the local community. U.S. Army Col. Ronald Hudak, Deputy Commanding Officer, 1SFG(A) spoke at the memorial, emphasizing the importance of remembering these fallen service members.
“We had Green Berets, Marine Raiders, retired service members, and members of the AFP all together today. We do not forget our fallen, and deliberate events like a Fallen Warrior workout and memorial service are part of our culture,” said Hudak.
“For the AFP, they sent a member of MBLT6 to the ceremony; that unit lost a Filipino marine in the same IED blast as Chris and Jack. This ceremony also means the world to some of their former teammates who couldn’t travel here today, as we represented them.”
For more than 20 years, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have fought VEOs throughout rugged mountains and thick jungles in this region.
“The AFP and U.S. military have bled together on this island,” said Hudak, “ The commander of the AFP unit I met today thanked me, but he was really thanking the USSOF that came before me across Mindanao.”
The memorial ceremony atop Mount Bud Dajo was a poignant and emotional event. Service members from various units gathered to honor their fallen comrades.
“To conduct a memorial ceremony on Jolo, with our Filipino partners, on the same base where Shaw and Martin lived and worked 15 years ago – that made today very real and unique,” said Hudak, “In the military, it is important that we stop what we are doing sometimes to honor people. There is nothing efficient about flying from Manila or the United States to Jolo, Philippines, but it’s for Chris and Jack, so it’s worth it. It is also an example to those service members who are still with us – if something happens to you, we will not forget you.”
The ceremony concluded with a toast, a symbolic gesture of respect and remembrance.