Lost a great Patriot and Buddy yesterday

Mad Dog

U.S. ARMY (retired), Vietnam Era, and active New York State Guardsman. This man could call a cadence that would send shivers down your spine and make you wanna march all day. His greatest asset was bringing all the racial and ethnic groups together as one unit for a common cause. Although fluent in Spanish, he would be the first to get right up in a soldier's face and tell him: " THIS is AMERICA, soldier, no better place in the world to be, the language of OUR country is English, now speak it!" Another young private innocently referred to some of our troops as "The Koreans."
He lectured this boy so sternly, the korean guys felt bad. He could lay down the law, when he had to, but he was a great conciliator too. He was also an accomplished percussionist and could really wail on the congas and bongos at our brigade Christmas Party. He liked to party too. We once drank a whole bottle of Bacardi 151 with a gallon of O.J. after a hard day of field exercises. I loved this man, and will really miss him. I will do my best to look after his family. I took it as the ultimate compliment from this seasoned veteran when he told me last year: "SGT Sweeney, I'd fight next to you anywhere, anytime." I'm getting chills down my spine as we speak. SFC OTERO will be getting full military burial this week, and I will be damned proud to be one of his pall bearers. Gonna miss you Sgt Al. Long Live the 14th!!! SGT Matt Mad Dog Sweeney, 1/63 14th BDE HQ, Whitesone, NY - out.

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DanHolohan

It's a loss

for us all, Matt. I'm sorry.

Constantin

Band of Brothers

Just saw another couple of episodes. War has an incredible bonding effect on the men that had to fight together to survive... yet I am so grateful that I have never had to experience it.

Godspeed SFC Otero.

Mad Dog

You and I never had to because of the great sacrifce of

men like him, Holohan's Dad, and all the rest of you vets out there. If you have to go to war, you couldn't find a better friend and warrior than SGT Al. Thanks guys, Mad Dog

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David DeFord

God must have...

needed a DI. Sorry for your loss Matt.

PJO_5

Mad Dog....

Sounds like a little piece of the sarge was left inside you...I hope it gives you even more determination and rightousness than you already have...that's what it's about.

You are exactly right about everyone enjoying today's freedom due to our past generations...including my own father.

I bet SGT Al is keeping 'em straight up above...

Take Care, PJO

Mad Dog

yep, God has a great soldier to help out

Mad dog

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Darin Cook

A Man to be proud of !!!!!

Sgt Sweeney,
Your SFC sounds like a man to be proud of and to call your friend. Men like that make a lifelong impression on you and motivate others to be better soldiers. On behalf of myself, the 109th Civil Engineering Squadron, and the 109th Air Lift Wing, Please express my sympathies to his family and your unit. SSGT Darin Cook
109th Civil Engineering Squadron, Scotia, New York.

Mark Hunt

21 gun salute


and Amazing Grace on the pipes.

Stand easy SFC Otero.

On behalf of a grateful country, rest in peace, you are relieved of duty.

I thank God for what he did for me Matt, and I thank God for all the men and women that serve in our military.

God bless and keep you all!

Mark H

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