Gym opening honors fallen comrade

Published Feb. 18, 2008
By Air Force Capt. Heather Kekic
Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- The newly renovated fitness center on Forward Operating Base Laghman re-opened Feb. 14 for a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The center was closed four days while a team of Air Force volunteers completely transformed it so it would serve as a long-lasting tribute to a fallen Soldier.

The fitness center was renamed after Army Staff Sgt. Charles R. Browning, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry, Arizona National Guard. He was assigned to provide security for the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team and was killed by an improvised explosive device June 1, 2007, while responding to an emergency call from the surrounding community.

The PRT Services Team wanted to find an appropriate way to honor Browning and decided renaming the fitness center would be best as he spent many hours in it training for a marathon he planned to run after he returned home from the year-long deployment.
Browning's best friend, who has taken up the marathon training for Browning, was the speaker at the dedication ceremony.

"What should one say about a guy one called your best friend for nearly 20 years?" Army Staff Sgt. Alberto Perez, 1st squad leader, 1st Platoon, 1-158th Infantry asked the Airmen and Soldiers in attendance. "A guy you joined the Army with, a guy who was not only a dear friend but someone who became one of your Soldiers, you shared your life with... what do you say?"

Perez said he wanted to take the opportunity to share some words about what kind of a guy Browning was.

"Staff Sergeant Browning didn't have to be here because he had recently returned from a deployment, but he volunteered, he made the decision to once again say goodbye to his wife and two daughters so shortly after returning home," Perez said.

"My father asked Staff Sergeant Browning why he was deploying again, and he (Browning) told him, 'because Perez is going and I have to be there to watch his back,'" Perez said recounting the discussion.

"I don't know how many people have had the honor of having a friend like that," Perez said.

Perez described Browning as one of the finest infantry Soldiers he has ever known.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I do not think about that day," Perez said. "I will never forget the images of that day."

"It is a terrible day, but I never want to forget the sacrifice, never forget that Staff Sergeant Browning gave his life," Perez said. "But today is a good day, we honor him with this building he spent many hours in. Knowing him, he'd be a little embarrassed by all this attention, but he deserves it."

"Duty, honor, courage; those were not just words but a way of life for him," Perez said of Browning. "The effort, the hard work that went into this building is a true testimony to Staff Sergeant Browning."

The Air Force Services Team spearheaded the fitness center renovation and has been working toward this dedication ceremony since September 2007.

"We knew we wanted to name the fitness center after Staff Sergeant Browning," said Tech. Sgt. Mario Delahoz, superintendent of Services, Laghman PRT.

"We approached General Hyatt during a past visit about new equipment and flooring needed to improve the fitness center and we were able to make our plans come to fruition with his assistance," said Delahoz.

"It was my pleasure and an honor to work on this building," Delahoz said. "Staff Sergeant Browning was a big inspiration to me, he was a mentor, he took me under his wing and I wanted to say thank you. This fitness center is how I wanted to say thanks."

The renovations included new flooring creating a safer environment, new upholstery for the benches, new equipment, new paint job, two 32" TVs and towels to name a few things.

When the ribbon was cut and the fitness center doors were opened to the troops to tour, country music was playing in the background. For those who knew Browning, they knew he loved music and was a big fan of country music.