Spec. Darryl T. Dent, of the D.C. Army National Guard's, 547th Transportation Company was killed Tuesday August 26,2003, when the vehicle he was in hit an explosive device near the town of Hamariyah, 16 miles northwest of Bagdad. He was the first member of the D.C. National Guard fatally wounded in combat for decades, officials said.
We send our heartfelt condolences to his family.
The D.C. National Guard celebrated its', 200th year anniversary last year and the 1st Regiment,United States Colored Infantry was organized in the District of Columbia from May 19-June 30,1863. The 1st Regiment fought in the battle of Wilson's Wharf, Virginia, which was reported to be the only major battle of the Civil War in which only USCT troops were fighting. Even Confederate Major General Fitzhugh Lee, nephew of Gen. Robert E. Lee later admitted that his troops had "found a foe worthy of their steel".