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Slain Bend soldier honored as exemplary

Seriousness, levity, deep faith put marks on the memorial

By Yoko Minoura / The Bulletin

Published: January 20. 2008 4:00AM PST

At his memorial service Saturday, Army officials said Army Sgt. Zachary McBride, 20, was an exemplary soldier who chose to be “at the tip of the spear” in a war zone.

But longtime friend Joel Moore said McBride’s quiet exterior hid a wicked sense of humor, recalling how they snuck into a friend’s bedroom once to rearrange all her furniture.

In some ways, the memorial service held at Eastmont Church for the fallen Bend soldier reflected the man himself — quiet and serious with flashes of levity, all resting on a foundation of deep faith.

Roughly 400 people gathered in the sanctuary of the church to honor McBride’s memory and mourn with his family. A small crowd also gathered at the Oregon Army National Guard Armory, where the service was simulcast. Gov. Ted Kulongoski and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, spoke at the service.

In the sanctuary of the church, a red wreath and a portrait of McBride stood next to the flag-draped coffin, where service members kept watch. A display of the “soldier’s tools,” McBride’s boots, rifle, dog tags and helmet, was set up on the stage, showing his duties as a soldier were over.

McBride was killed earlier this month, along with five other soldiers, when a booby-trapped house exploded in Sinsil, Iraq.

His family accepted several military honors on his behalf, including the Bronze Star for meritorious service, the Purple Heart and induction into the Order of the Spur, an honor given to Army cavalry members who pass a series of tests or see combat.

Several people who spoke at the service praised not only McBride’s devotion to duty but his love and compassion for others.

“I have no doubt, given his love for family, community, church and nation, Sgt. Zachary McBride would want us to lean on his strength, were he here today,” Kulongoski said.

Walden said McBride’s efforts to make a difference continued until the day he died.

McBride was helping carry out “Operation Iron Harvest,” part of “Operation Phantom Phoenix.” “Iron Harvest” is an ongoing effort to seize weapons caches, explosives and bomb-making materials used by insurgents connected to al-Qaida, Walden said.

Certain speakers, though, including the Rev. John Lodwick and McBride’s friend Moore, spoke about the man beneath the uniform.

Lodwick, the senior pastor at the church, said McBride had an incredible thirst for knowledge, studying geography, history and science.

McBride spoke of voting in the upcoming presidential election and attending college, at which he planned to major in political science, after he completed his tour in Iraq, Lodwick said at the memorial service.

Moore said that, for all his apparent shyness, McBride had a way of connecting with children.

Though he was a soldier, McBride also had “a profound gentleness,” Moore said during the service.

He also recalled McBride’s lighter side.

Moore said he remembered his friend’s willingness to be ridiculous, such as when they donned McBride’s old tae kwon do uniforms once and pretended to be “white ninjas,” prowling the neighborhood and knocking on the doors of their friends.

While they did not speak during the service, his parents, Marshall and Laurie McBride, and his sister, Sarah McBride, personally thanked many of the people who attended after the service and shared hugs with friends. Marshall is the worship pastor at the church.

Bend resident Bill Ham said he knew Zachary McBride from the time he ran cross-country at Mountain View High School.

He said he remembers Zack’s drive and heart.

“I don’t think any of us has a chance to do any better than our best, and Zack gave his all,” he said.

He said, too, that he wanted to make sure the McBrides know they have the love and support of the congregation.

Bend residents Lupe Gerard, 14, and Natalie Maxwell, 15, both members of Eastmont Church, said they wanted to make sure the family knew they weren’t alone.

Both said that they were particularly moved by the slide show that played during the service. It showed McBride as a chubby-cheeked baby and went through photographs of him growing up, ending with pictures of McBride in uniform, with his rifle.

“He’s not somebody I knew personally but somebody I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Lupe said. “Knowing he was there to fight for us.”

Yoko Minoura can be reached at 383-0387 or yminoura@bendbulletin.com.

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