Sgt. Foster L. Harrington, U.S.M.C (KIA)

(reprinted from the Mobile Register, October 3, 2004)

Fire chief says 'his number will be retired'

A photo showing clean-cut Marine Sgt. Foster L. Harrington in his dress blue uniform rested to the right of the podium Saturday evening at the nearly packed Westwood Baptist Church in the far west Mobile County community of Seven Hills.

To the left of the podium was Harrington's neatly folded firefighting gear with the number 43 on his helmet. Between them was an arrangement of red, white and blue flowers.

They were symbols of who Harrington was and what he stood for.

Harrington, 31, was killed Sept. 20 in action against insurgents in the Al Anbar Province of western Iraq in a part of what is known as the Sunni Triangle.

He was a member of the Mobile-based 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, an elite Marine Reserve unit. He was also a medic and a firefighter with the Seven Hills Volunteer Fire Department.

In a memorial service at the church Saturday, Seven Hills Fire Chief Paul Newton fought back tears as he told those gathered, "It was just like he was my son."

He pointed to Harrington's firefighting uniform and helmet and said, "This will be placed in our station. His number will be retired."

He talked of Harrington being a person quick to smile -- a person he never saw mad at anyone.

Some two dozen Seven Hills firefighters attended the service, as did representatives of fire departments throughout the area.

Cpl. Brian Shettlesworth of the locally based Marine unit, told the audience, "He was one of the finest Marines I've ever met. I'll never forget him."

U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, added to the tribute, "Today we're here to mourn his death, but we're also here to celebrate his life." Bonner said, "He gave his life for the greatest nation in the world."

Bonner also said he entered a tribute to Harrington in the Congressional Record earlier this week.

Tom Walsh, the chaplain for the Seven Hills department, noted that Harrington had, as a youngster, "dreamed of being a firefighter and a Marine. He lived his dream."

At the beginning of the service, bagpiper and Saraland firefighter David Vigor entered the sanctuary playing "Amazing Grace" as a Mobile Fire-Rescue Department honor guard followed. They were followed by the Seven Hills firefighters. The service ended with Shettlesworth playing "Taps." A fire bell was rung three times.

Harrington's funeral was held Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas, the city where he had spent much of his life. He was buried in the National Cemetery in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The slain Marine moved to the Mobile area about 18 months ago and joined the Seven Hills firefighters. His parents were deceased, and he had no children. He was engaged to 26-year-old Fran Poston of the Seven Hills area. She sat on the front pew of the church.

The Marine Reserve unit will also hold a memorial service for Harrington next Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Naval Marine Corps Reserve Center, 4851 Museum Drive in west Mobile.