Thunder Roars in Dumfries

Story By Uriah Kiser
Photos By Mary Davidson

Dumfries, Va. –– Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin was shot in torso and killed after saving the lives of his fellow Marines

Sgt. Maj. William Skiles said he lost Austin in the “stupid city of hell, Fallujah, Iraq,” a place that during the first days of the War in Iraq remained a strong hold of support for the late dictator, Saddam Hussein.

In 2004, Austin, while helping to defend a rooftop position in the city, helped to save the lives of seven wounded Marines who were shot there. After the Marines were air lifted out of harm’s way, Austin went back into the line of fire to make sure their weapons and ammunition didn’t fall into enemy hands.

He was shot and collapsed, but was able to stop the enemies by throwing a grenade, said Skiles, saving the lives of those remaining men in his platoon.

“This Lance Corporal told his father that he looked up to me…The hardest thing in my life I’ve ever had to do in this country is to drive to Amarillo, Texas to present the posthumous Silver Star to his dad. They didn’t want a general; his mom said ‘we wanted you, [our son] believed in you.’ In that small moment in my life, I learned that Lance Corporal looked up to me. For the rest of my life I will look up to him,” said Skiles.

Skiles, a 31-year veteran Marine who is stationed at Quantico and who also won a Bronze Star for his actions in that same battle shared his Austin’s story with the more than 200 people at East Coast Harley Davidson in Dumfries, all of whom were there to honor and remember veterans for the annual Rolling Thunder ride to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington.

And while it’s important to remember those who have fallen, Skiles said U.S. service men and women should never complain.

“Ever have a bad day or feel sorry for yourself, I take those individuals to [Arlington National Cemetery] and I grab them by the damn neck and throw them down at a tombstone, just pick one, it doesn’t matter, and you tell those individuals to tell that person who is buried right here what kind of day you’re having…once their face is white and the realize how important that place is, and they realize how important it is to raise your goddamn chin, to have a spine a live those who can’t…I took them off the grass and dusted them off and said ‘raise your goddamn chin, it’s a good day isn’t it,’” said Skiles.

The men replied with a resounding “yes, sir,” he added.

His keynote address was followed by Taps played on the bugle, and then a round of applause by the hundreds of bikers, police and firefighters, and onlookers who all came remember the fallen.

After the applause, the thunder roared as the bikers started their engines and rolled onto Fraley Boulevard (U.S. 1) in an orderly procession, all bound for Washington. They were escorted by Dumfries and Prince William police, who took then to the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on Interstate 95.

On bridges that cross the highway, on routes like Prince William Parkway and Dale Boulevard, hordes of onlookers all shouting and waving American Flags helped to cheer on riders.

Since 1988, veterans and motorcycle enthusiast have come together each Memorial Day weekend to remember American soldiers who became prisoners of war or went missing in action during the Vietnam War.

The organization behind the ride, Rolling Thunder Inc., estimates 900,000 bikers participate in the annual event, according to its website.