Funerals held for three U.S. soldiers

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Three Army Rangers were buried Monday, one at Arlington National Cemetery and two in Florida, a week after they died trying to rescue another soldier on the deadliest day for America in the Afghan war.

The Pentagon, damaged in the terror attacks that pushed the nation into war, sat in full view of the more than 100 relatives, friends and comrades of Cpl. Matthew A. Commons of Boulder City, Nev., who gathered at Arlington National Cemetery.

Commons, 21, was the youngest of seven servicemen killed March 4 near Gardez in eastern Afghanistan.

"We honor his memory, touched by his honesty, patriotism and his love for God and fellow man," the Rev. Joseph Annese told mourners at a graveside service on a brilliant, cool afternoon.

In separate funerals in two Florida cities, Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, of Brandon, Fla., and Sgt. Bradley Crose, 22, of Orange Park, Fla., also were praised as courageous soldiers who lived and died by the Ranger Creed -- never leave a fallen comrade behind.

The three soldiers, members of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., died during a nine-hour firefight trying to rescue a Navy Seal.

"It is a very, very sad time for our family. In the same respect, it is a very, very proud time," said Anderson's father, David, before a funeral Mass for his son at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg.

David Anderson was a decorated Ranger who served three tours of duty in Vietnam in the 1960s.

The hearse bearing Crose's remains traveled a five-mile route lined with thousands of flag-waving people.

"Bradley had guts. He believed in God. He believed in his family. And he believed what he was doing was right," 1st Lt. Josh Collins, a Ranger, said during a funeral at Pinewood Presbyterian Church in Orange Park.

Rifle volleys rang out at all three funerals. Parents received folded flags from the caskets.

The soldiers posthumously were awarded the Bronze Star with valor, Purple Heart and meritorious service medals. Commons also received a promotion.

At Arlington, six pallbearers carried Commons' flag-draped coffin as Rangers in tan berets stood at attention. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric Shinseki, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and soldiers from Commons' unit paid their respects to Commons' parents and three brothers.

When the service ended and the crowd departed, Commons' father, Gregory, knelt at the casket and prayed. Then, the ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran rose to his feet and gave his son a final salute.

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Associated Press writers Ron Word and Pat Leisner in Florida contributed to this report.