Empty Boots, Unworn Berets -- Fallen Soldiers Lived And Died By Ranger Creed

FORT LEWIS - Rangers in combat dress let out primal yells as they neared the side door of the Evergreen Theater and removed dark berets from shaved heads.

They all looked so unbelievably young, so ramrod straight, so disciplined.

Asked the reason for running to the theater and then yelling, a young Ranger replied crisply, but with a hint of surprise, as if it should have been obvious:

``It's motivation, sir!,'' he said. ``It's motivation.''

The young men of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry Ranger Regiment were not going into a raging battle of bullets and mortars on this day, however. They were attending a memorial service for two of their comrades who fell Dec. 20 on the first day of the invasion of Panama.

They would pay their respects to Spc. Phillip S. Lear, 19, and Pfc. John Mark Price, 20, with manliness befitting those who live by the Ranger Creed, which recognizes their eliteness, neatness, courtesy and, above all, willingness to fight on ``though I be the lone survivor.''

A few close civilian friends of Lear, including his fiancee, sat in the front row of the theater. Several of the women shed tears.

But for the 700 or so Rangers who gathered to honor those who died in ``Operation Just Cause,'' there would be no tears. It was eyes straight ahead, no talking, heads bowed when they were told to do so and cheers on cue.

Among them were at least two casualties of the invasion - a

young man in a wheelchair, another who hobbled down the aisle on crutches.

On the otherwise barren theater stage was a starkly simple tribute to Lear and Price. Atop a small stand, banked with three small floral arrangements, were two pairs of shiny combat boots. Sticking out of the top of two of the boots were M16A2 combat rifles, with berets over the rifle butts.

Lear and Price, said Lt. Col. Alan Maestas, a Ranger commander, followed a long line of American heroes. By living the Ranger Creed, they had been ``willing to sacrifice themselves for others.''

Lear's commanding officer, Capt. Joseph Anderson, described the young man as ``the complete team player.''

Price, who grew up in Wisconsin, was praised by his commanding officer, Capt. Michael Okita, for posting top gunnery scores. Quoting former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden - ``Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out'' - Okita added, ``God bless you, Mark.''

There were no shaky voices. Everything - from invocation to 23rd Psalm to eulogies - was written out and read with precision. But the human side of Lear and Price shone through on several occasions.

Sp. 4. Anthony Stephenson, Lear's squad leader, said, ``In the middle of a rainstorm, he'd have us laughing . . .'' And he added, ``We go on. Phil would have liked it that way.''

Sp. 4 Adrian Pierce, Price's Squad leader, said, ``To be a Ranger is to belong to a family . . . Like all of us before the jump in Panama, he was scared. But he went ahead.''

There are some things that can't be glossed over, said Capt. Peter Frederich, Ranger chaplain.

Lear and Price had dreams - of homes and families and friends - that never would be realized. But a greater tragedy than death, the chaplain added, would have been to have lived poorly. And Lear and Price didn't do that. Instead, they played the cards they were dealt, losing their lives to help people in need.

The invasion, said Frederich, had not been as quick and easy as some had thought it would be. But beyond the many deaths and the destruction, what should be remembered is ``how the people of Panama crowded around to cheer those who came to liberate them from an evil man.''

In a final tribute to their fallen comrades, the Rangers stood and recited the Ranger Creed. And when they had finished the final words, ``Rangers lead the way!,'' the theater rang with cheers.

They grew silent as a recording of Lee Greenwood's ``Gold Bless the USA'' was played, followed by Taps.

Then they walked out of the theater into the overcast afternoon, past a green expanse next to the theater, appropriately named ``Cold Steel Tomahawak Park.''