Douglas A. Dicenzo

West Point, 1999

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by CPT Peter Kuzma on July 10, 2006:

I was CPT Dicenzo's XO when he died. I remember coming into the BN TOC on some routine business and there was a very somber mood. Mike Cygan told me that one of our patrols had been hit by an IED and that there were casualties. I asked for battle rosters but they hadnt been reported yet. I started back for the company, feeling I'd be more needed there. I rehearsed in my mind what my reaction would be when I learned if our soldiers had been killed and who they were. I thought that the worst possible scenario is that the CDR is dead. When I arrived in the Company TOC, soldiers told me that CPT Dicenzo and SPC Blair were killed. I turned away and faced the wall for a couple of minutes to compose myself. Everyone in the room was crying, and it was very difficult for me to maintain composure. Its very difficult for a unit when the CDR dies, especially a CDR who is well loved and respected as CPT Dicenzo was. I pushed out a platoon with the 1SG to get on the scene and coordinated for recovery of the vehicle, which was catastrophic. Amazingly, two of the four occupants survived - SPC Owens with significant head trauma and 2LT Watson with numeroues but non-life threatening injuries. CPT Dicenzo was truly a great CDR and a great teacher. In whatever capacity I am a competent officer, I owe that to him. In each of his notebooks, he wrote "DP3", meaning Discipline, People, Positive attitude, and Physical fitness. I've thought a lot about that. As cliche as it sounds, his dedication to the unit and the men and his tireless push for improvement were really inspirational to me. Now that he's dead, I don't know who to eat my meals with, or who to share triumphs and troubles with. Compliments and commendations from others are meaningless to me - its his approval and respect I have worked for. I want to do him right by continuing to work hard. Peter Kuzma '03

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