Master Sergeant James "Tre" Ponder
United States Army

Soldier Ride Nashville is dedicated to the memory of father, husband and soldier MSG James "Tre" Ponder of Franlkin.

"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

Tre made the ultimate sacrifice for his brothers in arms on a rescue mission in eastern Afghanistan. The date was June 28, 2005. He was killed when his MH-47D helicopter was shot down by enemy fire on it's way to rescue a Navy SEAL team that had run in to trouble. He was a member of the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).

From his wife, Leslie Ponder:

Tre was in Afghanistan only to train his fellow soldiers, not to fly. But flying was him and when the opportunity arose for him to be on an aircraft and the QRF (the quick reactionary force), he jumped at the chance. His aircraft dropped off a SEAL team on the mountain and as always, promised those men that if they needed him, he would be there. And so when on June 28, 2005 there was a call for help Tre and his men quickly and without hesitation answered the call. That would be his last earthly mission....his helicopter was shot down by a RPG and all on board were killed. The hero that called for help was Lt. Mike Murphy...a soldier that was honored in the Empire State Challenge.

Tre was born in Alabama on June 24, 1969 and he grew up in Franklin, TN. He graduated from Battle Ground Academy in 1987 and attended Auburn University. He married Leslie Miller in 1994, they were married in Franklin. Tre was a CH-47 Chinook crew chief and was accepted into 160 Special Operation Aviation Regiment in 1992, and stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY. He held various positions within the Regiment.

Tre was the proud father of Samantha (born 1997) and Elizabeth (born 1999)...Tre worshipped his girls. He called them and his wife "his three crazy girlz". His face would light up at the sight of Samantha and Elizabeth...his family was his everything.

Tre was a Christian man...in one of the last emails his wife received, he wrote about his Faith and how he loved planting seeds of thought about Christ. Tre was an avid hunter and fisherman. Had 2 bird dogs and took his 3 crazy girls hunting all the time.

James Ponder is survived by his wife Leslie, his daughters Samantha and Elizabeth, and his parents.

Army Career

MSG Ponder joined the Army in March 1990 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After graduating from Basic Training, Fort Eustis, Va., he was assigned to Camp Humphries, Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in December, 1992, and served in a variety of positions, including 2nd Battalion, 160th Flight Engineer instructor, 2nd Bn Standardization Instructor, and Regiment Standardization Instructor. He was on his fourth rotation to Afghanistan.

Ponder's military schools include: the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Combat Lifesavers Course, Survival Evade Resist Escape Level-C Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Equal Opportunity Representative Course, the Air Assault, Airborne, and the Army Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course.

His awards and decorations include: the Air Medal with Valorous device, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device.

A Hunter Army Airfield hangar has a new name honoring the memory of an eight-person Night Stalker crew [including MSG James "Tre" Ponder] who died in combat on June 28, 2005. The 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) hangar, formerly known as Building 7902, is now named 'Turbine 33' after the aircraft crew's call sign. It was formally dedicated in a ceremony at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., on June 7.

 Night Stalkers Don't Quit

Fort Campbell building dedicated in honor of MSG James 'Tré' Ponder: BGA graduate died June 2005 in Afghanistan

By Mindy Tate, Editor

On Wednesday, May 20, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) named one of its buildings at Ft. Campbell, Ky., Ponder Hall, in honor of MSG James 'Tré' Ponder III, who was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.

Ponder, a member of the Army since March 1990, died when his MH-47D helicopter was shot down by enemy fire during combat operations. A member of 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, based both at Fort Campbell and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., he was a flight commander and had been deployed about three weeks.

Among the many awards and decorations he has received are the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device, all awarded posthumously. Ponder is survived by his wife Leslie; two daughters, Samantha and Elizabeth; his parents, Jim & Rebecca Ponder, all of Clarksville; and Leslie's parents, Lydia and Tom Miller of Franklin. He was a 1987 graduate of Battle Ground Academy.

'Tré served the 160th will great pride. He loved his job and the men he trained and worked with,' Leslie said about the building's dedication. 'That was very evident from the number of Tré's military friends that he served with over years that came to the building dedication. Literally, they came from around the world, some no longer in the military, some on TDY orders, some took vacation days to attend but all came to honor Tré...and his daughters, Samantha and Elizabeth, and me.'

Speaking during the dedication was MSG Jeff Hemp, who was one of Ponder's best friends, having served together since the early 1990s.

'Tré served in the regiment for over 12 years. Most of his time was spent in B Co 2nd Battalion.' Hemp said. 'He was what this unit is about in every sense. Tré wrote more than half our manuals and the Standard Operating Procedures we use today. He was one of the leaders that provided technical and tactical input when Boeing was asked to build a long range infil/exfil platform. Because of Tré's experience, expertise and his status with the Chinook community, his opinion was sought after by this unit and other units, both foreign and domestic. He knew what a Chinook could do and how much of an asset they would be to the Special Operation community.

Tré made sure that crew members were trained to the best of their ability. He never gave up on anyone and he never, ever quit. He saw potential in people that no one else did. He thought, if he can train them the right way, they could make a difference. He embodied the true essence and professionalism of a Night Stalker. Tré's passion was focused on the training of the future MH47 crewmembers. He dedicated his life to the pursuit of Aircrew excellence always keeping the Night Stalker Creed as his foundation.

'As a teacher and instructor, Tré was admired by those who had the honor of being taught by him. The men with experience looked to him as an older brother who has been there, done that. The youngsters looked to him as a father figure who was always eager to teach,' Hemp said. 'Tré was the essence of a true flight guy. He loved what he did and he loved to fly. He cared more about us than he did himself and everyone knew this. Tré was fully committed to this unit.'

Soldier killed in helicopter crash eulogized

By Ryan Lenz, Associated Press

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — About 500 special operations soldiers attended a memorial service for a fallen comrade who was among 16 killed in Afghanistan last week when a U.S. helicopter was shot down in the mountains during a rescue mission.

Master Sgt. James 'Trey' Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tenn., was with seven other soldiers from the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and eight Navy SEALs when an MH-47 Chinook helicopter was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. All were killed in the crash, which marked a resurgence of violence in Afghanistan.

The ceremony at the Cole Park Commons, a formal reception hall on post, drew mostly fellow soldiers dressed in a mix of camouflage greens and dress uniforms.

Ponder was remembered by members of his unit as a no-nonsense soldier and a Christian who was devoted to his country.

'Trey was a straight talker, just a plain hands-on kind of guy,' said Master Sgt. Thomas Wagoner. 'These are just some of the attributes I loved about Trey.'

Eight rifles, each representing one of the fallen members of the 160th, were propped up at the front of the room, next to pictures of the soldiers. Each gun was adorned with helmets and night-vision goggles, with boots next to them.

'As soldiers, they will be replaced. That is the way of the Army,' said Lt. Col. Greg Petrik. 'But we lost more than eight soldiers that day. We lost sons, husbands, fathers and friends.'

Lt. Gen. Phillip R. Kensinger, commanding general of U.S. Army's Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, N.C., attended the ceremony but did not speak.

Ponder, a flight commander on short-term deployment at Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia, grew up in Franklin, Tenn. and graduated from Battle Ground Academy in 1987. He attended Auburn University briefly before enlisting in the Army, where he became a member of a special operations unit.

'None of their deaths were in vain,' Franklin Mayor Tom Miller, who was Ponder's father-in-law, told The Associated Press during a telephone interview before the private service. 'They were in this together.'

Ponder is survived by his wife, Leslie, and two daughters. Miller described him as a loving husband and father, but also a 'tough, dedicated and skilled warrior.'

Known as the Night Stalkers, the 160th is an elite aviation unit deployed in nearly every conflict since Grenada in 1983 to transport Special Forces units around the world by night in specially modified helicopters. It specializes in flying over water and developed many flying techniques now standard to Army aviators.

The secretive unit was formed in 1981 following the botched rescue attempt of hostages in Iran. It was not until a decade later that the military acknowledged the unit existed.

Based at Fort Campbell, the regiment also has a battalion stationed at Hunter, where memorial services were planned Thursday for seven soldiers, including Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Ind., who also died in the helicopter crash.