Archive for the ‘Wall of Honor’ Category
November 9, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Military News, Wall of Honor
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2009 – Officials at Fort Hood, Texas, released the names of the 12 soldiers and one civilian employee killed in the Nov. 5 shooting incident on the post.
Dead are:
– Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. She was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.
– Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Detachment, Madison, Wis.
– Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, of San Diego. He was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.
– Capt. Russell Seager, 41, of Racine, Wis. He was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.
– Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, of Plymouth, Ind. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company at Fort Hood.
– Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.
– Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, of Tillman, Okla. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade at Fort Hood.
– Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn. He was assigned to the 16th Signal Company at Fort Hood.
– Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.
– Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolingbrook, Ill. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.
– Spc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn. He was assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, at Fort Hood.
– Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago. She was assigned to the 15th Combat Support Battalion at Fort Hood.
– Michael Cahill of Cameron, Texas, a Fort Hood civilian employee.
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October 11, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Wall of Honor, Why We Serve
The Recent beating death of Derrion Albert of Chicago has shown us that we need to engage our youth more than ever. More specifically we must provide a safe atmosphere for our youth as they return from school. No one is more suited to do this than veterans. That is why the organization Leave No Veteran Behind is continuing their partnership with the Chicago Public Schools this year to provide safe passage for our youth. They have coordinated with other veteran organizations to provide a neighborhood adult presence in the afternoon as children are leaving from school. This presence works with normal policing efforts to facilitate safe passage for Chicago’s youth.
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October 7, 2009 By CJ
Posted in Military History, Wall of Honor
At 0300 hours on 2 March 2002, C Company, 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry walked about a mile and a half to the flight line in full gortex, poly-pro and full field uniform. They sat in chalk order until their loading time of 0500 hours. Their flight to LZ 13A gave them a touch down time of 0600 hours. SGT James Rissler was a Senior Medic of an Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) team attached to the Infantry Company. According to Rissler, they loaded one of the CH-47s with 34 packs and rucks. The flight was to take them from Bagram Airbase at 4,200 feet to LZ 13A in Shahi-Kot valley to just outside the city of Marzak at 10,500 feet in just an hour’s time. Their mission set up blocking positions outside the city of Marzak while Zia forces pushed the Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces in their direction.
The flight left at 0500 hours as planned and touched down at LZ 13A at 0600 hours. When the chopper touched down, the unit hastily split and went off to the left and right sides of the aircraft and soldiers assumed prone positions. Once the aircraft had taken off, the unit immediately started receiving small arms fire. The problem was that no one could locate the direction of fire, so they dropped their rucks and ran up the side of a small ridge. Soon realizing that the direction of fire was coming from the same side they were on, they ran to the top of the ridge to the other side to take cover. Once Sergeant Rissler reached the top of the ridge, an RPG round exploded about 10 feet from him and a piece of shrapnel hit him in the knee.
Once they all got to the other side, the unit consolidated and started constructing fighting positions. Soldiers were placed on a small observation post to the right of the unit, but were quickly targeted by Mortar fire also. The Mortars adjusted fire and the unit took 13 casualties by the time the second round hit. The unit then realized that the enemy forces were running out of the city of Marzak to surround them, which meant that they would now be taking fire from three sides, being targeted by Mortar fire. Sergeant Rissler set up a Command and Control Post at the bottom of the ridge and it was quickly targeted. As the enemy continued to adjust fire on them, Sergeant Rissler and other soldiers would drag as many casualties up and down the ridge as possible, covering their bodies with theirs to protect them as the rounds detonated.
While moving the soldiers up and down the hill, Sergeant Rissler was wounded a second time, taking fragments in the hand. Both times he was wounded he treated himself. Moving the injured soldiers up and down the ridge was only aggravating the injuries; consequently, each time a soldier was moved, controlling of bleeding and treatment of wound started all over again. The Mortar fire would slow down when fire missions were called in from the F-16s and AC 130s, allowing Sergeant Rissler and other soldiers to dig pits in the center of the valley to put the patients in and using dirt or whatever materials found to cover the wounded. All patients were stabilized and the unit lay in their positions returning fire until nightfall.
As night started to set in, Sergeant Rissler knew that it would be getting very cold soon. With the amount of blood lost through the day and the rapid decrease in temperature the patients would probably go into shock. So Sergeant Rissler used tape to repair the wounded soldiers’ clothing and covered the soldiers with whatever he had to prevent shock. Then he and other soldiers lay on the wounded patients to maintain their body temperature. Finally, when night fell MEDEVAC could get to the site. The first helicopter received two Mortar rounds and heavy small arms fire. Another AC-130 was called in to cover the evacuation. In all, 25 wounded were evacuated with no fatalities. Around 0200 hours the next morning, Sergeant Rissler and the rest of the unit were extracted.
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September 19, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Video, Wall of Honor, You Served Radio
A while back we had artist Phil Taylor on You Served Radio. Phil uses his awesome talents to create highly-valued sketches of fallen soldiers to give to their families. On Sept. 11th, he did the presentation of SSG Christian Engeldrum’s print to the family of SSG Engeldrum about the USS Intrepid in NYC. Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band was there also.
Don Mamone photography has put together a nice video of still pictures taken that night. Please take a few moments to check it out at http://donmamonephotography.com/slideshows/afsp-nyc/
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September 18, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Life in the Military, Military History, Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve
Friday, Sept.18, 2009 is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. The United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA), as well as their families.
The President is expected to issue a proclamation commemorating the observances and reminding the nation of those Americans who have sacrificed so much for their country.
Observances of National POW/MIA Recognition Day are held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, state capitols, schools and veterans’ facilities. This observance is one of six days throughout the year that Congress has mandated the flying of the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag. The others are Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. The flag is to be flown at major military installations, national cemeteries, all post offices, VA medical facilities, the World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the official offices of the secretaries of state, defense and veterans affairs, the director of the selective service system and the White House.
What do people do?
Many Americans across the United States pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war (POW), as well as those who are missing in action (MIA), and their families. All military installations fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag, which symbolizes the nation’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned while serving in conflicts and those who remain missing.
Veteran rallies take place in many states, such as Wisconsin, in the United States on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. United States flags and POW/MIA flags are flown on this day and joint prayers are made for POWs and those missing in action. National POW/MIA Recognition Day posters are also displayed at college or university campuses and public buildings to promote the day. Remembrance ceremonies and other events to observe the day are also held in places such as the Pentagon, war memorials and museums.
Background
There are 1,741 American personnel listed by the Defense Department’s POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, as of April 2009. The number of United States personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 841. About 90 percent of the 1,741 people still missing were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control, according to the National League of Families website (cited in the United States Army website).
The United States Congress passed a resolution authorizing National POW/MIA Recognition Day to be observed on July 18, 1979. It was observed on the same date in 1980 and was held on July 17 in 1981 and 1982. It was then observed on April 9 in 1983 and July 20 in 1984. The event was observed on July 19 in 1985, and then from 1986 onwards the date moved to the third Friday of September. The United States president each year proclaims National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Many states in the USA also proclaim POW/MIA Recognition Day together with the national effort.
Symbols
The National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag symbolizes the United States’ resolve to never forget POWs or those who served their country in conflicts and are still missing. Newt Heisley designed the flag. The flag’s design features a silhouette of a young man, which is based on Mr Heisley’s son, who was medically discharged from the military. As Mr Heisley looked at his returning son’s gaunt features, he imagined what life was for those behind barbed wire fences on foreign shores. He then sketched the profile of his son as the new flag’s design was created in his mind.
Mr. Heisley with the flag
The flag features a white disk bearing in black silhouette a man’s bust, a watch tower with a guard on patrol, and a strand of barbed wire. White letters “POW” and “MIA”, with a white five-pointed star in between, are typed above the disk. Below the disk is a black and white wreath above the motto “You Are Not Forgotten” written in white, capital letters.
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September 9, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Patriotism, Wall of Honor, Why We Serve
I know CJ normally posts the Hero of the Week, but I have been in contact with someone close to this young man and I thought it would be nice to recognize him. He is connected to some incidents that I wrote about on my main blog at Bouhammer.com which is how I came into contact with these people that know PV2 Lansing. 
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August 24, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Veteran Benefits, Wall of Honor
A great story came out last weekend about the state of Louisiana and how the state is honoring its citizens who are honorable veterans from all wars.
The Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal is a medal created by the State of Louisiana to honor all residents who have been killed in combat or who have served and has received an honorable discharge.
The medals are part of a program started by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in 2008.
Jindal "is honoring our veterans to let them know they are appreciated for what they have done," said Sonya Aucoin, activities director at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve. "They protected our freedom."
Read the whole story and see some great pictures of Gov. Jindal presenting the medals to some well-deserving veterans at
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/louisiana_veterans_honor_medal.html
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August 6, 2009 By Troy
Posted in Life in the Military, Military News, Wall of Honor
When I first saw the article below in Army Times today, I thought to myself ‘where do I know that name from?’ I have spent a majority of my time in the military around Rangers and guys who have spent a lot of time in Regiment or in the Ranger Training Brigade. So initially I thought maybe I had served with him. But as I read the article below, I realized I had read about him several times. He is the guy that Michael Yon wrote about extensively from Michael’s time embedded with deuce-four.
You can read Michael’s awesome story of what COL Kurilla, CSM Prosser and their men went through right here, http://www.michaelyon-online.com/gates-of-fire.htm
In fact even Bruce Willis is looking to star in a movie about COL Kurilla and Deuce-Four.
Announced his intention to make a pro-war film in which American soldiers will be depicted as brave fighters for freedom and democracy. It will be based on the exploits of the heavily decorated members of "Deuce Four", the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry, which has spent the past year battling insurgents in the northern Iraqi town of Mosul. Willis attended "Deuce Four"’s homecoming ball this month in Seattle, Washington, where the soldiers are on leave, along with Stephen J. Eads, the producer of Armageddon (1998/I) and The Sixth Sense (1999). The actor said that he was in talks about a film of "these guys who do what they are asked to for very little money to defend and fight for what they consider to be freedom". Willis is likely to take on the role of the unit’s commander, Lieutenant- Colonel Erik Kurilla (November 2005).
This guy has not spent his career slipping and dipping into soft assignments, he has truly led from the front and served as an example of what it is like to be a warrior. Congrats Col Kurilla You have earned the command of this honorable and legendary Regiment. You will do great things while there I am sure, and you will serve as the man of which all others in the Regiment aspire to be.
Col. Michael E. Kurilla will assume command of the 75th Ranger Regiment during a ceremony 9 a.m. Thursday at the National Infantry Museum’s Soldiers Field at Fort Benning, Ga., according to a press release.
Kurilla, who commanded 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Lewis, Wash., and recently graduated from the National War College, will assume command of the regiment from Col. Richard D. Clarke, who has been assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.
Thursday’s change of command ceremony culminates the Ranger Rendezvous, which kicked off Monday with a mass tactical airborne operation featuring more than 1,000 Rangers. The Rendezvous is a unit tradition featuring Ranger demonstrations and events and is often attended by families and veterans as well.
Before commanding 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Kurilla led 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, taking his soldiers into combat in Mosul, Iraq, in 2004 and 2005.
The unit’s deployment, which resulted in Kurilla’s soldiers earning five Silver Stars, 31 Bronze Stars with V device and 181 Purple Hearts, was chronicled in Army Times in March 2006. During the deployment, on Aug. 18, 2005, while conducting a combat patrol in western Mosul, Kurilla and his soldiers were involved in the high-speed pursuit of an Opel Vectra in which three insurgents were trying to evade U.S. forces. When the insurgents got out of the car and ran into a neighborhood, Kurilla and his men sealed off the area and began to search for the insurgents.
The soldiers quickly came under enemy fire, and as Kurilla moved towards his soldiers, he rounded a corner and an insurgent shot him three times in both legs and his arm, shattering his left femur. Kurilla continued to fight back, and his command sergeant major, Robert Prosser, later received a Silver Star, the third-highest award for valor, for his actions in taking down the insurgent. Kurilla quickly recovered from his wounds and went on to command 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.
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