General Catching Up

Lots going on these days.  Thankfully the 173rd is back in Italy and Germany.  That is just the most fantastic news.  While the Soldiers are on block leave we're still busy back here planning the Welcome Home Celebration for the 2/503 that so many of you have been generous in helping to fund.  The event will be in Italy on 25 September.  We're still short of our goal for the money necessary for the party but have fund raising events scheduled and are continuing to solict donations.  To make a donation go to the 173rd Sky Angels Fund website.  You can donate via Paypal or find the address to mail a donation.

There will be lots of photos and reports about the Welcome Home Celebration posted here beginning late September to early October.

A couple of months ago I got a call from a someone (not a Soldier and not a family member) associated with the 3rd BDE, 1st ID 6/4 CAV.  The 3rd BDE, 1st ID is based at Fort Hood, TX.  They have actually brought this Brigade up in about a hear and a half from nothing.  Geez!  And to be deployed to northeastern Afghanistan on the FIRST deployment for this Brigade.  Brutal!  At the time I got the call they were fairly certain that the 6/4 CAV would be replacing the 173rd, 2/503 and wanted to know if we would support the men of the Big Red One.  As it turns out it seems that the 6/4 is partially in areas where the 2/503 was and also in areas where the 173rd, 1/91 CAV was.  Regardless...they are in Nuristan and Kunar Provinces in Afghanistan and many of them are in fairly new COPs and Outposts.  So...

Along with some great people in Texas (one lady in particular who doesn't want to be recognized) we began supporting the 6/4 CAV before the 2/503 was even home.  I know this sounds familiar to many of you who read this blog.  You get those "mail stop" notifications before those you are supporting have finished their deployment and you immediately switch gears to some other deserving Soldier, Marine, Airman or Sailor.  One of the great opportunities we had this time is that we were able to go to Fort Hood and meet with the 6/4 CAV Commander and his staff before they left.  The opportunity to be able to meet face to face and put names with faces was one I've never had the privilege to do.  It has already proven to make such a difference.  Now when the "lady from Texas" or I email with questions or the Soldiers email us we are on the same page and it takes no effort to get the request processed as it often does.  HOOAH!

The transition from the 173rd, 2/503 to the 3rd BDE, 1st ID 6-4 CAV hasn't been an easy one.  On 13 July 2008 as the 3rd BDE, 1st ID was holding a Memorial Serivce for SGT Douglas Bull the men of 173rd, 2/503 Chosen Company 2nd Platoon were in a battle for their lives near the village of Wanat in Kunar Province.  On that day nine of the men of Chosen Company gave their lives in service to our nation.  And on 1 August 2008 four men of the 3rd BDE, 1st ID died  in the Chowkay Valley of northeastern Afghanistan when their vehicle was hit by and IED.

A few people have emailed to ask why I haven't added "Honoring the Fallen" posts here about these men.  The answer is simple - I have been working on those posts but feel they must be more than sufficient to truly honor the lives of all of those men.  I will post about them but only after I have had time to complete the proper research.  We owe them and their families that.  In the meantime my thoughts and prayers go to the families of these brave Heroes.

I have many posts coming in the new few weeks and hope to be caught up soon.