14 posts tagged “173 airborne”
I was rolling down the interestate today on my way back from Fort Hood, TX chatting with Uncle Jimbo of Blackfive and he mentioned receiving the following photo from one of the Sky Soldiers. He's got it posted at Blackfive (who gets like a GAZZILION more readers than I do) but I wanted to post it here, too.
If that's not just on the COOLEST freakin' photos I don't know what would be.
Thanks to SPC Maurer for emailing the pic. Oh, and SPC Maurer also reported that he and many others received their Italian jump wings too!
For those of you who have been so very patient the photos are somewhere between Italy and here. Once I receive the CD/DVD I will post LOTS of photos. Stand by.........
One of the many highlights of our visit to Vicenza, Italy for the Welcome Home festivities for the 2-503 was being invited to several ceremonies. One of my favorites was an Awards Ceremony held for Chosen Company made even more special because all except one of the men pictured above are some of our Wounded Warriors from WRAMC. These particular Wounded Warriors were wounded at either the Battle at the Ranch House or the Battle at Wanat. We actually found out about this ceremony at the last minute so kev, Kelly MacCorquodale (SGT Ryan Pitt's mom) and I high tailed it across Caserma Ederle to witness LTC Ostlund present these amazing Soldiers with several awards. Unfortunately I didn't even think to write down what award(s) each was given. I do know there were Bronze Stars with Valor and ARCOMs with Valor awarded that day.
The ceremony was moving in many ways. It was moving because of how tall and proud these men were standing despite some of their wounds which make it uncomfortable to down right painful for them to stand for so long. It was moving because of the looks on their faces and LTC Ostlund's face as he approached each Soldier, we listened to the formal reading of the wording that accompanied each award and then LTC Oslund quietly made direct comments to the Soldier as he pinned on their awards. And it was exceptionally moving at the end when the Company broke formation and formed a line to pass by all of the awardees. There were many tight hugs and a lot of emotion. I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared those moments with the men I have had the honor of getting to know during visits to WRAMC.
Here are more photos:
H/T to Larry Arnone at 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Downrange. Larry's son Alex is interviewed in the video.
Related story from Stars and Stripes
Mortarman Awarded Silver Star for Valor
By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
European Edition, Thursday Sept 25, 2008
VICENZA, Italy — During the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment’s recently concluded tour in Afghanistan, there was no more dangerous place on a U.S. compound than the mortar pit.
That’s where U.S. soldiers would launch devastating counter attacks if enemy forces fired on the base.
And as a result, "They (the mortar pits) were always targets," said Lt. Col. Bill Ostlund, the battalion commander. "Because they’re what kept [the enemy] off the bases."
Ostlund said soldiers from the 28-member Mortar Platoon from Headquarters and Headquarters Company have received 41 valor awards for their actions in Afghanistan, including three Bronze Star Medals with valor.
On Wednesday, the platoon received its second Silver Star.
Ostlund pinned the medal on Staff Sgt. Christopher Upp in a ceremony on a Caserma Ederle basketball court next to one of the barracks.
"In 25 years, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to present a Silver Star to a soldier," Ostlund told soldiers from the company and other elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team gathered around the court.
Upp, a 27-year-old from Sterling, Colo., was on his second deployment to Afghanistan with the platoon and fourth tour downrange overall. He was assigned to Vehicle Patrol Base Seray in the Chowkay Valley on July 31, 2007.
Upp said the first memory that pops into his mind of that day is the mortar round that hit near the mortar pit — killing 1st Lt. Benjamin Hall.
"A great officer was killed," he said, lifting the Silver Star Medal pinned to his uniform. "This is for him really."
Upp led a small group in a charge toward the pit. They were targeted by machine-gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades along the way. More than once, they were knocked to the ground by rocket-propelled grenades that landed close to them. Once they got to the pit, another RPG damaged the tripod that supports the 120-millimeter mortar, and shrapnel tore a large gash in Upp’s left forearm. The wound would eventually require 17 stitches.
With the mortar support damaged, Upp had to use his hands — and shoulders when the tube got too hot — to guide the return fire. He fired 75 rounds back at enemy positions, enduring constant machine-gun fire.
Upp said he remembers much of the battle from a third-person perspective.
"It’s kind of like when your foot goes to sleep and you can’t feel it, but you know it’s still there," he said. "That’s how my mind was. Numb. Human instinct to survive kicks in. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do."
Upp, recently married, said he’ll now join the SETAF staff, keeping him in Italy — and away from any mortar pit for at least a while.
I was honored to attend the Change of Command/Change of Authority for both Battle Company and Chosen Company while in Vicenza. I didn't have my camera for the Chosen Company Change of Command/Change of Authority but I did for Battle Company. CPT Dan Kearney and 1SG Lamonte Caldwell relinquished command and authority of Battle Company
I had a "list" of 173rd, 2/503 and 1/503 Soldiers I was asked to "look up" and meet for various family members. I was able to meet all except two of them. Here's the evidence for a grandmother in Maine who I've been corresponding with. I met your FANTASTIC grandson and ended up running into him many times.
Several weeks ago I received some very touching documents from the family of SSG Kyle N. Seitz (173rd, 1/503). I've been trying to figure out how to scan and post them here with no success. So, I'm going to type them out because they are all documents that need to be shared.
A Tribute to the 173rd Airborne
They are Airborne Soldiers
who have been put to the test.
There is no doubt in our minds
they stand above the rest.
They have fought in many countries and
they never did ask why.
They went without hesitation
and gave the Airborne battle cry.
They fought for our great nation
in the wind, the snow and rain.
And never once did they ever
bring their country shame.
173rd Airborne, you were put to the test.
You passed with flying colors
because you are the nation's best
and our country's true Warriors.
There are long roll calls
of past Heroes along the way.
And they still stand there with you
in every test along the way.
We know new challenges come
in many different ways.
But our hearts and minds are with you
each and every day.
The family of
SSG Kyle N. Seitz
B.Co 1/503rd ABN
173rd ABN Brigade
From The Courrier News
66-mile Road to be Dedicated Saturday to Honor Army 173rd Airborne Brigade
August 22, 2008
By Emily McFarlan Staff Writer
Army Pfc. Jacob Lowell of New Lenox was 22 years old, a gunner on a Humvee, when his unit was ambushed in Afghanistan in June 2007. Lowell was the first member of the U.S. Army, 173rd Airborne Brigade, killed in Afghanistan, according to Bob Getz.
Getz, of Elgin, was just a few years older than Lowell when he was deployed overseas with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. That was almost 40 years ago in Vietnam, and Getz was then an Army captain.
But the two "sky soldiers" may as well have fought alongside each other in the same war.
Getz said Lowell's death inspired the Elite Forces, Chapter VI of the international 173rd Airborne Brigade Association, to begin efforts to have Illinois 173 designated in honor of the brave men and women who have fought with the brigade.
On Saturday, they will travel the newly designated 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway in a motorcade from Zion to Loves Park to thank communities along the 66-mile stretch for their help to make that happen.
"This is not a memorial highway," said Getz, secretary of the Elite Forces. "It's a living highway for those who live and those who have died -- everyone who has served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. This is for the guys and gals yesterday, today and tomorrow."
Getz said he expects some of those "guys and gals" to ride in more than 150 vehicles along the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway, which runs east and west across northern Illinois near the Wisconsin border. The motorcade will include several motorcycle groups, two Chinook helicopters, local emergency vehicles and veteran organizations. It will stop in Antioch, Hebron, Harvard and Loves Park, beginning at 8 a.m. at Illinois 173 and Sheridan Road in Zion.
The Elite Forces first visited those communities last fall to ask them to pass resolutions in support of renaming the route. With the support of their resolutions, the Elite Forces managed to get a joint resolution passed through the Illinois General Assembly May 28.
"That was pretty exciting," Getz said. "It was neat that our state legislators, in a time when there's been a little bit of divisiveness, were able to work together and pass this joint resolution unanimously."
It wasn't hard, according to state Rep. Ruth Munson, R-Elgin. Munson, one of the resolution's 30 co-sponsors, said many state legislators were "moved by the sentiment."
"When Bob Getz brought this to me and told me the history of the 173rd Airborne Brigade ... I thought this was a great way to honor those who had served on our behalf, and I was happy to support the initiative," she said. "I think we owe them a great debt of gratitude, and this is a small honor we can give them."
Red, white and blue signs along marking the route as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Highway were completed last weekend, just as members of the brigade are currently rotating out of a second deployment to Afghanistan.
When not stationed along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the 173rd Airborne Brigade is based out of Italy and Germany. Originally formed in 1917 during World War I, Getz said, it continues to be "one of America's most effective parachute infantry units."
"I don't know how many (members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade) will be in the area, but we said if you are anywhere between Chicago and Rockford, Madison and Milwaukee, come and join us," he said.
I'm kinda thinkin' I know someone from the Madison, WI area who's on this wonderful ride today.
Many many thanks to the Elite Forces, Chapter VI of the international 173rd Airborne Brigade Association for making this a reality.
H/T LIG
UPDATED with link to video by Uncle Jimbo over at Blackfive.net
Apparently I'm a light weight. ConcreteBob and Jonn Lilyea (more photos here) have already posted about our FANTASTIC outing with some of the 173rd, 2/503 Wounded Warriors on Friday night. I'm still not sure what planet I'm on. WOW! What a great time. But I am definitely too old to be out until 3:00 AM. And I'm sure too old to think I can "hang" with these young Warriors.
Everytime I have the opportunity to spend time with these great men I think it cannot get any better. And everytime i am wrong. Friday night with them, ConcreteBob, Jonn and Uncle Jimbo was the BEST EVER! I am so grateful to these men for allowing us to spend time with them; to hear their stories; to remember their commrades who didn't come home. What an honor.
I'll let you check out the photos over at ConcreteBob's and Jonn's but I want to add one photo here.
On Saturday Uncle Jimbo and I were invited to an cookout for for the 173rd Wounded Warriors at a the home of a great American, Paul. None of the men who went out with us on Friday were "able" to make it on Saturday but we shared the day with another group of the 173rd, 2/503. Many of them were wounded at Wanat on 13 July. It was SO good to see them able to get out of the hospital and enjoy the day.
All of the men in the photo above are not Wounded Warriors. Some are the host and his friends, the LNOs from WRAMC and the retiring CSM from Walter Reed. We had a fabulous time and were grateful for the opportunity.
One of my blogger friends and 173rd, 2/503 Blue Star Dad's has this post from his blog "173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Downrange"
In the second part of his post he writes:
"O.K. on the wheels up part of the posting (deep breathing here) as I sit here typing I find myself so fortunate that my son has only received minor injuries sustained during combat operations where many others have sustained much more serious wounds and unfortunately so many have made the ultimate sacrifice. Lt. Ben Hall notified his family that his aircraft was wheels up on deploying to Afghanistan as a young officer with Destined Co. of the 173rd ABCT. I am speaking of LT. Ben Hall who hailed from a distinguished Military back ground. His sister contacted me today after stumbling across my Blog. It was such great pleasure hearing from her. We are approaching the anniversary of Ben Halls death while serving with his men in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan. His family is so kind which reflects exactly Ben's personality and leadership. Since my son did look up to this Officer and formed a friendship in that they had some awesome conversations on many subjects and has help Alex map out his destiny I ask that all my readers please take two minutes on the 31st of this month and pray for Ben and his family. Can we make this happen people?"
You can read a little about Ben here, here, here and here. I'm sure there are so many inspiring and comical stories about Ben we will never know.
I ask that anyone reading this post please take two minutes out of your life on Thursday 31 July 2007 to pray for Ben and his family.
Rest in peace Ben. You are a true HERO. You and your family will remain in our prayers, especially during this difficult anniversary.
