I had the honor, this past weekend, of meeting and spending time with SPC Stafford and his mother along with several other of the Chosen Few who were wounded at the Battle of Wanat.  Truly America's finest and some great men to spend a Saturday afternoon with.  We wish them all the VERY best as they continue to heal.

From CNN.com

Taliban attack survivor describes scene of 'pure chaos'

By Barbara Starr

Pentagon Correspondent

SPC Tyler Stafford

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A soldier who survived a Taliban attack that killed nine U.S. troops in Afghanistan last month described a scene of "pure chaos" in which he watched buddies die.

Army Spc. Tyler Stafford and fellow soldiers in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team were establishing an outpost near the village of Wanat when about 200 Taliban militants attacked July 13.

"They had 200-plus guys all shooting at us -- I mean, pure chaos," Stafford said. "You could hear guys screaming."

Nine Americans were killed and 12 -- including Stafford -- were wounded in the deadliest attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan in three years. Afghan sources said that up to 100 militants were killed in the attack.

Stafford, who is recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, said he and his fellow soldiers were facing Taliban fighters on three sides when the attack began.

The Americans were outmanned and outgunned. A NATO spokesman said the defense of the outpost was "heroic."

Once he was wounded, Stafford called out to his friend, Cpl. Matthew Phillips.

"I yelled to him, I was like, 'Phillips, man I need help. I'm hit.' ... I looked at him and I called him about four or five times. I was like, 'Phillips. Phillips. Are you all right, Phillips?' And he never moved.

"That's the first one of my buddies I've ever seen die."

A short distance away was Cpl. Jonathan Ayers.

"He never once stopped shooting," Stafford said. "I thought that was completely amazing. He never, I mean, he finally was killed by [rocket-propelled grenades] and gunfire, but he never once stopped shooting back at them."

Lt. Jonathan Brostrom and Cpl. Jason Hovater were killed when they ran through a hail of Taliban gunfire in an attempt to carry more ammunition to their fellow soldiers, Stafford said.

"They knew our guys were in trouble, and when the Airborne's in trouble, you don't leave them to die; you go help them," Stafford said. "They brought what they could."

The Americans were running low on ammunition, and some of them were so badly wounded they were unable to move, Stafford said.

Help did not come for an hour, he said.

Stafford eventually was helicoptered to safety. He said he looked back at the scene below while aboard the chopper.

"It's like one of the those movies out of like Vietnam that you see with all these special effects and everything's on fire," he recalled. "Smoke in the air, and that's all you see is tracer rounds going back and forth ... just, 'boom, boom, boom.' "

The other Americans who died were Sgt. Israel Garcia, Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling, Spc. Sergio Abad, Cpl. Pruitt Rainey and Cpl. Jason Bogar.

"The way they served each other -- you're fighting for the guy on your back, the guy that's in the foxhole next to you, when that kind of stuff happens. We all love each other very much," Stafford said.

From Herald Zeitung (New Braunfels, TX)

Bronze Star Honor For Battlefield Valor

By Mark Koopmans

August 19, 2008

A 22-year-old New Braunfels resident and U.S. Army combat veteran has been nominated for the Bronze Star with Valor, the nation’s fourth highest medal for bravery.

It was only five weeks ago today that Spc. Jonathan Kaderli, a line medic, stood alongside 44 other soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team of the 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) as the team came under a surprise attack.

Organized by Taliban insurgents who numbered in the hundreds, according to several published reports, the Taliban fought the Americans near the village of Wanat in the Kunar Province of northeastern Afghanistan — close to the border with Pakistan.

The battle occurred just after dawn at a temporary vehicle patrol base near the village, said Regiment Commander, Col. Charles “Chip” Preysler, in a recent interview with Stars and Stripes, a daily newspaper published for the U.S. military and their families.

A platoon-sized element of Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion and a smaller Afghan National Army force of about 25 men were occupying a hastily built area as was the norm over the 15 months that the unit had been in country, Preysler said.

The soldiers, who were scheduled to finish their deployment within several weeks of the attack, were on a reconnaissance mission to establish a presence and find a good location to connect with the local government, populace and Afghan National Police, he said.

When the raging attack finally ended about four hours after it began, Kaderli had lost nine brothers-in-arms, 20 percent of the entire unit.

Later, as reports of the attack became known, many around the nation mourned the incident, which marked the single worst loss of American life in Afghanistan since 2005.

“The noise of the mortars — that whistling noise — the A-10 (warplanes) and the Apache (helicopters) sent in to support us, it’s just like you see and hear in the movies,” said the soft-spoken Kaderli, who currently is on leave from his regiment’s headquarters of Vicenza, Italy, for several weeks.

Back from the 24/7 stresses of war, his plans include simply relaxing at home. On Saturday, the family hosted a barbecue and beer party — probably one of the best ways in the world to relax right now, Kaderli said.

Next weekend, he heads to Colorado and a reunion with a close friend and fellow soldier who is recovering from injuries suffered during the Battle of Wanat, as it has become known.

“Ever since basic training, Bill Hewitt has been one of my best friends and he makes me appreciate the Army,” said Kaderli, who began his military service a little more than two years ago.

“How could I sit back on the sidelines and watch the war on the news while all these young men my age were out there fighting,” he said. “I had to do something to help. That’s why I joined,”

While Kaderli’s nomination for the Bronze Star with Valor has been approved by his boss, an Army Major and medical commander, the young medic affectionately known as “Doc” prefers to think of his warrior brothers instead of himself and any award he could earn.

“Everyone that day was a hero,” he said with pride. “Everyone fought bravely, like true soldiers. Training and instinct took over as we fought for the man on our left and the man on our right.”

Kaderli, who feels uncomfortable sharing all the details of such a recent and traumatic event, said he might one day write about it in a book — something he has wanted to do all his life, never realizing it might entail writing a chapter so personal.

In the Stars and Stripes interview, Preysler said, “These guys fought for 15 months, and I mean this literally, they have fought harder and (had) more engagements, more direct-fire engagements, than any brigade in the United States Army in probably the toughest terrain.

“(They) are absolutely veterans and they know what they’re doing and they have that airborne spirit and they fought a very, very tough battle and held the ground and did everything they were supposed to do.”

Kaderli, the combat medic who normally carries an M-4 rifle, but who found himself helping defend the temporary base with a shotgun he commandeered from a HUMVEE after leaving his weapon to help a wounded soldier in the field, said “I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”

“I’ve no regrets, no-one cowered from their duties and everyone fought hard,” he said. “We were just going to work and we had a job to do.”

Mark Koopmans can be reached at mkoopmans(at)herald-zeitung.com

So there I was in Madison, WI for the fund raiser for the Welcome Home Party for the 2/503 when kev from Blackfive says we need to drop by a few places to pick up some gift cards for the fund raiser.  kev, Uncle Jimbo and I hopped in the car and stopped at a couple of bars - no big deal.  Uncle Jimbo and I sat tight in the car while kev ran in and picked up the gift certificates.

THEN - we had one more stop and we'd be done.  Just one more stop.  How harmless can that be?  UNTIL - I find out it was at a strip club.  Yes, kev had contacted the owner requesting a "donation".  We drove up and parked.  Uncle Jimbo decided he needed to "help" kev with this one so he was going in, too.  Uh oh!  NOT an area of town I felt comfortable waiting alone in the car.  So......................in we go.  Dear Lord.  I was INSIDE a strip club.

The manager handed kev a lifetime membership card.  The first one they have ever given.  kev decided we couldn't just take it and run.  Oh no!  We needed to "hang out" for a little while and be neighborly.  ONE HOUR later and after seeing things I really didn't need or want to see I was finally back outside and running for the car.

Sheesh!

But...the gift card was a real money maker so...........I'd do it all again if it meant raising money for these Soldiers and their Welcome Home.

It is impossible to express my sadness for the loss of nine American Warrior Heroes on Sunday in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.  Nine more Sky Angels joined the thirty three who have gone before them to heaven during this deployment.

May God give comfort to their families.  May he wrap them all in his love and care.  Rest in Peace men of 173rd, 2/503 Chosen Company, 2nd Platoon.  Your lives and memories will forever be in our hearts and minds.

1Lt Jonathan Brostrom
Sgt Israel Garcia
Spc Matthew Phillips
Spc Pruitt Rainey
Spc Jonathan Ayers
Spc Jason Bogar
Spc Sergio Abad
Spc Jason Hovater
Spc Gunnar Zwilling

UPDATED - BUMPED TO TOP

If your live in or near Madison, WI join us on July 19th at Vintage Spirits and Grill for what is shaping up to be one HUGE fund raiser for the 173rd, 2/503 Welcome Home Party.

529 University Avenue

Madison, WI  53703

608-250-0700

The event will begin at 4:00 PM and last until Vintage closes for the night.  Along with all of the great beverages and food that Vintage has to offer there will be raffles, a silent auction and door prizes.

Come on down Madison!

Major KUDOS to the people of Cheboygan and northern Michigan for participating in a very successful fund raiser on July 3rd. 

NOTE:  If you are in the Madison, WI or Sault Ste Marie, MI areas there will be fund raisers held in those locations on July 19, 2008.  Details will be posted here soon.

From 9and10 News Cheboygan, MI.

From Cheboygan to Afghanistan With Love
Posted: 7/3/2008

I cannot help but wonder just how many Americans are aware of our Armed Forces deployed to northeast Afghanistan.   My experience talking with the public is that the answer is "not many".  What a damn shame!  When I received the following link from LTC Ostlund "Rock 6" today even I was stunned. 

AWARDED:

Silver Stars - 6

Bronze Stars with Valor - 48

ARCOMs with Valor - over 140

Purple Hearts - 98

SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:

More than 150 other awards for valor have been submitted for approval — including two for the Medal of Honor, three of for the Distinguished Service Cross and three more for Silver Stars.

And 950 engagements with the enemy in the past 14 months.

From Stars and Stripes

Awards demonstrate valor of ‘The Rock’

By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, June 29, 2008

LTC Ostlund awards Bronze Star with Valor to SPC Jonathan Smiley - photo by Kent Harris

CAMP BLESSING, Afghanistan — Command Sgt. Major Bradley Meyers doesn’t seem surprised by his battalion’s performance in Kunar Province over the last 14 months.

"I think that soldiers will meet expectations," the top enlisted soldier in the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment said. "If you train them properly, they’ll do just fine."

"Just fine," in this case, might be an understatement.

Soldiers from "The Rock" have been awarded six Silver Stars. Forty-eight have earned Bronze Stars with valor. More than 140 Army Commendation Medals with valor have been approved. Ninety-eight Purple Hearts have been awarded. More than 150 other awards for valor have been submitted for approval — including two for the Medal of Honor, three of for the Distinguished Service Cross and three more for Silver Stars.

The numbers are a testament to the fierce fighting the battalion has seen in Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have become both more numerous and more brazen over the past year.

The battalion has been involved in about 950 engagements with the enemy during its stint in Afghanistan. Fifteen soldiers from the unit and two Marines working in the province have died during the rotation. About two dozen members of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Afghan Border Police have also been killed in the line of duty.

Meyers, who joined the battalion during its last tour in Afghanistan, said 2-503 has aggressively interacted with the local population during both of its stints in country.

"Get out in the battle space, hook up with the local population and maintain relations with the locals," he said. "When you do that, you’re going to end up running into the enemy."

"We’re both fighting for the human terrain," Lt. Col. Bill Ostlund, the battalion commander, said. "We go about it in different ways and for much different reasons. But we and the enemy both need the support of the local population."

The unit operates in the low hills and mountains near this outpost in the Pech River Valley in eastern Afghanistan. The rugged border with Pakistan has long been a hideout and transit route for Taliban and other fighters in Afghanistan.

And while the fight has intensified in southern Afghanistan, the combat has been steady and thick here.

Staff Sgt. Brandon Thomas, a member of Company A, has received three Purple Hearts during the rotation. He’s been wounded in the shin, head and inner thigh. He received the Army Commendation Medal with valor recently, but said he wasn’t any different from any other soldier in the battalion.

"In my opinion, a valor award is just an act of stupidity viewed by others as heroism," he said with a half-smile. "I guess I never learned to find cover in basic training."

A group of soldiers standing around him when he said that all laughed and shook their heads. Several of them had also earned medals with valor during the tour.

"Unfortunately, we don’t get the respect and attention that soldiers fighting in Iraq do," Thomas said, turning more serious. "But we’ve been fighting every day."

"We have a pretty humble group of guys," Ostlund said. "They don’t talk about themselves much. Some of them have seen as much combat as anyone in the Army."

From Stars and Stripes

By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, June 29, 2008

Six soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment have received Silver Stars during the unit’s tour in Afghanistan. A brief look at their actions, according to the narratives submitted for the awards:

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Smith and Sgt. Matthew D. Coulter earned their medals on July 5, 2007, during an air assault by soldiers from Company A into the village of Tsangar.

Smith, acting as a platoon sergeant for the mission, organized the defense of his unit and an Afghan National Army contingent that came under attack away from the main company element. After evacuating wounded soldiers, Smith’s squad came under attack again. He directed the perimeter defense "without regard to the hail of enemy fire and RPG strikes only feet from his position."

Coulter called in strikes by French Mirage fighter jets in the initial contact and later directed artillery strikes to suppress enemy fire and "exposed himself to intense enemy fire in order to maintain observation of direct fire and ensure his fellow Paratroopers received the most accurate and timely fires."

First Lt. Matthew Ferrara and Spc. Jason Baldwin of Company C were honored for their efforts during an attack by insurgents on Aug. 22 on the Ranch House outpost. A numerically superior enemy force almost overran the compound before the attackers were repelled.

Ferrara maintained communications with his headquarters even after an rocket-propelled grenade took out his antenna. He then directed A-10 fire against posts on base that enemy forces had overrun and directed an offensive against insurgents once reinforcements arrived.

Baldwin protected Ferrara and the command center by firing his 60 mm mortar at the advancing enemy and tossing hand grenades at enemy forces that had advanced to within 10 meters of his position. "He acted without regard for his own life, but with incredible courage and quick thinking that destroyed a quickly advancing enemy force…," according to the narrative.

Ferrara was later killed in an ambush.

First Lt. Gregory Ambrosia, executive officer of Company A, led a platoon-size element during a night assault into the upper Watapur Valley on Sept. 25. The platoon’s position was attacked in the morning and Ambrosia lobbed several hand grenades at enemy positions before ordering five smoke grenades to mark U.S. positions. He then directed repeated artillery fire and Apache helicopter attacks "while receiving intense enemy fire directed at his command post."

Staff Sgt. Erick Gallardo’s platoon from Company B was providing support for other elements when it was ambushed on Oct. 25. Two of his soldiers were immediately hit. Gallardo led his team to the wounded soldiers and was struck in the helmet by an AK-47 round.

He directed suppressing fire and continued to move toward the enemy and his fallen soldiers, tossing hand grenades.

He then treated one wounded soldier while two other soldiers fought off insurgents trying to carry away another wounded soldier. Gallardo then treated that soldier and coordinated the platoon’s defense and evacuation of five wounded soldiers.

On March 28, 2007 at a ceremony held at Walter Reed Army Medical Center two of the Wounded Heroes from the 17r3rd ABCT were presented Purple Hearts.  Army Pfc. Justin Kalenits, 24, of Geneva, Ohio 2-503, Chosen Company was one of those Soldiers.  I have met Pfc Kalentis.  He is a firey young man with a great spirit and an infectious smile. 

View from the Ranch House, Aranus, Waygal Valley Afghanistan

Justin was wounded at the battle at the Ranch House near Aranus, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on August 22, 2007.  I wrote about another of the 25 Sky Soldiers, Sgt Kyle Dirkintis who was in that battle.  He, too, was wounded and was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device for his actions that day.  On the morning of August 22, 2007 the Sky Soldiers were attacked from all sides by a company size insurgent force.  The battle raged on for an estimated three hours.  Air support was called in to strafe the areas from which the insurgents were attacking.  When the Battle at the Ranch House was over 11 of the 25 Sky Soldiers had sustained wounds but none, thankfully, had been killed. 

I have never met Sgt Jesse Murphree but have heard and read many stories about him.  Jesse was so severely wounded in an IED attack on December 28,2007 that both of his legs were amputated.  In this story you will read that Jesse, an avid snowboarded prior to joining the Army, still has many of the same goals in life with respect to his love of skiing.  He's just altering the methods and his pathways to realize his dreams of competitive skiing.  What an inspiration!

You can read more about these great Warriors here, here and here.  I don't think I have to tell anyone who has been reading this blog how much it angers me (because so many Americans either don't care or are completely ignorant) to read Sgt Murphee's words from "Afghanistan: It's a Battle" by John Rutherford":

Every day we were getting shot at," he said in an interview after receiving his Purple Heart on Friday. "And you hear about other people in Iraq, they got shot at a couple of times. We're like, we've been shot at every day.

"You start thinking you're fighting a forgotten war, like no one's paying attention. I went home on R&R before I got hurt and people were coming up to me, they're like, at least you're not in Iraq and stuff, and I was looking at them, and I was like, what? And they'd say, you don't do, they called it battle, they're like, you don't do battle anymore? And I'm like, are you kidding me? Like, yeah, I do," Spc.  Murphree said.

NONE of our Brave Warriors must ever feel forgotten.  NONE OF THEM!  No, Sgt. Murphree, you and all of the Soldiers, Marines, Airman and Sailors in Afghanistan are NOT and will NOT be forgotten.  We think of you, appreciate you and support you EVERY day.

On March 18, 2008 I wrote this post about how spending time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center will change your life.  This past weekend was no exception.  Actually it was a complete confirmation.

Several of my dearest friends and I had made plans to take the Wounded Warriors from 173rd, 2-503 INF Airborne out for the day on Sunday.  We had planned the outing with their Liason Officer at WRAMC.  I flew in on Saturday and GunnNutt picked me up at Dulles.  We stopped to load the back of her vehicle with Little Debbie Snack Cakes.  Can't go to WRAMC without LIttle Debbie Snack cakes! 

GunnNutt (Ace Troop Supporter) and I got up early on Sunday morning and made our way to the Mologne House at WRAMC where we met Concrete Bob (former Marine), Yankeemom (mother of a Soldier) and Taco's Mama (her son is a Marine and writes at The Sandgram) and all of the Sky Soldiers who had signed up to go with us.  Big John from VFW Post 8208 (Green County) Virginia was kind enough to join us and drive the bus that his post leaves at WRAMC to provide complimentary transportation to any of the Wounded Warriors. 

I'm not going to lie.  Getting everyone together and on the bus or in a vehicle to drive to the restaurant was like herding cats.  But it worked and everyone eventually made it to Dave and Busters.  We had tried to convey to the Liason Officer that we wanted this to be VERY unstructured, relaxing and UNOFFICIAL.  No speeches, no photo ops, no "ceremony."  I'm not sure they believed it because they were all a bit quiet and standoffish at first.  Within about half an hour everyone seemed to be relaxed and having fun.  I had never been to a Dave and Busters.  GunnNutt recommended it.  Gotta give her KUDOS for doing so.  The Sky Soldiers ate very well and, thanks to the management of Dave and Busters, had enough complimentary gift cards that they were able to play the video games and compete on the simulators for hours.  One group chose to shoot pool for several hours.  We spent about 4 1/2 hours at Dave and Busters before returning to WRAMC.

There are so many stories I could tell about our day with these great Warriors but we all went in to this wanting to keep it private and respect the Soldiers and their families who allowed us to share this more than amazing day with them. 

There are, however, a couple of things I'd like to share with you.  Most of these Soldiers don't feel as if many Americans even knew about them, where they are deployed (in the Kunar Province of eastern Afghanistan) or about the conditions they have endured and continue to endure there.  I silently agreed with them and it made me angry that they felt that way.  I know a lot of great Americans have been sending them tons (literally) of support but I also know that when we recently asked for emails and letters of support I was stunned at the number of them that mentioned "the desert" or "Iraq".  In our request for the emails and letters Blackfive had specifically mentioned these Soldiers were deployed to in the  mountains of easter Afghanistan AND provided photos of them hiking through snow in the mountains.   ARGH!

Secondly I was thrilled at how they opened up to us and told us how much they were enjoying themselves.  A couple of them even told us if we ever wanted to do this again they wanted to be included.  You can't get a better response or compliment than that.  These men have no idea how much they made an impact on GunnNutt, Concrete Bob, Yankeemom, Taco's Mama and me.  We didn't want the time to end.  We all made many new friends and are keeping in contact with them.  Concrete Bob has even mentioned that he is sure he and one of the Soldiers will be friends for life.  I don't doubt that one bit.

I wish I lived closer to WRAMC or any of the hospitals that provide treatment for our Wounded Warriors.  Wild horses couldn't keep me away if I did.  These Soldiers are the most inspirational human beings I have ever been around in my life.  Their character, committment, passion for their fellow Soldiers and their country as well as their will to heal and return to their platoons is beyond anything I have witnessed in my life.  It was so difficult to leave them.  

I encourage any of you reading this to find a way to connect with our Wounded Warriors.  It will change your life in ways you can't conceive AND it will show them that their are Americans who truly care about them. 

My most sincere thanks to the Soldiers of the 173rd, 2-503 for allowing us this great opportunity to spend time with them.