3 posts tagged “frank eckrode jr.”
Friday 23 January 2009 was one of those "I can't believe I'm here" days for me. I attended the graduation of the 02-09 Ranger Class at Fort Benning, GA. Three of the 173rd, 2-503 Sky Soldiers were in the graduating class. Interestingly there were 173 graduates in the 02-09 Ranger class. I was invited to sit with the family of ARMY RANGER SPC Hank Griffith and his family. Hank's dad graduated from Ranger school "a few" years back and was ther to pin his Ranger tab on Hank. I was also able to find ARMY RANGER SPC Frank Eckrode and his mom in the crowd after graduation. Golly it was good to see Hank and Frank again and to meet their parents.
Although the graduation was planned for 11:00 there was a "Rangers in Action" demonstration at 10:00. If you're ever invited to a Ranger graduation you MUST arrive in time for the demonstration. It was incredible. They blew up things, jumped from helicopters into the water, rappelled down and up towers, blew up more things, came racing down zip lines, picked up Rangers with a helicopter and flew them away all tandem on one rope (gasp!), participated in hand to hand combat and, well, blew up some more things. Impressive!
Since I had no idea what to expect and when to expect it I didn't get any photos of the explosions but I got lots of other photos which I'll share below.
Ranger school is a very difficult and intense three phase school. You can read a little bit about the three phases here. From what SPC Griffith and SPC Eckrode shared the written descriptions relay very little about the intensity of the school. A big HOOAH to all of the new Rangers and a special thanks to the Griffiths and the Eckrodes for including me in this very special day.
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!!!
In the photo above are SPC Griffith's mom, SPC Griffith (ARMY RANGER), John Griffith (my escort for the day - isn't he a cutie?), me and Grapes (was in squad with Griffith on recent deployment to Afghanistan but not in this Ranger class)
By the way, the conex in the photo above was the "victim" of one of the demolition demonstrations. Blew the doors right off with a huge BOOM! Cool!
On April 22, 2008 I posted about four Soldiers from 173rd, 2-503 Chosen Company being awarded the Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) with Valor. I mentioned in that post that many other Sky Soldiers had received various awards but that I didn't have the specific information.
Yesterday I received an email from the father of SPC Frank Eckrode, Jr informing me that SPC Eckrode, Jr. had received the Army Commendation Medal with V device for Valor for his actions on the night of 26 October 2007.
SPC Eckrode's father didn't have the wording regarding the award or a photo of when it was presented or I would share that with you. There is no doubt that SPC Eckrode executed acts of great heroism or he would not have been considered for nor awarded the ARCOM with V device.
SPC Eckrode was home on R & R recently and took the time to call me. It was a phone call I never expected and one that I will always cherish. It's been said before by many and should be said over and over again - I don't know where we get men such as SPC Eckrode, Jr.; men of such bravery, honor, duty, selflessness, courage, loyalty and comittment Our nation is richly blessed by them and they deserve more from us than we can ever give them. I look foward to the day when I can meet SPC Eckrode, Jr., shake his hand and thank him personally for all he has done on behalf of our nation.
A big HOOAH to SPC Frank Eckrode, Jr and may God watch over and keep you safe.
I have received many unexpected gifts as a result of supporting our deployed military personnel. Some of the most special gifts are “meeting” the families of those who are far away from home and in harms way. A few weeks ago I received correspondence from SPC Eckrode’s father. Since then he, Frank, Sr. and I, have chatted back and forth. He has been kind enough to tell me about his son. With his father’s permission I want to share a little about SPC Eckrode with all of you.
SPC Eckrode grew up an Army brat and comes from a long line of military family. His father is a retired CWO3 and his mother served in the Army. His paternal grandparents are retired (grandfather) Navy and former (grandmother) Navy. His maternal grandfather is former Army. The list goes on and on with respect to Aunts, Uncles, etc who have served in the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. SPC Eckrode moved to no less than six military bases with his family while his father served his career in the Army. When his father retired the family settled in to their 1885 family homestead in Oregon. SPC Eckrode attended and graduated as the fourth generation from Yamhill Carlton Union High School. While a senior in high school he, just as is father had done, joined the Army on the delayed enlistment program.
I’ll let his father tell you a little about SPC Eckrode now…”Why did he go in? He always talked about it from the time he could speak and when stationed at Ft Lewis was mesmerized by the Rangers and Airborne Soldiers there and said he was going to do one of those. I thought it was just a little kid talking until almost 12 years later when he did just that. He scored one of the highest scores in Oregon's history on his ASVAB (the Army entrance test) but still choose to go Infantry and airborne. As a retired officer I had the great pleasure of swearing him in on both his delayed entry and his active duty.”
After SPC Eckrode graduated from Airborne school he was assigned to Battle Co, 2/503 Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade based in Vicenza Italy. They were deployed to Kunar Province, Afghanistan in late May 2007 for 15 months.
In high school SPC Eckrode exhibited a small interest in wrestling. However, his main interests were in computer programming, computer networking, and gaming. According to his father “before he left [for the Army] in Aug of 05 he would go to what they call LAN parties, where everyone's computers were linked together and fight on line battles and games over the internet teamed up with his buddies, early training I guess.” His father goes on to describe SPC Eckrode as follows. “He is a quite the character, and his sense of humor will leave you in hysterics, and I love his dry humor.” And then he comments “I hope this experience hasn't dampened that.”
On 26 October 2007 SPC Eckrode was wounded when the Taliban attacked his firebase. He was shot four times and was medivaced out for treatment of his wounds. SPC Eckrode apparently gave the medics and personnel at the field hospital quite a bit of flak about wanting to get back to his men ASAP. Within a couple of weeks he was back with his platoon.
There are many details about the events of 26 October 2007 that will go unsaid here at this time. On that day two of the Soldiers of Battle Company gave their all for this nation, SGT Joshua Brennan and SPC Hugh Mendoza. May they rest in peace and may their families know that our thoughts, prayers and heartfelt condolences are with them always. SPC Eckrode and all the other men of his platoon fought bravely and valiantly that day. In time I am sure the details will be made public.
As a result of the actions that SPC Eckrode took on 26 October 2007 he has been nominated for a Bronze Star with V device. When corresponding with his father about the medal SPC Eckrode wrote, “i guess i didnt think i did much but everyone else disagrees.” His father reminded him, “I told you when you left, no medals didn't I” SPC Eckrode replied, “yeh i know, shit happens.”
On that same day that he was corresponding with his family via instant messenger SPC Eckrode wrote, “ive been thinking about re-enlisting lately. yeh just thinking though. its hard to explain. i live in a shithole, carry too much weight and the walks suck, but when i do my actual job i enjoy what i do.” His father replied to him, among other things, “not hard to explain unless it is a civilian you are talking to.”
I don’t know about the rest of you but in my book SPC Eckrode, Jr. is one of our many national treasures. He and the Soldiers of Battle Company along with those of HHC, Able, Chosen, Destine and Fusion Companies are enduring more in Operation Enduring Freedom than I think many want to believe or choose to believe. I couldn’t mean it more when I say that all of our deployed personnel DESERVE our support. But I also can’t mean it more when I say that these Soldiers are in HELL and, in my opinion, deserve our support more than most at this time. Kunar Province, Afghanistan has been declared the most dangerous place on earth. Since arriving in Afghanistan in May the Brigade has suffered 28 casualties. Twenty eight of our bravest men have given their lives fighting the Taliban. One in four has sustained wounds. Well over 500 fire fights have taken place – often two to three in one day. What an honor and privilege it is to get to “know” men like SPC Frank Eckrode, Jr. What a privilege it is to live in a nation that has men like him who selflessly make the choice to defend this nation and our freedoms. What a blessing it is to have families such as SPC Eckrode’s and all the other families who are back home waiting for their loved ones to return.
Just like SPC Eckrode’s family I, too, pray that his deployment to Afghanistan will not take away that carefree spirit he has. I hope his laughter and sense of humor remain intact. Most of all I hope that he and all those serving with him know how PROUD we are of them and how many of us feel there is no way we can ever appropriately thank them for their service to this nation.
If any other families of Sky Soldiers read this post I welcome the opportunity to get to “know” your Soldier and to share their story with others.
Be safe. We love and support you all.
