One year ago today, this Country, the State of New York, and some families and brothers in arms suffered a terrible day. We lost 3 courageous soldiers from our ranks and they are still missed as much today as they were on that day. I didn’t know SGT Seabrooks or SPC Mangano, but I did know SGT Rodriguez. Rod was one of my soldiers, in fact I was his very first “Top” that he ever had. I remember when he came to the unit and watched him grow into a very professional and disciplined soldier.
Last night about 15-20 of us came together at VFW Post 7545 in Tonawanda, NY to remember these three great men and the sacrifices they laid down for their country and the people of Afghanistan. For many of us, we caught up with friends and soldiers past, we shared laughs and we shared somber times.
I watched men who I once knew as barely out of childhood, as scared privates now stand there with me as seasoned, experienced and proud warriors of this country. These are men that have walked into the gates of hell, looked around and were able to walk out. Of course that did not come without a cost, it cost each of them the innocence and ignorance they once had as plain ole’ Americans. They walked out of those gates of hell and back to civilization stripped of those virtues, but now with new ones. Pride, Honor, Sacrifice…all are traits that were now embedded in them for life. They now share the brotherhood with so many men and women that have walked before them who has served in combat and were willing to give up their life for this country.
Yes these whom I watched, laughed with, shared a beer with and raised a shot of whiskey with in honor of our fallen brothers, are now part of the fraternal brotherhood. The brotherhood of those who will willingly put their bodies and minds at risk so others may live in freedom.
As the quote in the movie At War says, “War is the scar that we wear with pride even as it defaces”.
Rest in Peace Rod, Seabrooks, Mangano, and Walton. You are part of the fabric that makes this country so great.
www.bouhammer.com/2008/06/a-sad-day-indeed/
www.bouhammer.com/2008/06/sgt-rodriguez-update/
www.bouhammer.com/2008/06/news-articles-on-all-3-fallen-ny-national-guard-soldiers/
Staff Sgt. Herb Clark, gunnery sergeant for Battery B, 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, stands guard while Soldiers search a bus at a traffic check point in Wardak province, Afghanistan, June 13. This joint mission combined Soldiers from 4-25 and 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment to ensure freedom of movement that has been the target of numerous improvised explosive device blasts this month.
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 21, 2009) – Two military service members were killed, while at least six other personnel were wounded in an early morning indirect fire attack on Bagram Air Field June 21.
The wounded were transported to a U.S. medical facility on Bagram Air Field for immediate medical treatment, where they are receiving expert medical care.
“On behalf of the Combined Joint Task Force-82 team, we offer our condolences and sympathy to the families of our two brave service members,” said Army Major General Curtis Scaparrotti, commanding general of CJTF-82. “Their sacrifice in the name of security and a better way of life for the Afghan people will not be forgotten.”
It is unknown at the time if any Afghan civilians living near the air field were harmed as a result of this attack.
The names of the service members are being withheld pending notification of the next-of-kin.
The incident is under investigation.
Bouhammer Note- This is par for the course when a change over of command happens at smaller FOBs. It is sort of a way to welcome the new unit into the area and remind them that they can be hit at any time. However, this is the first time I ever remember this happening at Bagram and people actually getting hit. It probably happened in 2002, but I am not sure. Either way, this will give the base which acted like it wasn’t even in a war zone and whole new perspective. I wonder if they are trading in the reflective belts for body armor and helmets yet?
It is also being reported that of the six wounded, four were civilians working on the base. Not surprising because I think there are more civilians on that base than military.
Posted on 2009 under Blogs, CounterTerrorism, Terrorism |
21
Jun
Hizb ut-Tahrir America (HTA) has a launched a Web Site to promote its July 19th, 2009 Khilafah Conference in Bridgeview, Illinois.
http://www.khilafahconference2009.com/
The site provides an agenda for the conference, but does not provide a list of invited speakers or any contact information for the organizers.
The well-designed site indicates that HTA is taking steps to create an impression with the public and with its target audience that it is a solidly established institution.
Most likely, HTA's membership and support base in the United States numbers only in the hundreds. Due to the fact that HTA's operations have been largely clandestine until now, it has been difficult to determine the size of its ranks. However, several known members have status and influence in universities and in their communities.
For more information about HTA's activities in the United States, and their recent transition to the public phase of operations, please see my recent post on the CTB.
All these years Terry Miklos has held onto that old Simpsons' Leader Times article from 1945 about his father and uncle, two Ford City Soldier brothers reuniting in France. Reading it again reminds him this upcoming Father's Day of what his father has meant to him.
