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Archive for the ‘Memorial’ Category

Remembering the Battle of Mogadishu

Thursday, October 3rd, 2024

On this date in 1993, US service members were engaged in what is now known as the Battle of Mogadishu. A joint organization was formed named ” TF Ranger” to deploy to Mogadishu, Somalia in support of a UN-led humanitarian mission.

By October 3rd, they had been conducting operations for quite some time, but that day’s raid would be unlike anything they had experienced. The mission was to raid the city’s Olympic Hotel in order to capture key leaders of the Aidid Militia who had been opposing IN efforts to feed the locals.

Unfortunately, during the exfil portion of the raid, a battle ensued which claimed the lives of 18 Americans and wounded another 73. Additionally, CW3 Michael Durant was captured by the Aideed militia after being shot down while piloting his Blackhawk. Fortunately, Durant was later repatriated and went on to retire from the 160th.

Of the men killed that day, two would be awarded the Medal of Honor, Delta Operators Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, for their selfless efforts to protect Durant after his aircraft, callsign Super 64, was shot down.

Last year, the US Army reevaluated the awards presented to the participants of that battle and amongst the Ranger element, upgraded 60 veteran’s awards including 58 Silver Stars and two Distinguished Flying Crosses. The order of battle included other organizations and their Soldiers have received similar upgrades.

If you are unfamiliar with the events, one of the best accounts of the battle is contained in the book, “Blackhawk Down” by author Mark Bowden. Much of the information was serialized prior to the book’s publication in the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later this was made into a movie bearing the same name.

Please take a moment to remember these men and their sacrifice.

Additionally, the 75th Ranger Regiment was created on this day in 1984, with the stand up of its 3rd Battalion. Four decades later, the Ranger Regiment boasts five battalions of some of the most elite warriors on the face of our planet.

Remembering 9/11 – In Honor of Flight 93

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

Never Forget these fine people who were taken from us by evil men. Let’s honor the heroes of Flight 93 who made a fateful decision that they weren’t going to become pawns in a crazed attempt to decapitate our government. They took the enemy on, firsthand. They will always have our respect.

Let’s Roll!

The Crew
Jason Dahl
LeRoy Homer, Jr.
Lorraine Bay
Sandra Bradshaw
Cee Cee Lyles
Wanda Green
Deborah Anne Jacobs Welsh

The Passengers
Christian Adams
Todd Beamer
Alan Beaven
Mark Bingham
Deora Bodley
Marion Britton
Thomas E. Burnett Jr.
Willam Cashman
Georgine Rose Corrigan
Patricia Cushing
Joseph DeLuca
Patrick “Joe” Driscoll
Edward Porter Felt
Jane Folger
Colleen L. Fraser
Andrew Garcia
Jeremy Glick
Lauren Grandcolas
Donald F. Greene
Linda Gronlund
Richard Guadagno
Toshiya Kuge
Hilda Marcin
Waleska Martinez
Nicole Miller
Louis J. Nacke II
Donald and Jean Peterson
Mark “Mickey” Rothenberg
Christine Snyder
John Talignani
Honor Elizabeth Wainio
Kristin Gould White

We will not name the hijackers. May they forever be dishonored.

9/11 Remembered – The Toll

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

On this 23rd commemoration of that fateful day which saw so many of us fling to corners of the earth to track down those behind this heinous act and bring them to justice, I want to remember the feeling of that day as it transpired. A feeling of helplessness. I want to remember it because I don’t ever want to have the feeling again.

There were 2996 immediate deaths on September 11th, 2001. I will never forget the people who cheered that day, celebrating an attack on America and the deaths of so many innocents. I woke up this morning and checked my usual news sites. Almost nothing about the events of 9/11/01. It took 23 years for America to forget its dead and abandon a unified purpose.

Regardless of which way the political winds blow, I remain a patriot. But in a greater sense, I will also always honor those from other nations who stood with us on that day and throughout the ensuing decades of conflict. After all, there were victims from 90 countries on 9/11. A sick ideology attacked the world and despite our efforts, it lives on, dug in like a tick.

The crisis remains. Every year we lose more and more amazing people to issues caused by those events. Victims and rescuers alike suffer life threatening medical conditions due to the exposure to toxins during the attacks and continue to succumb to these lingering wounds. As a country, we must stand by them.

Even now, the world is faced with the continued threat of Islamic fundamentalism that targets our ideals in both word and deed. We must oppose them in every case, lest our efforts thus far, be in vain.

The toll…it weighs on.

Never Forgive, Never Forget

9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 1720

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

Later that day, at 1720 – 7 World Trade Center, a 47-story building, collapses.

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9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 1028

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

1028 – The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.

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9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 1003

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

1003 – United Airlines Flight 93 is crashed by its hijackers as passengers try to retake the plane over Somerset County, Pennsylvania. There are no survivors.

9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0958

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

0958 – The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.

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9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0945

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024

0945 – US Airspace is Shutdown