Awards ceremony at Fort Benning, GA
The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports that my personal hero, MG H.R. McMaster, the commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning, Georgia had a busy day pinning awards on heroes there the other day. Not all of the recipients survived their bravery;
Six months after they were killed by an IED in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins and Spc. Cody J. Patterson of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment were posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device during a combat awards ceremony Tuesday at Fort Benning.
Maj. Gen. H.R. McMaster, commander of the Maneuver Center of Excellence, also presented a Silver Star, the third-highest military decoration for valor, 10 other Bronze Stars, 33 Purple Hearts and 18 Army Commendations with Valor Device for the Rangers actions between Aug. 20 and Dec. 17. During the period, the battalion conducted more than 140 missions that killed or captured 250 enemy insurgents and leaders.
I could go on about the things that they did to earn their medals, but you should click over and read it for yourself. There was some studly stuff going on that we never hear about. It also provides a stark example of why I get so pissed about stolen valor.
Category: Real Soldiers
May those lost rest in peace, and all those heros never be forgotten!
God Bless these hard, hard men. We as a nation are lucky to have them.
RLTW
“Lord, where do we get such men?” That quote still applies in this case as well.
Thank God for men such as these! Rest in Peace Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins and Spc. Cody J. Patterson. My honor and respect to all the others. Way to go 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment!!!
Real Men, Real Warriors. Bravo Zulu, and Rest in Peace to those we lost.
Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger fully knowing the hazards of my chosen prefession, I will always endever to uphold the prestige honor and high espirit de corp or my Ranger Regiment.
Well done brothers, way to Ranger the fuck up!
Shits blowing up left and right and American soldiers are running to what they know is a death zone to help their wounded. Spine. Steel. One each.
Lest anyone forget, “then” Cpt McMaster was the Troop Commander from 2ACR that smoked the Iraqis at the battle of 73 Eastings. He earned a Silver Star himself for that action. Nothing better than one proven Warrior presenting awards to other proven and worthy Warriors.
His Eagle Troop destroyed over 80 Iraqi vehicles in a single engagement without a single loss on his side. We passed through his unit that night and continued the fight…what little was left after he was done with them.
I was in Bamberg when the Squadron came home after DS. In B-2/14FA right across the street from their area. They obviously were the BMOC upon their return and rightfully so. Aw, the good old days….
2ACR? Ahhhh. . .. Memories of Neurnberg (78-82).
I was commo repair.
“You can talk about us, but you can’t talk without us”.
“Without us, all you have is a 60 ton rolling paperweight”.
I get choked up and emotional reading this.
We do live in a special place by God … look at what our families, neighbors, communities, towns, cities and country produce.
Tell me I am right!
Amen, Master Chief and I say again…Amen!
We got meet MG McMaster last summer while attending IBOLC. He lead an open forum brief for about 100 of us, and we asked him dozens of questions. He answered every single one quickly, clearly, and without any wasted words. I have never been in awe of a speaker before, the man is larger than life.
Good that MG McMaster was nominated for promotion to LTG…not a fan boy of Petraeus/Dempsey/Odierno, but they unquestionably played a monumental role in ensuring McMaster kept moving on up.
Some guy is complaining that First Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno, who was killed while moving to the aid of the wounded, got nada. Anybody got intel on that?
Different chain-of-command maybe?
Anyway, thank the Lord for such fine young people. As long as we have them, I think the Republic will survive.
Found it in another article:
Moreno was posthumously awarded the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and NATO Medal.
My thanks, ma’am.
I didn’t think such would be ignored.
Remember and honor the men, AND WOMEN, who perform in an outstanding fucking manner. They are holding the animals off for one more generation. America, today talking on their obamaphones and filling their EBT cards, does not deserve them. But still they serve and offer an insight into what was once a great country filled with givers, not takers.