A Hero Passes ...



Nick Oresko, age 96, passed away from complications following surgery to repair a leg fracture.  He was surrounded at bedside by military and veterans (he had outlived all of his immediate family).  Master Sargent Oresko was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Assigned to Charlie Company, 302nd Infantry, 94th Infantry Division, on January 23, 1945 near Tettington Germany, Oreseko singlehandedly attacked and destroyed two enemy machine gun bunkers.  Though seriously wounded in the hip, he eliminated 12 German soldiers, thereby clearing the way for his company to advance with minimum casualties.

Godspeed, Sgt. Oresko ... thank you for your service for our country ...

A Hero Passes ...

Col. Van Barfoot (US Army - Ret.) passed away on March 2nd, at the age of 92.

As a Sergeant fighting in Italy during WWII, Barfoot was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 23, 1944. Here is the writeup:

http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2625/barfoot-van-t.php

More recently, Col. Barfoot waged another heroic campaign, when he flew our nation's flag from a flagpole in front of his house. His neighborhood HOA threatened to sue him for the display, until outcry from the public and local lawmakers shamed them into submission.

Col. Barfoot flew that flag in his front yard until just a few days before his passing.

Godspeed, Colonel ...

Milestone Apache

AH-64D 03-5394, currently assigned to the 1/227th ATTACK, became the first Apache Longbow to surpass 10,000 flight hours. The event occurred during the unit's deployment to Afghanistan.

Info and Photo via Outlaw13.

Good Luck, Soldiers ... Stay Safe

Outlaw's Last Flight

Good Friend Outlaw13 recently took his last flight in the US Army. Outlaw has been in the Army for 23 years, flying Hueys and Apaches. He has spent about 6 of those years deployed overseas. 4 deployments of a year or longer to combat zones (3 times in Iraq, one in an 'undeclared war') and a year spent in Korea on the front lines of the Cold War.




His last flight was at home, in the bright sun on a beautiful Central Texas afternoon. He and his gunner gave me my own private airshow on a small hilltop just south of the airfield complex at Ft. Hood. This was only the second time I had seen him fly - the first was watching him blow over a string of porta-potties while landing a Huey (completely accidental, I can almost assure you).





As I stood on the hilltop with one of his fellow pilots, I was awed by the aircraft and what he did with it. I have seen hundreds of Outlaw's pictures of Apaches in action, but until you see one up (very) close flying around pointing its gun at you, you just do not have an appreciation for what it brings to the table in conflict. Jim, the pilot who was on the groud with me, remarked that it was the first time he had seen the Apache from that perspective, he now saw why the good guys on the ground were so happy when the Apaches showed up to support them, and why the bad guys crapped themselves and ran away.



Upon landing, the base fire trucks gave him the traditional Crossed Sabers tribute with their water cannons as he taxied back in. They then hosed him down as he walked back to the hangar, where a group of his peers then doused him with warm champagne and a Corona. Traditional fanfare for the last flight of a long time aviator in military service.


I have been priviledged to know Outlaw since before he put on the green uniform. I am proud to call him friend. I am convinced that our country has been safer with him in the cockpit than it would have been without him. Likewise, I am convinced his fellow soldiers have been safer with him looking after them.

Three American Heroes

Vernon Baker passed away at his home this past Tuesday in Idaho, at the age of 90. Lt. Baker received the Medal of Honor for actions against the Germans on an Italian hilltop on April 5, 1945. He was cited for wiping out four machine gun nests while leading his platoon through a maze of bunkers and gun emplacements. He was assigned to the 92nd Infantry Division.

Lt. Baker received his Medal of Honor on Jan. 13, 1997 from President Clinton at the White House, in a ceremony that honored 7 soldiers with the Medal of Honor long after their displays of heroism. All 7 were black. Lt. Baker was the only one who was still alive at the time of the ceemony.

Godspeed, Lt. Baker ....

Army Specialist Jerrod Osborne, a resident of Rockwall TX, was an Army medic serving in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Bronze Star for actions this past May for saving lives in the aftermath of a IED explosion. He was later awarded the Purple Heart. He served with the 82nd Airborne.

Jerrod Osborne, age 20, died in another IED explosion in Afghanistan on July 5.

Thank you, Spc. Osborne, for your service and sacrifice for our country ...

Staff Sergeant Zackary Filip, of Denton TX (the town where I grew up), has been named the Army Times' Soldier of the Year for 2010. The medic has served in Afghanistan. He was at the Ft. Hood Readiness Center this past November when an Islamic terrorist attacked. He is credited with saving the life of the civilian police officer who shot the terrorist, and for treating multiple other victims of the attack.

Thank you SSgt. Filip , for your service to our country...

An American Hero Passes

A genuine American hero will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetary today. Col. Robert L. Howard (USA-Ret) passed away at the age of 70.

Col. Howard was thought to be the most decorated living American soldier. A member of the Army's Special Forces (Green Berets) during the Vietnam war, he was wounded 13 times during his five tours (54 months) in SEA. He was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor 3 times during a 13 month period. President Nixon awarded him the medal in 1971.

His awards include the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and 8 Purple Hearts.

Col. Howard retired from the Army in 1992.

Godspeed, Colonel ...

Information courtesy Michael Yon On-Line

Remembering Two Heroes - Forwarded

Here is a Feb. 2 post from threedonia by Outlaw13, remembering two friends who gave their lives in defense of their country ...

"Three years ago, two members of my unit were lost while flying a combat mission in Iraq. Caught in an ADA ambush with an aircraft so damaged that by 'the book', they should have landed right there, they chose to fight their attackers. Ultimately Keith and Jason's aircraft finally succumbed to its damage and fell to earth taking our friends with it. We will never forget CW4 Keith Yoakum and CW2 jason DeFrinn.

When we finally meet them at Fiddler's Green, I'm sure they will have a cold one and some stories for us. Till then, Garryowen!

For an Army Times story about that day go HERE."

Two brave Americans gave their lives in defense of their country that day. They could have saved themselves, but chose to continue to fight to defend their comrades. True heroes ... Go to the link, and honor them by reading about their sacrifice.

A Hero Passes ....

Joseph B. Duncan passed away on December 20 at his Texas home, at the age of 63.

As a Captain in the US Army, he flew OH-6 Loach scout and AH-1 Cobra gunship helicopters with the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam in the 1969 time frame.

Capt. Duncan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, and 37 Air Medals in recognition of his efforts in Vietnam.

Capt. Duncan will be buried at the DFW National Cemetary on Jan. 22.

Godspeed Captain Duncan ... thank you for your service to our country.