SPC Frank Eckrode, Jr. 173rd, 2-503 Battle Company Awarded ARCOM with V Device for Valor
April 28, 2008
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 forward 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.
Posted at From Cow Pastures to Kosovo
SSG Kevin Rice 173rd (INF) Airborne, Battle Co, 2-503 Recovers From Wounds & Returns to the KOP
April 23, 2008
Operation Rock Avalanche took place October 19-25, 2007 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. It was a mission that called on multiple Companies of the 173rd Brigade. They were looking for foreign insurgents lead by, and including, an Eygptian named Abu Ikhlas. The mission required the Sky Soldiers to hike up and down the Hindu Kush Mountains on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan; lumbering for hours and days under the weight of body armor, weapons and supplies at altitudes over 7500 feet.
On October 23, 2007 a group of the Sky Soldiers were ambushed by Taliban fighters. SSG Larry Rougle was killed in that attack. He was on his fifth deployment. SSG Kevin Rice and SPC Carl Vandenberg were wounded. SSG Rice was shot in the stomach. SPC Vandenberg’s wound was to his arm. After the fighting subsided the two wounded men walked for several hours down the rugged and unforgiving mountains to safety. SSG Rice was medivaced from the AO due to the severity of his wounds.
Recently SSG Rice returned to Afghanistan to rejoin his men. What an inspiration, what a great leader.
