While the Blaskowskis were in Saute Ste Marie, Michigan at a fund rasier we (kev, Uncle Jimbo and I) had the most wonderful evening in Madison last Saturday night (19 July 2008).  We met some fantastic people and raised money for the Welcome Home party for the 2/503.  kev won’t tell me yet how much we raised because he is still raffling off items at local bars around town and soliciting donations.  What a guy!  I love you kev!

The following businesses and individuals in Madison, WI really stepped up to the plate to help out:

UPDATE - We’re still about $30,000 short of our goal for the Welcome Home Celebration for the 2/503.  You can make a tax deductible donation via paypal here.  Or you can mail a tax deductible donation to:

Dave Melancon, U.S. Army Europe Public Affairs Office

VICENZA, Italy — July has been a month of homecomings for Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team as they return here from a 15-month deployment in Afghanistan.

Spc. Jesse A. Murphree of Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), reversed that Afghanistan to Italy airflow July 22 when he traveled from the United States to rejoin his unit as they arrived at Aviano Air Base, Italy.

The “Rock Battalion” infantryman was among the first to greet the approximately 400 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd ABCT and the 503rd’s 1st and 2nd Battalions, on the air base flight line.

He shook their hands while standing on two artificial legs, steadying himself with a cane.

Murphree, 22, served as a gunner on an up-armored Humvee. His platoon was overwatching another platoon during a mounted patrol in the Korengal Valley, near Ali Abad, Afghanistan, two days after Christmas 2007. As his convoy was preparing to move, his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

Murphree said he has few memories of the explosion. He lost his legs below his knees and suffered minor burns in the incident. Two other Soldiers were also injured in the attack.

Medically evacuated from Afghanistan, he arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Dec. 30.

“I was hit on the 27th and woke up in Walter Reed on New Year’s Day,” he said as he awaited the first of two aircraft bringing his comrades home.

Murphree arrived in Italy July 20 and said he plans to stay until the first week of August to welcome the remaining 173rd Soldiers. Upon arrival at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, he was greeted by other Destined Company Soldiers, including his former platoon and section sergeants and two other Soldiers who were wounded in earlier incidents.

“I was looking forward to that feeling you get when you see everyone all happy because they just got done with a deployment. I came back for that feeling,” he said. “I’ve always been thinking about what is going on and worrying. I definitely miss being around all of the guys.”

He is staying in the Caserma Ederle Warrior Transition Unit quarters.

“It is pretty hooked up,” Murphree said of his lodging at the WTU. “They are accessible; there are ramps and a shower that works for me.”

Murphree says this is the longest trip he has taken since arriving at Walter Reed. He has made three other three-day trips in that time — to his hometown in Colorado, a Texas fishing trip hosted by the 173d Airborne Brigade Association, and a Memorial Day celebration in Pennsylvania.

He said he continues his routine of frequent stretching exercises and walking on his prosthetic legs here, adding that his two-week stay in Italy does not interfere with his treatment. In fact he says it’s a plus.

“This is actually better for me,” Murphree explained. “That’s pretty much what I am doing here. I am walking around a lot. Being on my legs is doing more than therapy would do.”

“I’m well past the critical stage of therapy,” he said. “You have to keep your core strength up. You have to build tolerance and confidence in your legs.”

The reunion night’s agenda included going into town with friends and around the Vicenza military community, he said. “We’ll have some drinks and stuff, go hang out and have a good time.”

Later plans include returning to Vicenza in September for the 173rd’s formal welcome-home ceremony and celebration, he said.

Murphree, who is still on active duty, said he will continue his treatment at Walter Reed while undergoing the Medical Evaluation Board process. He expects to be medically retired from the Army in February 2009.

“You can never predict how long you are going to be there, because there are always bumps in the road,” he said.

He said he is considering attending college and studying counterterrorism, English or public speaking, and possibly psychology. Plans also include taking up competitive mono-skiing, a sport that resembles snowboarding.

Murphree’s return to Italy, where he spent his first and only Army assignment, is an inspiration and strength for all 173rd ABCT Soldiers and the Vicenza military community, said Capt. Matthew J. Heimerle, the 2-503rd rear detachment commander.

“To see him in person lifts everybody’s spirit,” he said. “Murphree will never quit on his ambitions and goals and will forever be a source of inspiration for the Soldiers of the Battalion.”

Heimerle said there were no difficulties in arranging for Murphree’s reunion. Community and battalion leaders cleared the visit with doctors at Walter Reed and ensured there was a place for him to stay in the community and that his medical needs were met.

“This has been an extremely tough deployment for all in this battalion,” Heimerle said. “Every one of us has lost close, close friends, and to see someone like Murphree get hurt the way he did and recover the way he has, and will continue to do, gives everyone a huge morale boost.”

“To me his attitude, motivation, and character epitomize the young Soldiers that are in today’s Army and it also reflects our core Army values,” he said. “Guys like Murphree are the ones that should be talked about in the news.”

“It was good to see that he is alright,” said Sgt. Nathan Thomas, the emergency medical technician who treated Murphree in the Korengal Valley.

It’s also good for Murphree to see his friends, Thomas added. “He has been in Walter Reed for so long,” the medic said.

The entire Destined Company — especially his friends — are boosting Murphree’s morale, Thomas said.

“I’m not helping him. We are helping him,” Thomas said. “This is our little band of brothers sticking together.”

Scout team members Spc. Mitchell Raeon and Spc. Jay Liske, who witnessed the explosion, said they plan to get together with Murphree during his visit.

“He looked good,” Raeon said. “We have not seen him in about 10 months, so we did not know what to expect.”

“I can’t wait to drink a beer with him tonight,” added Liske.

“It’s been incredible to see my buddies come back. It is one of the feelings I’ve been waiting for,” Murphree said as 18 busloads of Soldiers pulled away from the flight line for the two-hour ride from Aviano to Vicenza. “You sit there at the hospital and you think constantly about your guys and what is going on. And when you finally get to see them and you know that they are OK, it is definitely awesome.”

Silver Stars - 6

Bronze Stars with Valor - 48

ARCOMs with Valor - over 140

Purple Hearts - 98

SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL:

More than 150 other awards for valor have been submitted for approval — including two for the Medal of Honor, three of for the Distinguished Service Cross and three more for Silver Stars.

And 950 engagements with the enemy in the past 14 months.

From Stars and Stripes

By Kent Harris, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Sunday, June 29, 2008

“Just fine,” in this case, might be an understatement.

Major KUDOS to the people of Cheboygan and northern Michigan for participating in a very successful fund raiser on July 3rd. 

NOTE:  If you are in the Madison, WI or Sault Ste Marie, MI areas there will be fund raisers held in those locations on July 19, 2008.  Details will be posted here soon.

From 9and10 News Cheboygan, MI.

From Cheboygan to Afghanistan With Love
Posted: 7/3/2008

Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski lost their son Matt last September during the war in Afghanistan. His unit is based in Italy and will return there after a year of fighting.

“There’s a lot of young soldiers over there that don’t have families,” said Cheryl Blaskowski. “We want to make sure they know how many people care about them.”

In Cheboygan on Thursday night the Blaskowskis held one a in a series of fundraisers. They are trying to collect more than $100,000 to welcome the troops back to their base.

9&10’s Michael Kasiborski and photojournalist Bridgette Pacholka have more from the fundraiser here. Then click on the “Watch Video” link on the left.  The video is fantastic! 

View from the Ranch House, Aranus, Waygal Valley Afghanistan

Justin was wounded at the battle at the Ranch House near Aranus, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on August 22, 2007. I wrote about another of the 25 Sky Soldiers, Sgt Kyle Dirkintis who was in that battle. He, too, was wounded and was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device for his actions that day. On the morning of August 22, 2007 the Sky Soldiers were attacked from all sides by a company size insurgent force. The battle raged on for an estimated three hours. Air support was called in to strafe the areas from which the insurgents were attacking. When the Battle at the Ranch House was over 11 of the 25 Sky Soldiers had sustained wounds but none, thankfully, had been killed.

I have never met Sgt Jesse Murphree but have heard and read many stories about him. Jesse was so severely wounded in an IED attack on December 28,2007 that both of his legs were amputated. In this story you will read that Jesse, an avid snowboarded prior to joining the Army, still has many of the same goals in life with respect to his love of skiing. He’s just altering the methods and his pathways to realize his dreams of competitive skiing. What an inspiration!

You can read more about these great Warriors here, here and here. I don’t think I have to tell anyone who has been reading this blog how much it angers me (because so many Americans either don’t care or are completely ignorant) to read Sgt Murphee’s words from “Afghanistan: It’s a Battle” by John Rutherford“:

Every day we were getting shot at,” he said in an interview after receiving his Purple Heart on Friday. “And you hear about other people in Iraq, they got shot at a couple of times. We’re like, we’ve been shot at every day.

“You start thinking you’re fighting a forgotten war, like no one’s paying attention. I went home on R&R before I got hurt and people were coming up to me, they’re like, at least you’re not in Iraq and stuff, and I was looking at them, and I was like, what? And they’d say, you don’t do, they called it battle, they’re like, you don’t do battle anymore? And I’m like, are you kidding me? Like, yeah, I do,” Spc. Murphree said.

NONE of our Brave Warriors must ever feel forgotten. NONE OF THEM! No, Sgt. Murphree, you and all of the Soldiers, Marines, Airman and Sailors in Afghanistan are NOT and will NOT be forgotten. We think of you, appreciate you and support you EVERY day.

There’s more detail in the letter below from Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski but we are just asking everyone to take an envelope to work, church, civic meetings, local base ball games, the bowling alley, local pubs, etc and ask everyone to toss in a dollar or two or five. The drop the envelope in the mail to the address below. Together we CAN do this. And as we all know it’s really the least we can do to thank these Soldiers for all they have given on our behalf.

So now I give you Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski:

Patriotism: “What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times?… (A) sense of national responsibility… a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but a tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” – President Abraham Lincoln

We would like to thank the people of Northern Michigan for their support and encouragement during the difficult period of the past six months since the tragedy of Matthew’s death.

The communities that have shown support have been a real blessing to us and our extended families and friends. Words do NO justice for our gratitude.

In the past, when Matthew left for deployment, the only thing to bring peace in our hearts was to think about his safe return. We know that won’t be happening now. However, Matthew and us have an extended family that reaches far beyond this place.

We recently learned that there are no plans for any welcome home celebrations for the 173^rd, 2-503 Army Airborne Battalion when they return to their home base at Camp Ederle in Vicenza Italy after at least 15 months in Afghanistan, where they lived and fought in horrendous conditions. There is not a local American community in Italy to step up and put on a Heroes welcome for them, as so many would do here in the states. Very few of the soldiers will be returning to family or loved ones there in Italy. By far the majority of soldiers are single, with no family to welcome them back or home support to assist them in transitioning from war and death to peace and recuperation.

Cheryl and I, together with others, have been supporting the 173^rd 2-503 Battalion troops, who continue to endure a tenacious tour of duty in Afghanistan that is not yet over, are asking that you join us in raising funds for a proper WELCOME HOME CELEBRATION when they arrive back in Italy. There will be approximately 2000 troops returning and we believe a GRAND CELEBRATION is well deserved. We would love to have banners flying there to show the support from communities throughout this nation in honor of our Sky Soldiers returning as well in memory of our Sky Angels of the 173^rd Airborne Brigade.

If we all pitch in, it is no great sacrifice for a few. A minimum of $125,000, is a small amount to do so much for so many soldiers when raised by communities all around the U. S. of A.. It is hard to imagine the transition of so many Sky Soldiers who, we are sure, think it is “JUST THEIR JOB”.

Please join us in donating for the WELCOME HOME CELEBRATION for the 173^rd 2-503 SKY SOLDIERS.

Checks can also be made payable to: 173^rd Sky Angels Fund. The funds (100%) will be reserved for that purpose only (Sky Angels are our fallen soldiers of the 173^rd Airborne).

Please mail all checks to: 173^rd Sky Angels Fund

c/o Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski

PO BOX 164

CHEBOYGAN MI 49721

If you have any questions do not hesitate to call us at 231-627-9732, 231-818-2560 or email us at candtb@triton.net .

To read about support that many great Americans have been joining together to provide to these soldiers go to www.tankerbabelc985.vox.com . Leta Carruth (she adopted Matt’s platoon and sent so much support to them) has been a driving force in providing support to our troops in Afghanistan.

With much gratitude,

SFC Matthew Blaskowski - KIA 23 Sept 07 - Fire Base Vegas

Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski and family

Parents of SFC Matthew Blaskowski

Platoon Leader, Battle Company 1^st Platoon

KIA 23 September 2007, FOB Vegas, Afghanistan

Written by Leta Carruth

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.

SPC Frank Eckrode, Jr

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

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.