Deadly Afghan battle results in 11 Silver Stars
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Apr 12, 2009 8:56:28 EDT
Just days before the end of a punishing 15-month tour in some of Afghanistan’s toughest terrain, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment faced their deadliest battle yet.
On July 13, 2008, about 45 Americans and 24 Afghan soldiers battled up to 200 enemy fighters determined to overrun the newly established Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler and Observation Post Top Side, nestled in the village of Wanat in the Waygul Valley of Konar province.
When the fighting stopped, nine paratroopers were dead and 27 were wounded.
For their actions on that day, 11 soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, received Silver Stars, the third highest award for valor. An additional 17 received Bronze Star Medals with V device and 25 received Army Commendation Medals with V device.
On March 30, two of the Silver Star recipients, Capt. Matt Myer and Sgt. Michael Denton, were honored at Fort Benning, Ga., where both are now assigned.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/04/army_silverstars_041209w/
Showing posts with label Vicenza Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vicenza Italy. Show all posts
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Italy:300 soldiers put up in hotels due to no room on base
Full barracks in Vicenza means hotels for troop
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, June 20, 2007
VICENZA, Italy — Roughly 300 single soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team returning to Vicenza from Afghanistan will be housed in local hotels because the base does not have enough barracks rooms.
Most of those destined for the hotels are soldiers slated to transfer from Vicenza to other duty stations within the next 90 to 120 days, according to 1st Sgt. Richard Howell, the brigade’s Vicenza rear detachment noncommissioned officer in charge. Others are soldiers who reported with the unit shortly before they deployed to Afghanistan 15 months ago, and had yet to find a place to live.
The unit, when it deployed, was at 100 percent staffing, said Lt. Col. Todd Johnston, the 173rd rear detachment commander. It’s now overmanned for several reasons:
Those slated for a Permanent Change of Station must stay with the unit for a minimum of three months because of an Army policy to not move them too soon after they return from a combat zone.
Soldiers slated to replace those who are PCSing already are here.
Some soldiers were affected by the Army’s stop-loss program, keeping them on active duty beyond the date they set to leave the Army.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55659
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, June 20, 2007
VICENZA, Italy — Roughly 300 single soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team returning to Vicenza from Afghanistan will be housed in local hotels because the base does not have enough barracks rooms.
Most of those destined for the hotels are soldiers slated to transfer from Vicenza to other duty stations within the next 90 to 120 days, according to 1st Sgt. Richard Howell, the brigade’s Vicenza rear detachment noncommissioned officer in charge. Others are soldiers who reported with the unit shortly before they deployed to Afghanistan 15 months ago, and had yet to find a place to live.
The unit, when it deployed, was at 100 percent staffing, said Lt. Col. Todd Johnston, the 173rd rear detachment commander. It’s now overmanned for several reasons:
Those slated for a Permanent Change of Station must stay with the unit for a minimum of three months because of an Army policy to not move them too soon after they return from a combat zone.
Soldiers slated to replace those who are PCSing already are here.
Some soldiers were affected by the Army’s stop-loss program, keeping them on active duty beyond the date they set to leave the Army.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55659
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