Currahees Head Home

The first 506th Infantry Regiment redeployment flight from Afghanistan landed in CONUS on 28 February, at about 0940 to a roaring celebration of Currahee family and friends. All returning troops will go undergo a seven day reintegration period and then be sent on leave. Soldiers from our Regiment will continue to redeploy throughout the month of March.

Battlin’ Bastards of Bravo

B Company 1/506 1969-1970 News from "Baron" and "Jockstrap". Hopefully, you have had a chance to read the January 2009 Currahee Newsletter and see the invitation to Fort Campbell Reunion by the current active duty.

Last year at our first Reunion, WE HAD A BALL! And this year, we already have more confirmed attendees than last year. Updated information about the Association reunion can be found on the 506th Association's web site. Company B has decided to stay at a different hotel (more amenities but more expensive) within 2 miles of the Association hotel. Stay where you want to, BUT COME TO FT. CAMPBELL, May 27-30 (or any part of that time)

Our attendance roster as of 1 March is:

Name Platoon Comments
Arlie Enis HQ CO
Harold Ericksen HQ CO “Viking”
Lee Sullivan HQ CO “Baron”
Herb Nellen HQ
Pete Falco 1st Plt Ldr “Jockstrap”
Pete Ancona 1st “Brooklyn”
Hank Bow 1st “Hound dog”
Sam Brown 1st
Bob Haberle 1st “Ragman”
Mike Galvin 1st
Danny Mitchell 1st “Mad dog”
Mike Steuhm 1st “Head Beagle”
Mike Turner 1st “White Winged Warrior”
Giz Wyman 1st
Ed McCrystal 2nd Plt Ldr “Bluechip”
Mike Bookser 2nd “2 Mike Mike”
Rick Farris 2nd
Frank Foronda 2nd “Walrus”
Marcos Gomez 2nd
(Rebecca) Harshman 2nd (“Sgt Rock” Russ' wife)
Chuck Choney 3rd Plt Ldr “Commanche”
Gerry Hoffman 3rd

The Company B website has more info about our plans, but the short version is;

26/27 May (Tues/Wed); Initial arrivals, EVERYONE INVITED!
28 May (Thurs); Welcome ceremony @ Ft. Campbell (Static displays, tours, BBQ, evening concert)

29 May (Fri); Golf, Memorial service run by 506th Association (daytime)
Company B “dinner/social” (just us!) (evening)

30 May (Sat); 506th Regimental ball in Nashville, TN (evening)
Company B “get-together” at the hotel (evening, til ?)

31 May (Sun); Brunch and last one out, shut the lights until REUNION III

If you have questions, we have answers!
B Company 1/506 Reunion II committee,
Lee Sullivan sulli066@verizon.net
Pete Falco falcopf@yahoo.com
Mike Bookser mbookser@earthlink.net

CURRAHEE! CURRAHEE! CURRAHEE! CURRAHEE!

Charlie Company, 1st Bn / Currahee Rendezvous 2009

This message was sent out earlier today by email to Currahees of Charlie Company, 1st Bn regarding the upcoming Currahee Rendezvous 2009 [May 28 - 30]:

My Fellow Currahees:

By now you all had a chance to read the January 2009 Currahee Newsletter and see the invite to Fort Campbell by the current active duty.

So, am I going to see you in May or not??? Updated information about it can be found up on the 506th Association's web site at Reunion information where you will find hotel info, schedule of events, maps and directions.

I've been in contact with some of the guys and below is a list of them and their response about attending:

Name	Platoon	Comments
Bowman, Larry	3rd	Will Be There
Wisenski, Joe	3rd	Will Be There
Marini, Mike (Doc)	3rd	Will Try
Cress, Mike	3rd	Will Be There
Hoag, Kevin	3rd	Will Be There
Howard, Tex	3rd	Will Be There
Butler, Jim	3rd	Will Try
Canter, Dave	1st	Will Be There
Zeyen, Joe	3rd	Will Be There
Pace, Bill	2nd	Will Be There
Miller, Nick (Doc)	2nd	Will Try
Barnum, Bill	2nd	Will Try
Lamb, Charlie	3rd	Will Be There
Romans, Gary	3rd	Will Be There
Worrell, Kyle	2nd	Will Be There
Bickerton, Brise	1st	I Not Know Yet
Keilholtz, Wayne	3rd	I Not Know Yet
Becker, Allan	CO	I Not Know Yet
Brewer, Dennis	CO	Will be away in May.

HEY! Let's hear from more of you guys who served in the other Platoon, we do not want this to be just a gathering of 3rd Platoon Currahee.

Let me hear from more of you. Let's use this as a opportunity to reconnect once again with those whom you shared so much [water, c-rations and sometimes a foxhole.]

So long for now.

Currahee,

Gene Overton - [C 1/506th - 1967 / 1968]

Squad Leader - 3rd Squad, 3rd Platoon

PLT SGT - 3rd Platoon

Young racer screams around track in honor of 101st

Jan 16, 2009 BY Nondice Powell -- Fort Campbell Courier
12-year-old Travis Benson poses for photographs after an Aug. 2, 2008 win at Houston MotorSports Park. Benson drives the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) themed Bandolero car in honor of his Grandfather Rondal Bensons. His grandfather served as a Screaming Eagle from 1958 to 1959. Photo by courtesy photo

A little camouflage car with the 101st Airborne Division patch screams around the track, leaving competitors fighting to keep up. Behind the wheel of this Bandolero car is 12-year-old Travis Benson.

Travis and his father Dale Benson decided to adorn his car in camouflage and with the Screaming Eagle to honor Ronald Benson, Travis' grandfather and Dale's dad, for his service. Ronald served as an infantry Soldier with the 101st from 1958 to 1959. He was drafted in 1957.

"I was a machine gunner with Company C 506 Battle Group," said Ronald. "I thought it was great."

Dale grew up listening to stories of his father's time with the 101st and watching John Wayne Army movies. He wanted to do something while his father is still alive to pay tribute and to thank someone he feels is a great man.
Read the whole story.

Ripcord Author Dies

Keith William Nolan died on February 19, 2009 of cancer, he was 44 years old. Keith Nolan is the author of the book "Ripcord, Screaming Eagles Under Seige, Vietnam 1970" an American military historian he focused on the various campaigns of the Vietnam War. He was born in Webster Groves, Missouri; his father was a junior college history instructor who was also a Marine veteran. Nolan obtained a history degree from Webster University.

Fort Campbell to get more than $100 million

The Associated Press
Friday Feb 20, 2009

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Military officials say Fort Campbell will receive $103 million from President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package.

Fort Campbell’s director of public works, Ted Reese, says $43 million of the money will go toward completing a facility to aid soldiers injured in combat.

Reese says another $60 million will be used to replace World War II-era buildings on the sprawling military post on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

The announcement came Friday during a groundbreaking ceremony for a new wounded soldiers assistance center at the military post.

Joint Chiefs chairman to visit Fort Campbell

The Associated Press
Wednesday Feb 18, 2009

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is making his first visit to Fort Campbell this week.

Adm. Mike Mullen will be at the Army post on the Kentucky-Tennessee border on Thursday and Friday to meet with soldiers and attend a groundbreaking.

Mullen will hold a town hall meeting with soldiers on Thursday and headline the groundbreaking for the Soldier and Family Assistance Center on Friday.

Mullen was sworn in as the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in October 2007.

Help for a Wounded Currahee

SPC Ryan Price (D Co, 2nd BN, 506th) was severely wounded on 05/07/08 while serving in Afghanistan. He lost both legs and incurred other injuries. Friends are trying to help the family cover the cost of adding a room for Ryan onto the family home in Nuevo, CA. Help is needed in the following areas:
- donated skilled labor
- donated building materials
- monetary donations
Information on how to donate to this project can be found on the Help for a Wounded Soldier web page.

Ex-inmate turned al-Qaida leader surrenders

By Ahmed Al-Haj - The Associated Press
Tuesday Feb 17, 2009

SAN’A, Yemen — A former Saudi Guantanamo Bay detainee who later went to Yemen to become an al-Qaida field commander has surrendered and was handed over to Saudi authorities on Tuesday, Yemen’s Interior Ministry said.

Abu al-Hareth Muhammad al-Oufi was one of two Saudi ex-Guantanamo detainees who re-emerged as al-Qaida operatives last month in a militant video released a day after President Barack Obama signed an executive order directing the closure of the prison at the U.S. naval base in Cuba within a year. Saudi Arabia also named al-Oufi on a recently released list of 85 most-wanted men who had fled abroad.
Read the whole story

Alleged Army faker to retire from college post

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 13, 2009 21:57:57 EST

CARBONDALE, Ill. — An administrator at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale who is accused of lying about his military record will retire next month.

The university said in a statement Friday that Jim Scales cited health and personal reasons for his March 1 departure as the school’s director of career services.

Scales is accused of falsely claiming he completed two tours in Vietnam and served in Bosnia, Honduras, Panama, the Persian Gulf and Iraq while in the Army. He also reportedly said he received three Purple Hearts.

Army Human Resources Command says none of those claims is true. Lying about receiving certain military awards is a federal offense.

Scales told the university he plans to use vacation days and won’t return to work.
Link to Previous Post Stolen Valor

First Tomb Badge recipient laid to rest

ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, Feb. 11, 2009) -- The first recipient of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery Wednesday, a mere hundred yards south of the tomb he guarded in life.

Retired Master Sgt. William Daniel served as a tomb sentinel and sergeant of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from February 1957 to June 1960. He was there May 30, 1958, when the unknowns from World War II and the Korean War were interred there.
Read the whole story.

1st LT Brian Brennan to be honored

The Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 16 in Monmouth Freehold, New Jersey are recognizing Currahee 1st LT. Brian Brennan as Irishman of the Year. LT Brennan D 2/506 was severely injured on May 7, 2008 from an IED attack, while leading a patrol in Sabari District, Khost, Afghanistan.

LT Brennan had been in Afghanistan for only two months when an IED exploded under the Humvee that he and four other men were traveling in. Brian and the gunner, Spc. Ryan Price of California, were the only ones to survive. However, they suffered similar fates.

LT Brennan was found in cardiac arrest. If not for the quick response of his fellow soldiers, his story might have a different ending. LT Brennan was transferred to a field hospital, where it was found that he had sustained an acute brain injury, a collapsed lung, internal bleeding, a ruptured spleen, multiple compound fractures of his left arm, and a shattered femur bone. In addition, both of Brian’s legs had to be amputated.

The event is to be held Saturday February 28, 2009 7-11pm at St Thomas More Parish Hall, 186 Gordons Corner Road Manalapan NJ. For information and tickets Call
732-740-6821 – 732-740-3175 For more information on LT Brennan visit 1st LT Brian Brennan Stands Alone Trust
Read more about LT. Brennan inthe Charleston News

Year of the NCO: Retired NCOs remember

The Year of the Noncommissioned Officer is well underway and NCOs are being honored Army-wide, but Fort Myer Military Community Command Sgt. Maj. Jefferson Varner III wants to ensure that the year-long celebration of enlisted leaders isn't limited to those currently serving. Read More...

Read more about The Year of the Noncommissioned Officer

Plan for hiring vets tacked on stimulus bill

The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 6, 2009 17:35:47 EST

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An amendment worked into the national economic stimulus bill would expand tax incentives to employers who hire veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said the measure is needed because the current generation of soldiers and sailors are returning home after military discharge to find a shrinking work force.

The amendment was approved Friday as the Senate worked on the recovery package. The measure would apply to veterans who are discharged from September 2001 through December 2010.

To qualify for the tax credit, employers would need to hire a post-9/11 veteran who has received unemployment benefits for at least four weeks within the past year. The veteran would need to work at least 120 hours for the employer to be eligible.

$3.6 billion hike urged for VA health care

By Rick Maze - Staff writer Army Times
Posted : Friday Feb 6, 2009 15:11:06 EST

Four leading veterans groups called Friday for a $4.5 billion increase in veterans programs, including $3.6 billion for health care.

This is an even bigger increase than the groups asked for a year ago, and puts added pressure on President Barack Obama to keep campaign promises for full funding of Veterans Affairs Department programs.

The increase, which would result in a $54.6 billion discretionary VA budget, comes in the so-called “independent budget” prepared each year by AmVets, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The $54.6 billion budget includes health care, administrative and construction funds and some costs related to the administration of benefits, but not the costs of the benefits themselves.
Read the whole story.

Stolen Valor

A Southern Illinois University administrator who told the student newspaper vivid stories of his heroism during the Vietnam War has been accused of lying about his military record. - St. Louis By Jim Suhr - The Associated PressPosted
Link to follow up story

Currahee Funeral

CPL Charles P. Gaffney, 2/506, who was killed in Afghanistan on 24 Dec 2008, will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Tues, 3 Feb. His funeral will be in the Old Chapel of Ft. Myer beginning at 8:45 AM. More information about him and his service is at the Arlington National Cemetery web site http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cpgaffneyjr.htm