memorial day raffle

[richardhead84]

"Ozzie 76" UH-60L Tail Number 9326517 Went down inserting some navy seals 21 SEP 2010. I lost five of my brothers that day LTC Robert Baldwin, CW3 Matthew Wagstaff, CW2 Jonah McClellan, SSG Josh Powell, SGT Marvin Calhoun. I wasn't on this mission but new something was up when the company was called in to the CP and my Platoon Sergeant asked me and my good friend to close out the log books for the other aircraft. We immediately noticed that "517's" book wasnt part of the pile to close out. We hoped for the best and when the commander finally came in he announced that Ozzie 76 had gone down and all were lost. It was hard to hear. One thing that sticks out in my mind today is we were trying to identify whose bags were whose (they were left behind at another base while they went off to do the mission) and I remember unzipping a bag to try and find a name, It was LTC Baldwins bag and his towel was still wet... for some reason that has stuck with me. Later that day we loaded our brothers in their flag draped coffins on to the C-17 for their last flight home. Some of the best aviators I had the privilege to crew with were lost that day.

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

"Ozzie 76" UH-60L Tail Number 9326517 Went down inserting some navy seals 21 SEP 2010. I lost five of my brothers that day LTC Robert Baldwin, CW3 Matthew Wagstaff, CW2 Jonah McClellan, SSG Josh Powell, SGT Marvin Calhoun. I wasn't on this mission but new something was up when the company was called in to the CP and my Platoon Sergeant asked me and my good friend to close out the log books for the other aircraft. We immediately noticed that "517's" book wasnt part of the pile to close out. We hoped for the best and when the commander finally came in he announced that Ozzie 76 had gone down and all were lost. It was hard to hear. One thing that sticks out in my mind today is we were trying to identify whose bags were whose (they were left behind at another base while they went off to do the mission) and I remember unzipping a bag to try and find a name, It was LTC Baldwins bag and his towel was still wet... for some reason that has stuck with me. Later that day we loaded our brothers in their flag draped coffins on to the C-17 for their last flight home. Some of the best aviators I had the privilege to crew with were lost that day.

thank you for posting this. most people dont hear about these stories. they need to be told and remembered.


and bump for more

 

[Yukon Joe]

God bless our troops!

Yukon Joe
www.RUNRAPTORRUN.com

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

bump

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

bump.

 

[Scubasigguy]

While my story is not eligible for the raffle, I will tell it anyway, because it is about a battle that a lot of folks haven't ever heard of.

My great-uncle, Lieutenant John Decker, was one of the Marines that landed on Peleliu on September 1944. He was the platoon leader of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and was known as "Deck" to his fellow marines. Fellow Marine, Lieutenant Bruce Watkins (Platoon leader of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines), described him this way - "a good friend, a died-in-the-wool Texan, who could tell the tallest stories you ever heard."

Deck was killed by a Japanese grenade the night of September 18th, 1944 on Hill 210 on Bloody Nose Ridge, Peleliu. According to Bruce, it landed near his armpit and he never saw it.

He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on the assault on Bloody Nose Ridge.

---

I had the pleasure of writing back and forth with Bruce (who later retired from the Marines as a Captain) several times before he passed away last summer. It was from him that I learned more about my uncle and how he died.

---

Here is a little more info on the assault on Peleliu, which had the highest casualty rate for U.S. military personnel of any battle in the Pacific War.
Battle of Peleliu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce wrote a book, Brothers in Battle, his website has an excerpt here:
Home

Here are a couple of good books that cover Peleliu:
Hallas, James H. - The Devil's Anvil: The Assault on Peleliu
Sledge, Eugene B. - With the Old Breed: At Peleliu And Okinawa

I have been to Peleliu and walked down Orange Beach. My FB picture for this weekend is actually of the memorial setup on the island by the locals. Words can't really describe the feeling of walking the beach and touring the island.

 

[twinturbonium]

Well, it being the day of remembrance. Here are the guys I lost and will never forget.

Jonathan Price, LCPL, USMC on 01/13/2006
Julian Woodall, CPL, USMC on 05/22/2007
Benjamin Desilets, CPL, USMC on 05/22/2007
David Wallace, SGT, USMC on 01/27/2009

Oooraaah devil dogs!

 

[!!!Paintrain!!!]

I am not entering the raffle but I thought I would share in this thread.

Master at Arms Second Class Mark Mayo. United States Navy.

I'm sure most here have heard his story: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80612

Mark is two years younger than I am. I first met him through his older brother who I played Junior football with. In high school, Mark and I wrestled together for Williamsport High School. He was a soft spoke man of few words at the time but had the heart, determination and drive of a lion. He was in the lighter weight classes and was as scrappy as could be.

To the OP, thank you for this thread.

 

[RaptorScrew]

Noah, this was a great idea! Nuf said.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[The Car Stereo Company]

bump