LongIslandGirl’s Blog

Project Valour-IT ~ Support OUR Injured Troops in their Recovery!!! Go TEAM ARMY!

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:39:58 -0500

Project Valour-IT

(formerly Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops)
In memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss

www.deltabravosierra.us

It was the first time I felt whole since I’d woken up wounded in Landstuhl.
–Major Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, on using a voice-controlled laptop

You can make a donation to Valour-IT through Paypal here.

Soldiers' Angels has been designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity by the IRS. Donations are tax-deductible and may be eligible for matching funds from donors' employers (ask your employer).Please include your name, address, phone number and email address with donations by mail. Send your donation by mail to: Soldiers' Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104. Donors may choose to sponsor a wounded soldier currently on the laptop waiting list. All funds received go directly to our wounded troops; 100% of your donation to Project Valour-IT will be used to purchase laptops and other technology that will support recovery and provide independence and freedom to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

www.deltabravosierra.us

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Technology supplied includes:

Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).

Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

The experience of Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops and other technologies can be to a wounded service member's recovery.

Blackfive is once again leading the ARMY team in a friendly competition among the military branches/milbloggers to raise funds for Project Valour IT -http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/10/valourit-fundraiser-on-the-way.html#comments

I have joined the Army team...

Team Leaders

Air Force - Mudville Gazette

Army - Blackfive

Marines - Villainous Company

Navy - USNI Blog

RUN FOR THE WARRIORS~Sunday, November 8th~Lindenhurst NY

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:33:02 -0400

RUN FOR THE WARRIORS™

Sgt Eric Horton, USA displays his tenacious spirit in the 2008 race

Sunday, November 8, 2009 - 9:30am

Leftnav_01

New Location: Town Hall
Town of Babylon
200 East Sunrise Highway
Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Please join us on November 8th at 9:30 a.m. for the 2nd Annual Long Island Run for the Warriors™ sponsored by Local 338. The 1st annual run was such a success that this year it has been expanded, shutting down streets and doubling the distance. With the help of the Town of Babylon, there are three race venues this year: 10k, 5k, and 1 mi fun run/walk. Come run through the street of Babylon (literally!) and support your wounded service members, their families, and the families of the fallen!

Another new feature this year is the First Responders Challenge!

FIRST RESPONDERS CHALLENGE:
We are calling on all fire, police, and other first responders to compete. Prizes will be given to the team that has raised the most donations and also, the team that recruits the highest number of participants. Start your team today… receive a $5 race registration discount for participating as part of a team.
First Responders! Race to support the cause!

TEAM CHALLENGE:
Team Challenge: Friends, co-workers, family members—want to start a competition to see who can get the most participants and raise the most money for Hope For The Warriors™ Sign up and create a team here

If you would to learn about sponsorship opportunities or need more information about this year's event, please contact: Jack Caffey, Jr. - (516) 852-2955

The mission of Hope for the Warriors™ is to enhance quality of life for US Service Members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty. Hope for the Warriors™ actively seeks to ensure that the sacrifices of wounded and fallen warriors and their families are never forgotten nor their needs unmet, particularly with regard to the short and long-term care of the severely injured.

On their own, our service members and their families are awe inspiring in the face of their disabilities and hardships - courageous and resolute. However, it is with the support of a grateful nation that they remain unfaltering in their determination and find hope and purpose beyond recovery. As a united support network, all individuals, whether of great or small means, can find an opportunity to honor those who have willingly sacrificed to defend and protect our freedom. We invite you to take part in the inspirational lives of these young men and women and make it known that they never stand alone.

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Sgt. John M. Penich~JAN 6, 1983-OCT 16, 2008~Never Forget...Viper Co.~Korengal Valley, Afghanistan

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:18:34 -0400

Please open the youtube link in a seperate window and listen to the song as you read about Sgt John Penich~Forever Young, Always Missed, Never Forgotten.....

one blood-terence jay

One Blood

In the far away fires

Where the hills forever burn
At the feet of our heroes
We try hard to learn
But the lesson is lost there
In the smoke and the mud
That we are one flesh, one breath, one life, one blood

I stood by the river
That ran red with shame
I stood in the killing fields
Where death had no name
I stood with my brothers
And away it flood
And we were one flesh, one breath, one life, one blood

Then I fell to the ground
Tasted ashes on my tongue
Thinking that only the dead
Are forever young

There was peace in the twilight
And for a moment among
It was a world without danger
A world without war
And I will take all your suffering
It will do any good
Cause we are one flesh, one breath, one life, one blood

always a smile...

Ft Hood Memorial

Mountain Warfare School

Sgt Penich

Local memorial

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Sgt. John M Penich, U.S. Army, was killed on October 16, 2008 while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. Sgt. Penich was assigned to Viper Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, as a light infantry rifleman. John had enlisted in the Army in March 2006 and was promoted to Sergeant in March 2008.

Sgt. Penich's awards include the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Bronze Star (Posthumous), Purple Heart Medal (Posthumous), the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (third award), Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, the NATO-ISAF Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Sgt. Penich was also awarded the Brigade Soldier of the Year award in 2007.

He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he enriched!! He was a devoted son, brother, uncle, friend, and soldier.

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Richard Engel visits Sgt John Penich's mother on Dec 16 2008-

Report after Viper Co returns home, and the Memorial Poker Run to honor Sgt John M. Penich-

After witnessing the 2001 terror attacks, John M. Penich told his family he wanted to serve his country. But his career took a detour managing a hotel, a banquet hall and then a nightclub before enlisting.

"He kind of ignored his calling and bounced around," said his older brother Jeff Penich. "But he had no regrets of joining the Army. It was a calling to him in 2001, and it didn't catch up with him until later."

Penich, 25, of Beach Park, Ill., died Oct. 16 in Karangol Village of wounds suffered from indirect fire. He was a 2001 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

Penich enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, mountain biking, riding four-wheelers and Harleys, and playing paintball.

When sending care packages to him in Afghanistan, Jeff said his brother used to ask for things for his fellow soldiers.

"It was never 'I would like this.' Never, 'I want this.' It was always, 'What can I get for my guys?' He always put everyone before himself, including his country," Jeff said.

U.S. Army soldier pays his respects at a memorial service for Sgt. John Penich October 23, 2008

By Amanda Kim Stairrett Nov. 14, 2008
Killeen Daily Herald

FORT HOOD – Kathleen Garross spoke to her son, John, several times over one week in mid-October.

"Did you get any new medals?" she asked once.

"Yeah," her son answered. "There should be a big one coming."

"What did you do to earn it?" Garross asked.

"You don't want to know," was the response. "Let me just tell you, I took care of business."

Garross never got to hear from her son just what he did to earn a Silver Star, the third-highest honor given to service members for valor. Sgt. John Penich died Oct. 16 in Karangol Village, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from indirect fire, according to information from the Defense Department.

It wasn't until after his death that Garross learned of her son's heroics. They were heroics that earned him a Silver Star and a Bronze Star Medal with Valor. They were heroics that, on multiple occasions, led Penich to save the lives of his brothers in arms.

Garross and Penich's father, James, received their son's Silver Star on Thursday following a memorial ceremony in his and three others' honor.

Text From the Congressional Record

Mr. John Boozman [R-AR]:

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a brave American soldier who sacrificed his life for freedom, Sergeant John Penich.

Sergeant Penich, by all accounts, was an extraordinary solider whose hard work and determination earned him the title of Soldier of the Year in 2007 for his brigade. His bravery was evident in combat on several occasions. Brigadier General Perry Wiggins has said he knows of three separate instances when Sergeant Penich saved the lives of his comrades.

According to newspaper reports, one of his final acts of bravery came on September 6, 2008, when his patrol was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire. He showed his courage under fire, taking charge and reestablishing security and saving the lives of his platoon members. His heroics on that day earned him a Silver Star, the third highest honor given to members of the armed services for valor.

Five and a half weeks after he earned the Silver Star, he gave the ultimate sacrifice. Sergeant Penich put himself in harm's way to make the world a better place.

His commitment to this country is second to none. He wanted to be an officer, and there's no doubt we would have benefited from this young man's tremendous leadership abilities.

Sergeant John Penich is a true American hero. I ask that my colleagues keep his family and friends in their thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.
END

Penich funeral

The Fallen Soldier

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Saying Good-Bye to Sgt John Penich~Viper Co. 1-26 INF Korengal Valley

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:47:49 -0400

REPOSTED FROM 10-28-08

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Sgt Penich, may he Rest in Peace.

1stPlatoonMemorial

Sgt. John M. Penich, 25, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX, "Viper Company"of the United States Army, from Beach Park, IL, was killed in action on October 16, 2008, while defending his country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. John was born January 6, 1983, in Waukegan, IL. He was a proud soldier and a loving and selfless man. John put everyone before himself. He was highly decorated, including Soldier of the Year 2007 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry, Bronze Star with Valor and Single Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, and had been recommended for the Silver Star.

KOPmemorial

Sgt. Penich lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed hunting, traveling overseas, and taking motorcycle trips. He graduated with honors from Zion-Benton Township High School in 2001.

John is survived by his mother, Kathy ("Dad" Mike) Garross; father, James (Diane) Penich; brothers, Jimmy (Michelle) Penich and Jeff (Nicole) Penich; sister, Crystal (Pete) Barrett; grandparents, Donald (Pat) Weidner and Roger (Barbara) Garross; great-grandmother, Mary Hall; nieces and nephews, Autumn Long, Bryce and Eva Barrett, and Hailey and Hunter Penich; and the love of his life, Sarah Kelley; also surviving are other family, including, Jill Garross, Kim Zabresky, Kim (Chris) Van Beek, Clarissa Van Beek, Dan (Denise) Garross, Cassie and Chloe Garross, Denise (Dave) Balmes, Allie Balmes, Ray Caddell, Michael (Mary) Penich, Michael (Abbey) Penich, Tim Penich; dear friend, Mikey Kitch; and countless other friends and comrades.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Elaine Weidner, Michael Penich Sr. and Jennie Penich; and great-grandparents, Katherine Garross and Ned Hall; and great-great-grandmother, Eva Gallup.

LastRespects

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at Our Lady of Humility Church, 10655 Wadsworth Rd., Beach Park. Interment with military honors will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. Visitation will be Monday, October 27, from 3:00-9:00 p.m. at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL 60099.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Sgt. John M. Penich Memorial Fund: (for the college education of John's nieces and nephews c/o First Midwest Bank, 3303 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL 60099. Please sign the online guest book at www.congdonfuneralhome.com.

Sign the legacy page or condolence page

FinalSalute

SgtPenichMemorial

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Survivors in Afghanistan Need Immediate Help - 56 Soldiers Lost EVERYTHING

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:13:42 -0400

Survivors in Afghanistan Need Immediate Help - 56 Soldiers Lost EVERYTHING

http://tankerbabelc985.vox.com/librar...

Like so many of you my heart has been heavy since the news of the attacks on our posts in Afghanistan on Saturday. The families of the Fallen are first and foremost in my thoughts and prayers. May God give them strength and comfort as they prepare to lay their loved ones to rest and may they always...

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A History Lesson is Needed by the Government in Relation to Afghanistan

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:42:01 -0400

A History Lesson is Needed by the Government in Relation to Afghanistan

http://frank002.vox.com/library/post/...

Although I have only a BS in Liberal Arts as a degree, I was only one course away from having a degree in American History, my focus was American Military history. I was an A student in my history courses with an overall GPA of 3.93, so I know somewhat what I'm talking about (the only thing I didn't...

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Wounded Warriors at Landstuhl Need Our Help

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:37:36 -0400

Wounded Warriors at Landstuhl Need Our Help

http://tankerbabelc985.vox.com/librar...

If you're on Facebook you may have seen a post linking to Soldiers' Angels Germany requesting assistance with items they are in great need of for the Wounded who pass through Landstuhl on their way from the battlefields to hospitals generally in the US. From MaryAnn: You may not be hearing about it...

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Ryan Job, a USN SEAL WIA in Ramadi Iraq on August 2, 2006, dies at age 28 after surgery

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:27:16 -0400

Blinded by a sniper's bullet in Iraq, Ryan Job retained his characteristic determination and persistence. [He was on a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq on Aug. 2, 2006, when a sniper's bullet struck the rifle he was holding in front of his face. Pieces of the shattered weapon tore through his face, severing one eye and damaging the nerves of the other, leaving him completely blind.]

He climbed Mount Rainier, trained for a triathlon and became a spokesman for an organization that helps wounded veterans transition to civilian life.

“This is just something that happened to me,” Job said. “I can’t change it. What are you going to do, stop living? It just made me take a different approach. I had goals and plans that had to change.”

JobRyan

Ryan Job & his guide dog

"He didn't back down from any challenge," said a friend, Tyler Lein, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Ryan Job, who grew up in Issaquah, Washington died Thursday morning, Sept. 24th after major reconstructive surgery at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. He was 28.

Mr. Job's younger brother, Aaron, served three tours of duty in Iraq with the Marines. The Seattle Times profiled the Job family during Aaron Job's deployments in 2003 and 2004.

Ryan Job, left, and his brother, Aaron

A story on Ryan Job, a former (medically retired) Navy SEAL, reaching the summit of Mount Rainier appeared in July 2008. Three combat injured veterans - two blind, one missing his right leg - we are talking about superior performance! All three veterans: Ryan Job, Chad Jukes and Joey Martinez III summited Mt. Rainier. Less than 50% of all climbers make it to the summit of Mt. Rainier. Due to the extraordinary makeup of these vets and their climbing team, the group made the 8-hour grueling climb getting to the summit (14,410 feet). They spent about an hour at the summit, then started their descent about 9 am. and arrived back in Camp Muir at 2:55 pm, for a total climb time of around 12 hours.

Ryan, 2008

Ryan

Camp Patriot Mt. Rainier climb '08, photos by Seacat Photography

His mother, Debbie Job, of Issaquah, said her son had taken on the challenge of blindness with the same strength with which he confronted other challenges in his life.

"He was determined not to be a disabled guy," his mother said Friday by phone from Arizona.

Ryan climbing Mount Rainier

Ryan Job prefered to focus on what he could do. The Issaquah native returned to Washington state this past July on a new mission - help his fellow war wounded conquer Mount Rainier. Photos are on flickr. See the July 2009 interview video clip -http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=377438

Ryan graduated from Jones International University with a 4.0 after he was wounded and was working for General Dynamics in Arizona.

Ryan Job underwent an eight-hour surgery Monday to rebuild his face and repair his eye socket. The recovery seemed to be proceeding smoothly, his mother said, though her son reported some discomfort Wednesday night. A nurse checked on him at 3:30 a.m. Thursday. He was found unresponsive at 5 a.m. She said the hospital had not determined the cause of death.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this," said Debbie Job. "It's a total shock."

Neighbors of the Job family on the Sammamish Plateau recalled Ryan Job as a strong, physically active young man who had been determined to join the elite Navy special-operations force, despite the grueling training regimen. Mr. Job regularly swam across Beaver Lake a few miles from his home and ran for hours before dawn, said Neil Iovino, a neighbor who watched the Job boys grow up.

Trident

"His goal was to be a Navy SEAL and it didn't matter how hard it was," Iovino said.

Sentinels of Freedom AZ - Navy Seal Job

Ryan Job was born in 1981, the eldest of three children. He graduated from Sammamish High School in 1999 and joined the Navy in 2002. Mutual friends in San Diego, where he trained for the SEALs, introduced him to his future wife, Kelly. The couple married in 2007.

2007

Ryan Job was on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006 when a sniper's bullet struck his rifle. Pieces of the shattered weapon tore through his face, destroying one eye and severing the optic nerves of the other. [Ryan Job was wounded on the same mission as Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc Lee, who later died and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star-Read more in the book SEALs: The U.S. Navy's Elite Fighting Force (pg 202) by Mir Bahmanyar, Chris Osmani]

After his injury, Mr. Job spent time in military hospitals in Maryland, Florida and finally Palo Alto, Calif.

He and Kelly moved to Arizona in 2007 with the help of the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation. The California-based organization assists armed-forces veterans severely injured in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

The foundation found a condo for the couple to live in, arranged for furniture and helped Mr. Job enroll in an online college program to complete the business degree he'd begun at the University of Washington.

Ryan and Kelly Job

"He was a great spokesman for the organization," said Lein, whose father, Howard Lein, founded the Arizona chapter of the Sentinels.

A 2007 story in The Arizona Republic quoted Mr. Job as saying he and his wife wanted to return the generosity others had shown them.

Job and Spieth

"Once I'm back on my feet, we'd like to help the next group of guys make the same transition."

Debbie Job said her daughter-in-law is pregnant with the couple's first child. She is due in May.

His brother, Aaron Job works with the Orange County Sheriff's Department and hopes to find a job in the Seattle area, his mother said.

In addition to his mother, wife and brother, Mr. Job is survived by his father, Eric Job, his sister, Kelsie, and his grandmother Barbara McCormick of Sammamish.

Funeral Services will be on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 11:00 AM. Scottsdale Bible Church 7601 E Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ. A celebration of life will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00PM (1800 hrs to 2000 hrs)

Marriott Hotel 16770 North Perimeter Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 502-3836

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to either Camp Patriot, www.camppatriot.org; Sentinels of Freedom, www.sentinelsoffreedom.org; or the Naval Special Warfare Foundation, www.nswfoundation.org.

From Robert Vera, Co-Founder, Iron90.com:

What are the odds?

I believe that there are no coincidences in life. There are people and events that shape our lives and things are as they should be for a reason. Perhaps this is our destiny. There are people who come into our lives that change them forever. Their presence is powerful, it sends a ripple through us and all who we meet. Their names alone are enough to motivate us to set worthy goals and to press on to finish difficult tasks. Ryan Job is this person in my life. Ryan and I met this past summer, the meeting was totally "by coincidence". In June a friend was in town visiting me from Boston. What are the odds that anyone would come visit me in Phoenix in the summer?

He had never been to Phoenix before and he came to work with me to train a group of clients at 5:30 one morning. One of my clients later emailed to tell me that her friend trains with a former Navy SEAL named Ryan Job and wanted to know if my friend knew him. I asked Steve and he smiled wide and said yes, he and Ryan were good friends. This was in June 2008, my friend Steven had not seen Ryan since BUDS training back in 2003. What are the odds?

Ryan and I met and began training together to prepare him for his goal; the ascent of the 14, 411 foot Mount Rainier. What are the odds that a blind guy would be able to climb a mountain?

Early each Saturday morning we put on our Heart Rate Monitors and hiked together on the various peaks that surround Phoenix. He would lead, I would call out directions from behind with my hand on his shoulder. We would pass young able bodied people all the way to the top where we would turn around to descend now facing the people that we had passed.

On the way up many were curious why I had my hand on his shoulder telling him where and how to step, now seeing Ryan they realized from his scare and closed eyes that he is blind. What are the odds that blind guy would pass you hiking?

On one occasion the people that we passed stood aside to let us come down and then without any warning or a single word, they broke out into spontaneous applause. Ryan asked me what was going on. I did not want a Navy SEAL to know that I was crying so I muttered, "keep going, I will tell you later". Tears streamed down my face as I walked behind him thinking; who is leading who?

My favorite book in the Bible is the Book of Job. It's about a man who has lost everything and finds the courage to walk by faith not by sight. What are the odds that now a blind man named Job was walking in front of me leading me by his faith not by sight?

Many who pray, including me, often request a sign or a clue that they are doing in life what they should be doing. Apparently, God knows that I sometimes miss his subtle suggestions, so he found a blind guy named Job to lead me early one morning on a desert trail then gathered a group of total strangers together to clap loudly as we passed by so that I would not miss his clue. (Thanks for tip, I got it).

On July 10, 2008, a little less than two years after Navy SEAL Ryan Job cheated death on a rooftop in Iraq, he stood atop the roof of Mount Rainier (See Seattle Times Story). As he did two F-15 jets flew over him to salute his achievement. What are the odds?

Ryan has gone on to challenge himself in other areas of life, he creates his own opportunities because he works hard at everything he does. We are all very grateful for Ryan's and for his fellow veterans service to our country. We are also grateful to all the organizations that support them especially Camp Patriot.

What are the odds that Ryan Job will continue to inspire more people and go on to conquer more summits? Very good!

Ryan is on the right

September 24, 2009-I hope you are soaring among the clouds, able to watch over your loved ones from above. Rest in Peace.-LIG

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3rd Annual Soldier Ride Nashville~MSG Sgt James "Tre" Ponder~Operation Redwing~160th S.O.A.R.

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 10:51:08 -0400

Today's Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday September 26th is dedicated to the memory of father, husband and soldier, James "Tre" Ponder

Tre made the ultimate sacrifice for his brothers in arms on a rescue mission in eastern Afghanistan. The date was June 28, 2005. He was killed when his MH-47D helicopter was shot down by enemy fire on it's way to rescue a Navy SEAL team that had run in to trouble. He was a member of the Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).

Turbine33

From his wife, Leslie Ponder:

Tre was in Afghanistan only to train his fellow soldiers, not to fly. But flying was him and when the opportunity arose for him to be on an aircraft and the QRF (the quick reactionary force), he jumped at the chance. His aircraft dropped off a SEAL team on the mountain and as always, promised those men that if they needed him, he would be there. And so when on June 28, 2005 there was a call for help Tre and his men quickly and without hesitation answered the call. That would be his last earthly mission....his helicopter was shot down by a RPG and all on board were killed. The hero that called for help was Lt. Mike Murphy...a soldier that was honored in the Empire State Challenge.

"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

Redwing

Tre was born in Alabama on June 24, 1969 and he grew up in Franklin, TN. He graduated from Battle Ground Academy in 1987 and attended Auburn University. He married Leslie Miller in 1994, they were married in Franklin. Tre was a CH-47 Chinook crew chief and was accepted into 160 Special Operation Aviation Regiment in 1992, and stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY. He held various positions within the Regiment.

Tre was the proud father of Samantha (born 1997) and Elizabeth (born 1999)...Tre worshipped his girls. He called them and his wife "his three crazy girlz". His face would light up at the sight of Samantha and Elizabeth...his family was his everything.

His awards and decorations include: the Air Medal with Valorous device, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device.

Hawaii-Operation Red Wings Park

A Hunter Army Airfield hangar has a new name honoring the memory of an eight-person Night Stalker crew [including MSG James "Tre" Ponder] who died in combat on June 28, 2005. The 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) hangar, formerly known as Building 7902, is now named 'Turbine 33' after the aircraft crew's call sign. It was formally dedicated in a ceremony at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., on June 7

Neverforget

Known as the Night Stalkers, the 160th is an elite aviation unit deployed in nearly every conflict since Grenada in 1983 to transport Special Forces units around the world by night in specially modified helicopters. It specializes in flying over water and developed many flying techniques now standard to Army aviators.

The secretive unit was formed in 1981 following the botched rescue attempt of hostages in Iran. It was not until a decade later that the military acknowledged the unit existed.

160th

Keep reading about Tre here.

Donations to Soldier Ride can be made by sponsoring TEAM TRE

To learn more about Soldier Ride and it's mission, click here.

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PVT JOSEPH GONZALES JR~Remember the Fallen~March 15, 1990-Sept 20, 2008~Korengal Valley

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:45:45 -0400

"Nothing was going to stop him," said Joe Garcia, a family friend. "He wanted to join the Army at 17 and he wanted to fight for his country."

Joseph Gonzales Jr

September 23, 2008, 6:17 p.m. by Sheryl Kornman from the Tuscon Citizen-

Army Pvt. Joseph F. Gonzales Jr., 18, said the military was his destiny, his father said Tuesday.

Joseph Gonzales Sr. spoke about his firstborn child as the family prepared to bury him in Tucson later in the week.

Gonzales Jr. and a fellow soldier were killed Saturday by an improvised explosive device in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan.

On Tuesday his remains were at Dover Air Force Base, awaiting a flight to Tucson. He will be buried at South Lawn Cemetery, 5401 S. Park Ave.

Gonzales Sr. said that whenever his elder son looked at the photograph of himself as a toddler in a miniature military uniform taken at a local mall, "he would say that was destiny for him."

As he trained at Fort Bragg, his father said, his affinity for his new fighting skills were reflected on his MySpace page:

One song title he posted, "Bullet With Your Name," by a group called Scars of Life, was typical, his father pointed out.

training

He considered his enlistment in the Army in Phoenix at age 17 his birthday gift to himself, his father said. Gonzales Sr. and his wife gave their permission so their son didn't have to wait another year.

Gonzales Sr. said his own brother served in Kuwait but that neither he nor Gonzales Jr.'s mother, Ana, wanted their son to go to war.

"We were trying to go the opposite way with him," he said. "But we couldn't stop it so we went with him" and supported his military commitment.

"After he saw the towers go down (on 9/11) it changed him alot," his father said. "It was payback time for him. That's what he wanted, to get ready for war."

Gonzales Sr. said the family's only remaining son, Jorge, 15, wants to join the miltary, too.

"He wants to do payback for his brother," Gonzales said.

Gonzales Jr. attended Sunnyside High School and played football for two years. At 16, he enrolled in a National Guard-operated school in Carefree.

He was a cadet there until his 17th birthday in March 2007.

"He wanted to go into the Marines. I didn't want him to," his father said. "I tried talking him into the Navy or Air Force, something farther away from (the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq)."

In the Army, he wanted to go to Army Airborne School, "but they didn't have any openings," Gonzale Sr. said. "They had an infantry spot, so he took that."

He trained in California for a July deployment in Operation Enduring Freedom.

He saw his family last on July 4th, when he visited in Tucson with his family and cousins.

Gonzales said his son had "an extremely large heart" and "would try to help the homeless out with money. If he had it, he would give it to them. He was one of those types."

Laura Garcia, a friend from their time at Sunnyside, learned about his death while watching TV Monday.

The two have been corresponding on MySpace since he joined the Army. They had a standing lunch date for whenever he returned to Tucson.

He wanted to be a Tucson Police SWAT officer once his Army commitment was fulfilled, she said.

"I am very proud of him and thank him so much for serving his country," she said.

Omar Perez said they played football at Sunnyside two years.

"He was a great friend, always smiling and having fun," he said in an e-mail.

"He moved and all we heard from him was that he joined the Army. Then one day, a group of soldiers came to our school and talked to us about the Army."

One of the soldiers was Gonzales. "That was the last time I spent time with him," Perez said.

"Gonzo"

Afghan war claims Pvt. Gonzales of Tucson

By Alex Dalenberg

arizona daily star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.23.2008

When Army Pvt. Joseph F. Gonzales Jr. came back from the military to visit his family, he would point to a picture of himself as a toddler dressed in combat fatigues.

Joseph Gonzales Jr

"He would look at it and say, 'It's fate.' It was something that he was meant to do," his father, Joseph Gonzales Sr., said Monday evening.

Pvt. Gonzales, 18, died Saturday in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He and another soldier were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Korengal Valley, a Defense Department news release said Monday.

Never Forgotten

Gonzales was born and raised in Tucson, growing up and attending school on the South Side. He wrestled for Sierra Middle School. He played football his freshman year for Sunnyside High School. He loved weightlifting, his father said.

And Gonzales always wanted to be a soldier, ever since he was young, his father said.

After almost three years at Sunnyside High, he left to attend Project Challenge, a military school in Queen Creek that is supported by the Arizona National Guard.

His parents hoped Project Challenge might change their son's mind about the military — "show him that it wasn't something he wanted to do," the elder Gonzales said.

"But he fell in love with it," his father said. He was sworn into the military on his 17th birthday.

After he enlisted in the Army, Gonzales returned to speak at Project Challenge in May, his father said.

The school plans to send a busload of students to his funeral, said Richard Hernandez, a funeral arranger at South Lawn Mortuary.

Pvt. Gonzales' younger brother, Jorge Gonzales, remembers that "we fought a lot," but he said it wasn't serious. "It wasn't fighting fighting, you know."

Jorge said the military changed his brother for the better. When he came back, he was more focused and more mature.

When Gonzales visited, they would go jogging together in Reid Park and talk about life, anything, his brother said.

"He was a good person. He'd always call us just make sure everything was good," Jorge said.

Gonzales was deployed to Afghanistan in late July.

His father still has the text message from his son saying that he was on his way to the war. He was happy to go, his father said.

"They kept changing his deployment date, and he would get antsy," he said.

"He was all excited to be over there," Jorge said.

Gonzales is also survived by his mother and younger sister.

Gonzales was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, according to the Defense Department.

Gonzales is the 38th service member with ties to Tucson or Southern Arizona to be claimed by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sign his Legacy Guestbook

Rest in Peace

September 30, 2008, 9:07 p.m.

SHERYL KORNMAN
Tucson Citizen

Army infantryman Joseph F. Gonzales, a Tucson native serving in Afghanistan, told his family when he last saw it July 4 not to worry about him.

On Tuesday, he was buried with full military honors at South Lawn Cemetery, 5401 S. Park Ave.

Gonzales, an 18-year-old Army private, was killed Sept. 20 in the Korengal Valley by an improvised explosive device, according to the Department of Defense. Another soldier, Staff Sgt. Nathan Cox of Walcott, Iowa, also died in the blast.

Funeral procession

After he was sent to Afghanistan in July, Gonzales kept in close touch with his family, exchanging e-mail or text messages with his father daily, family friends said.

He spoke with his dad, Joseph Gonzales Sr., the day before he died.

Gonzales was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

The medals were presented Tuesday by Army Brig. Gen. Susan Lawrence, who attended the service with a Fort Huachuca honor guard and family members and friends.

Among them was Pvt. Jermaine Decker of Logan, Iowa, who served with Gonzales and was shot in the thigh in Afghanistan a month before Gonzales was killed. He was too overcome with emotion to talk about his friend.

Decker sat, crutches at his side, with the family at the church service at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 602 W. Ajo Way, and with the family at the cemetery.

His Army brothers called him "Gonzo" but to his family he was "The Bear," Lawrence said, after presenting Gonzales' parents with his medals.

She said his last duty was "a tough mission" that he volunteered for. "They knew what they were going to face," she said.

"He was always the first to stand up and say, 'Send me.' "

"Nothing was going to stop him," said Joe Garcia, a family friend. "He wanted to join the Army at 17 and he wanted to fight for his country."

"I told him, mijo (my son), be careful," said Mary Garcia, Joe Garcia's wife. Joe Garcia worked with Gonzales' father for several years in a janitorial service.

Mary Garcia said Gonzales told his family about two weeks ago that he was coming home on leave in a few days.

"He said, 'Don't worry about me. I'll be back.' He came back. . . ," she said.

The Garcias learned of his death on TV news.

Their daughter Rosa, 17, a Sunnyside High School student, said she's going to join the Army soon, in honor of Gonzales.

When she heard he was dead, she said she asked: "Why did it have to be someone I know?"

Mary Garcia said Joseph Gonzales Sr. urged Rosa on Tuesday to change her mind.

"Don't go," he told her, she said in an interview after Gonzales' silver casket was lowered into the ground.

Gonzales' family members each laid a white rose in the casket before it was sealed.

The casket was covered with a full-length image of the American flag blowing in the wind.

The body was carried to South Lawn Cemetery in a 19th-century horse-drawn hearse.

Church bells tolled slowly as an Army honor guard from Fort Huachuca escorted the casket to the hearse.

About 150 relatives and friends of Gonzales and parishioners of the church attended the mariachi Mass there.

Mariachi Mixteca and the Rev. Robert Gonzalez praised Gonzales for his service to his country.

Gonzalez prayed for "all our sons and daughters" who are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Claudia Lorena Ballesteros, a cousin of Gonzales, said in Spanish that she was grateful to the Army for all it had done for the family.

She also thanked "all the soldiers" who came to the funeral.

Gonzales joined the Army in April 2007 as an infantryman and had been assigned to the 1st Infantry Division since October 2007, according to the public affairs staff at Fort Hood in Texas.

Link to the video of his funeral procession is here

Members of the Fort Huachuca Honor Guard take part in a funeral service for Joseph F. Gonzales

He was one of two soldiers killed in action on Sept. 20 in the Korengal Valley when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb. A Defense Department news release initially identified Gonzales as a private, but Army officials at his funeral said he was a private first class.

Even from the other side of the world, Gonzales' battle comrades made it clear that they had not forgotten him Tuesday.

In a sea of red, white and blue funeral flowers, one bouquet was from the "Soldiers of B Co. 2nd Platoon."

"Rest in Peace," the banner read. "Until we meet again."

Korengal Outpost Memorial Service

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