Remeber the Past, Honor your fallen brothers

[SPC (Ret) Cyrus]

This thread is here to mention past events that we need to remember. I would like to start it out with a Operation that a famous war movie was made to represent, Black Hawk Down. This might be a few days behind but I would like to put it out there to let others remember, honor, and salute those who gave their lives for their brothers in arms. If you have a event you wish to honor please post it here with some information about so others might have knowledge of it. Like a veteran I met at the VA said, "We don't want our fallen brothers to be forgotten. If we forget them, we forgive the ones that took their life. And that...Is unforgivable." 1stLT Earl Robertson.

The Battle of Mogadishu or Day of the Rangers (Somali: Maalintii Rangers), was part of Operation Gothic Serpent and was fought from 3–4 October 1993, in Mogadishu, Somalia, between forces of the United States, supported by UNOSOM II, and Somali militiamen loyal to the self-proclaimed president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who had support from armed civilian fighters. The battle is also referred to as the First Battle of Mogadishu to distinguish it from subsequent battles in that city, such as the Second Battle of Mogadishu of 2006.
The initial U.S. Joint Special Operations force, Task Force Ranger, was a collaboration of various elite special forces units from Army Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command and Navy Special Warfare Command. Task Force Ranger was dispatched to seize two of Aidid's high-echelon lieutenants during a meeting in the city. The goal of the operation was achieved, though conditions spiraled into the deadly Battle of Mogadishu. The initial operation of 3 October 1993, intended to last an hour, became an overnight standoff and rescue operation extending into daylight hours of 4 October.

 

[S. Murphy]

This is Outstanding and Thank you.  Though I cannot bring anything to the table from MY Active Duty Service, it was "Peacetime" after all I can share this one particular incident. 

It was 28OCT1999, A Beautiful Day for the most part.  I was in Patrol on Motors and was on waht we call the FACT Team, Fatal Accident Crash Team.  We investigate any and all Serious Bodily Injury and or Fatality Crashes.  We were having Team Training that morning.  I was on Days and had been there since 0530.  One of my Good Friends, he was going to be my Partner on Motors as soon as we got more Positions in which 2 were inbound, Butch Tomlinson.  He  loved Traffic like I did, we had alot in common, He started Navy, got out, Joined the PD, Left to go back to the Navy.  He retired and had gotten on with us.  He was one of my Recruits as I was an FTO at one point, and we just bonded.  Though I never went back Active i admired him for going back and Retiring.  He Loved Life, He Loved the Job, He Loved Motors!!  Though older we just jived.  Alot of you know what that is like.  Butch was doing his thing on South Church Street, US 231, doing enforcement.  Butch saw a violator, attempted a U-Turn.  He didnt hear or see the Ambulance traveling in the Center Turn Lane Same Direction as him.  He U-Turned, Lights and Siren Activated, same as the 10-47, Ambulance, turned into it's path and a collision occurred between the two.  We heard Communications Radio for Butch, 352, to resp0ond to a 10-46, Injury Crash, involving a 47 but he didnt respond.  Little did Communications know that they were Dispatching him to his own Crash.  We discovered he had been involved and knew it was bad.  I mounted my Kawi, what we had at the time, and rushed to the scene to see a horrific scene between the 2 vehicles.  I assisted in Extracting Butch's lifeless body from the back window of the car through the Prisoner Screen as well.  We tried words of encouragement but all of us at the scene knew.  I escorted the Ambulance to the ER where Butch was pronounced.  I will never forget that day, I will never foget Butch.  I have a picture of him in my Curio Cabinet to remind me of his Passion and Desire.  To see the joy of life in his face.  To remind me to Live as I can and be a Good Man as he was.  I know I fall down and fall short but I also pick myself up.  I live everyday now with NO REGRETS!  I try to Honor Him.  I was able to Escort his Wife, Dot, at Police Memorial Week in DC and as we placed the Rose and his name was put on the Wall with the Fallen of 1999, that was so little I could do for the Ultimate Sacrifice that All that had given. 

I have lost 3 more to the job.  Was first on scene to another Crash involving one of my Motor Officers.  I try to Honor Her as well.  Images that will NEVER LEAVE ME, those are just the ones in Blue.  We all live life as we know it.  But we all need to remember it is short, not be foolish with our time and enjoy the Life and love that we have.  Though a little off topic.  Thanks for allowing me to Share. 

All The Way!!