Photo By Frank O'Brien | “Never quit!” said Pfc. Joseph Lindsey of Cincinnati, on the reason why he lived...... read more read more
ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers of the Fort Wainwright-based 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, were presented combat awards by Brig. General Jeffrey A. Sinclair in a Thanksgiving Day ceremony at Forward Operating Base Lagman, Zabul province, Afghanistan.
“We wear recognition to show experience, sacrifice, and accomplishment,” said Sinclair, 82nd Airborne Division and Regional Command (South) deputy commanding general of support, speaking of the seven Combat Infantryman Badge and one Combat Action Badges awarded. “People will do important feats for a piece of metal, but it’s not really a piece of metal. It represents what’s in your heart.”
The memory of soldiers who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country was present at this occasion. Memorials to Sgt. Jeffrey Chul Soon Sherer and Pfc. Douglas Leonard Cordo, both from the regiment, were on the wall behind the awardees, and the Mykel Miller dining facility at FOB Lagman shares its name with awardee Pfc. Michael Miller.
With a wall-mounted American flag as his backdrop, Sinclair spoke about the origins of the Combat Infantryman Badge, created during World War II to encourage volunteers for the Infantry. Unlike the World War II era, the United States Army now, and the 1-24th specifically, continues to attract dedicated, capable volunteers to its Infantry ranks.
“The reason I serve is so the people I love in my life don’t have to,” said Sinclair, “and I think everybody here shares that attribute. You’re only 1% out of population of 300 million who chose to serve.”
Receiving the Combat Infantryman Badge for personally engaging or being engaged by the enemy were: Capt. Joseph M. Lapointe of Jericho, Vt.; 1st Lt. Patrick R. Forliti of Lakeville, Minn.; Sgt. Matthew S. Hopkins of Cincinnati; Pfc. Michael Miller of Tallahassee, Fla.; Pfc. Christopher Neathery of Gurdon, Ark.; Pfc. Beau Stephens of Minneapolis; Pfc. Francis Pelante of the Phillipines; and Pfc. Joseph Lindsey of Cincinnati.
Receiving the Combat Action Badge was Spc. Mark Blakeman of Sacramento, Calif.
Additional combat awards were presented to members of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, (“the Bravo Barbarians”) later that day at Forward Operating Base Bullard by Col. Blake C. Ortner, commander of Combined Team Zabul and of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Virginia Army National Guard.
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.28.2011 09:18 |
| Story ID: | 80609 |
| Location: | ZABUL PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 438 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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