Bulldog Battalion participates in 8th Annual Tactical Air Control Party Memorial Run

IRAQ

03.28.2019

Story by 1st Lt. Leah Mullenix 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

The 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment participated in the 8th Annual Tactical Air Control Party Memorial Run on March 28, 2019 in Mosul, Iraq.
The Memorial Run is a worldwide event consisting of TACP teams participating globally at the same time. It honors the TACPs who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Two TACPs from the 9th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) at Fort Hood (TX), 2nd Lt. Matt Moreno and Staff Sgt. Mike Delao, planned, coordinated, and executed the fundraiser in Mosul, Iraq while being stationed with US Army’s 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment from Fort Campbell, KY.
TACPs embed with ground forces to coordinate airstrikes, and the event is very personal for many participants since TACPs make up a small community of about 2,500 Airmen.
Staff Sgt. Whitlatch, from 1st Battalion 327th Infantry Regiment, stated, “I ran in the event because the Fallen TACPs sacrificed everything so the least I could do is sacrifice 24 hours of my life to honor them.” Staff Sgt. Whitlatch was among the 54 Soldiers who participated in the event in Mosul, accumulating over 500 miles as a team altogether.
Afterwards, Staff Sgt. Delao said, “All the Fallen TACPs trained, deployed, and fought alongside their Army counterparts over the previous years, so I am very appreciative of all the support from the Bulldog Battalion to help honor my Fallen Brothers.” This was the 5th TACP Memorial Run that Staff Sgt. Delao participated in.
The event’s slogan is “TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN, TO HONOR THE LIVING, AND TO AID BROTHERS IN NEED.” Aside from building comradery and remembering the fallen, TACPs use the event as a fundraiser for the TACP Association. The TACP Association provides support and financial assistance to fallen and injured members and their families.

This year’s 24-hour Challenge Run fundraiser has raised nearly $102,000 so far and is aiming to raise a total of $250,000.

• Date Taken: 03.28.2019
• Date Posted: 04.15.2019 12:45
• Story ID: 318138
• Location: IQ