Sgt Z's Page Round 3

August 7th is National Purple Heart Day.

First created on this day in 1782 by the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington.

On August 6, 2011, a U.S. CH-47D Chinook helicopter, call sign Extortion 17, was shot down while transporting a Quick Reaction Force attempting to reinforce a unit of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Tangi Valley in Maidan Wardak province, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan.

The resulting crash killed all 38 personnel on board, which included: 19 U.S. Navy SEALs 2 U.S. Navy EOD 1 U.S. Navy Cryptologist Technician 2 U.S. Air Force Pararescue 1 U.S. Air Force Combat Control Team member 1 pilot and 2 crewmen of the U.S. Army Reserve 1 pilot and 1 crewman of the U.S. Army National Guard 7 members of the Afghan National Security Forces 1 Afghan interpreter 1 U.S. military working dog

U.S. Navy SEALs: PO1 Darrick C. Benson CPO Brian R. Bill PO1 Christopher G. Campbell PO1 Jared W. Day PO1 John Douangdara & Navy SEAL Dog “Bart” CPO John W. Faas CPO Kevin A. Houston Lt. Cmdr. Jonas B. Kelsall MCPO Louis J. Langlais CPO Matthew D. Mason CPO Stephen M. Mills PO1 Jesse D. Pittman SCPO  Thomas A. Ratzlaff CPO Robert J. Reeves CPO Heath M. Robinson PO2 Nicholas P. Spehar PO1 Jon T. Tumilson PO1 Aaron C. Vaughn PO1 Jason R. Workman

U.S. Navy EOD: TCOP Nicholas H. Null SCPO Kraig M. Vickers

U.S. Navy : PO1 Michael J. Strange

U.S. Army: SGT Alexander J. Bennett SPC Spencer Duncan CWO Bryan J. Nichols CWO David R. Carter SSG Patrick D. Hamburger

U.S. Air Force: TSgt John W. Brown SSgt Andrew W. Harvell TSgt Daniel L. Zerbe

On August 5, 2004, the Battle of Najaf began between U.S. forces and the members of the Mehdi Army who were loyal to the radical cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr.

The battle would eventually end on August 27, 2004 with a negotiated ceasefire: Mahdi army fighters left the Imam Ali shrine among the Pilgrim crowd and none of them were detained; The Iraqi police took control of the security in the city.

Sporadic fighting continued for some months. Some Mahdi Army fighters from Najaf went to Sadr City in Baghdad, where there had also been heavy fighting, to help the Mahdi Army in their guerrilla activities against U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Kerlingarfjöll - Iceland 2026

“Panther Creek Falls” by | Ross Schram

Chasing in Colorado

"Only the dead have seen the end of war. That philosopher couldn't be more right. War ain't going away. Nor are the leaders who don't understand it…who abuse it. This brotherhood is bonded over blood. Not paperwork or policy."

On the morning of July 13, 2008, then, Sgt. Pitts was providing perimeter security at an observation post, when a well-organized enemy force of over 200 fighters initiated a sustained assault using accurate and intense rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and small arms fire on Vehicle Patrol Basein, in the vicinity of Wanat Village, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

A wave of rocket-propelled grenade rounds engulfed the Observation Post wounding Sergeant Pitts and inflicting heavy casualties. Pitts was knocked to the ground and was bleeding heavily from wounds to his arm and legs. With incredible toughness and resolve, he subsequently took control of the Observation Post and returned fire on the enemy. As the enemy drew closer, Pitts began throwing grenades, holding them after the pin was pulled and the safety lever was released to allow a nearly immediate detonation on the hostile forces.

Near death and unable to stand on his own because of the severity of his wounds and blood loss, Pitts continued to lay suppressive fire until a two-man reinforcement team arrived. He gave them his main weapon and began gathering ammunition all while continually lobbing grenades until they were expended. Pitts then crawled to a radio and described the situation to the Command Post as the enemy continued to try and isolate them from the main patrol base. With the enemy close enough to hear their voices and with total disregard for his own life, he whispered in the radio situation reports and conveyed information that the Command Post used to provide indirect fire support.