Welcome Home the 173rd Sky Soldiers
May 19, 2008
Eagles!
Our own Kit Lange learned about this situation, and I’ve asked her to put it on the site. Please help if you can! Those guys have earned a “welcome home!”
Larry Bailey
We recently learned that there are no plans for any welcome home celebrations for the 173rd, 2-503 Army Airborne Battalion when they return to their home base at Camp Ederle in Vicenza Italy after at least 15 months in Afghanistan, where they lived and fought in horrendous conditions. There is not a local American community in Italy to step up and put on a Heroes welcome for them, as so many would do here in the states. Very few of the soldiers will be returning to family or loved ones there in Italy. By far the majority of soldiers are single, with no family to welcome them back or home support to assist them in transitioning from war and death to peace and recuperation.
If we all pitch in, it is no great sacrifice for a few. A minimum of $125,000, is a small amount to do so much for so many soldiers when raised by communities all around the U. S. of A. It is hard to imagine the transition of so many Sky Soldiers who, we are sure, think it is “JUST THEIR JOB”.
Please join us in donating for the WELCOME HOME CELEBRATION for the 173rd 2-503 SKY SOLDIERS.
Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski and family
Parents of SFC Matthew Blaskowski
Platoon Leader, Battle Company 1st Platoon
KIA 23 September 2007, FOB Vegas, Afghanistan
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God Bless these paratroopers. I served with this unit in 1966/67 and I have met a few of todays 173rd ABN troopers ————— these soldiers would make any Patriot proud!
I salute you all — Airborne All the Way!
First, I want to thank everyone for their support for the 173D over the past winter. If you’re new here, or haven’t been paying attention, the 173D ABCT is the unit Carhartt sent the 750 pairs of poly pros and 5000 pairs of socks to back in November, thanks largely to the efforts of Tankerbabe who is relentless in her dedication to these Warriors. They are also the unit I have been shamelessly collecting donations for. I’m afraid I may have worn out my welcome at some places, due to my constant beseeching for funds and my oral history lessons of the 173DABN. Spook had some really good stories for me to share. Off the record of course.
I want to thank Kit especially for setting up the website to make donations easier.
Next, I want to thank everyone who has written or sent care packages to PFC Eddie Myers in Iraq. I talk to him twice to three times a week through MySpace and he is well, in real good spirits, and should be home sometime in July.
I was worried for a while, based on some things he had written, but you folks made a differecne with your cards and letters. He has cheered up considerably.
Next, if you’re interested, there is a new blog, The Talon, I’m sure you’ve seen it, but in case you’re new, I’ll just say that besides the fact that I was asked to be a contributor, there are some mighty talented folks over there, posting daiiy.
Check them out if you have time. http://www.talon.eagelsup.us. Rurick has not enabled comments yet, so if you want to comment on a specific post, you can jump over to that writers personal blog and leave a comment referencing the Talon post. Sometimes we cross-post the same article on our blogs.
I’ll be spending Memorial weekend in Phoenix AZ visiting friends and new found family. I’ll elaborate when I return. Have a safe and fun-filled Memorial weekend.
Thank you to all the vets who make/made this possible.
S/F
concretebob