‘You go there as one person, you come back another’
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD -- Soldiers packed an auditorium this week to pay tribute to a tough job performed by exceptional soldiers.
Two months ago, it was a day to celebrate coming home for the soldiers known as the Tomahawks. And this week, it was time to celebrate the work they left behind.
"I think I'm surrounded by a bunch of heroes. that's what i think," said Vanessa Moran, a wife of a tomahawk soldier.
Some 1,200 men and women make up the 1st Battalion of the 23rd infantry regiment. The combined Task Force Tomahawk traveled to a far corner of the world called Panjwai, Afghanistan.
"Despite knowing the dangers involved, you raised your hand and said, 'Send me,'" said Brigadier Gen. Billy Don Ferris of the 7th Infantry Division.
For their service and for leaving a piece of themselves behind in Afghanistan, 147 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart.
"For each of you, all of you, today is your day. We acknowledge your achievement. We salute your courage. We acknowledge your sacrifice," said Ferris.
"Getting up and going, 'Yes, I know it's violent. I know it's angry. I know today might be the last, but I'm going to go, and we're going to go together. And we're going to share fear and pain. We're going to share anxiety," said Sgt. Allan Russell.
Three men -- two from the same company -- received Bronze Stars with Valor.
"Each day going out, there's a good chance that someone was going to be hit by an IED. It happened almost daily," said SSG Kelly Rogne, who received a Bronze Star with Valor.
"Yes, there's always a part of you that will be there," said PFC Charles Preiss, another recipient of a Bronze Star with Valor. "You go there as one person, you come back another."
For all they've been through, they were given a medal, a firm handshake, a salute. These are the rewards for an impossible job done impossibly well. And for the Tomahawks on this day, it's enough.
"Outside of having children, this is going to be the greatest thing some of these guys do in their entire lives. And that's ... an accomplishment," Russell said.
In their last deployment, 10 Tomahawk soldiers did not come home. An additional 196 soldiers were injured.
Two months ago, it was a day to celebrate coming home for the soldiers known as the Tomahawks. And this week, it was time to celebrate the work they left behind.
"I think I'm surrounded by a bunch of heroes. that's what i think," said Vanessa Moran, a wife of a tomahawk soldier.
Some 1,200 men and women make up the 1st Battalion of the 23rd infantry regiment. The combined Task Force Tomahawk traveled to a far corner of the world called Panjwai, Afghanistan.
"Despite knowing the dangers involved, you raised your hand and said, 'Send me,'" said Brigadier Gen. Billy Don Ferris of the 7th Infantry Division.
For their service and for leaving a piece of themselves behind in Afghanistan, 147 soldiers were awarded the Purple Heart.
"For each of you, all of you, today is your day. We acknowledge your achievement. We salute your courage. We acknowledge your sacrifice," said Ferris.
"Getting up and going, 'Yes, I know it's violent. I know it's angry. I know today might be the last, but I'm going to go, and we're going to go together. And we're going to share fear and pain. We're going to share anxiety," said Sgt. Allan Russell.
Three men -- two from the same company -- received Bronze Stars with Valor.
"Each day going out, there's a good chance that someone was going to be hit by an IED. It happened almost daily," said SSG Kelly Rogne, who received a Bronze Star with Valor.
"Yes, there's always a part of you that will be there," said PFC Charles Preiss, another recipient of a Bronze Star with Valor. "You go there as one person, you come back another."
For all they've been through, they were given a medal, a firm handshake, a salute. These are the rewards for an impossible job done impossibly well. And for the Tomahawks on this day, it's enough.
"Outside of having children, this is going to be the greatest thing some of these guys do in their entire lives. And that's ... an accomplishment," Russell said.
In their last deployment, 10 Tomahawk soldiers did not come home. An additional 196 soldiers were injured.
thank you to those who serve our country... Â
Ladies and Gentlmen of the Tomahawks,
Please allow an old cavalryman to remove his Stetson and shake your hands, metaphorically speaking.
As a combat veteran myself, I know the sense of disconnection and distance you're feeling right now. This can be overcome with time. Your memories, for good or ill, will stay with you the rest of your lives It will be one of the standards that you will judge every event of the rest of your life by. When asked about my combat experience, I usually reply that I would probably not willingly do it again, but if called upon I would do my duty again, and I can't imagine my life without having done it.
Nevertheless, you all have my respects and regards. Welcome home. You've earned a rest, you've earned respect, and you've done your duty.
@svensson Thank you. I'm proud to be in the fraternity with you sir.Â
Thank you for a job well done.
Welcome home boys...
@schramalot And girls.
@Nightshift...absolutely
ITS GREAT THAT ALL THE HEROSHAVE WHATS COMING TO THEM, A HEROS WELCOM , FLAGS OVER THEIR COFFIN, AND WHEN THE CAME HOME EVERY ONE WELCOMEN THEM HOME!! THAT IS NOT WHAT OUR HEROS THAT CAME BACK FROM VIETNAM GOT THE COFFINS WERE BROUGHT BACK LIKE CARGO, WHEN THEY LANDED IN THE UNITED STATES THERE WAS A FORK LIFT WAITING FOR THEM OR A BIG LOADER(KLOADER) AND THEN TAKEN IN TO THE CARGO TERMINAL, WITH NO FLAGS OR HOOPLA. I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS AN AIRCRAFT LOADMASTER AND FLEW TO VIETNAM ONCE A WEEK, I BROUGHT BACK 60 ONE TRIP. AND ALMOST ALWAYS BROUGHT BACK SOME.THE LIVE HEROS WERE SPIT ON AND THRU STUFF AT THEM CUSSING . YOU DIDNT WEAR YOUR UNIFORM. ALMOST ALL THE HEROS FROM  VIETNAM WERE DRAFTED NOT JOINED ON THEIR OWN     THERE WERE 58,000 HEROS
THAT DIED IN VIETNAM
@hotrod45Â Grammer, spelling, grammer.....
Don't be bitter, be proud of your service. Â Move forward.
What are you trying to say? Â Hard to believe what you are saying. There may have been some of what you are saying.
I personally carried flagged draped coffins off the 141's at Travis AFB in the early 70's with RESPECT and HONOR for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.Â
@Egghead @hotrod45 After I got out my girl friend and I went to a party in Hollywood, I still had my short haircut. A long haired hippy asked me what I did for a living, I told him I had just got out of the military. He called me a mercenary baby killer, screamed it actually. I quietly told him I wasn't a mercenary, that sometimes I fought for free. I hit him twice before he hit the floor. I hit him a few more times before they pulled me off of him. We did not have PTSD back then, we just had hair triggers.
@whitewings2003 @Egghead @hotrod45 Best story EVER! yes!
@hotrod45 ...I was 6 during what I remember of that conflict but I will never forget those who served nor will I ever sit by and watch someone attempt to degrade a service member. The 58187 men and 8 women deserve the thanks of a grateful nation.Â
Thank you for our freedom.
Hooah.Â
""Despite knowing the dangers involved, you raised your hand and said, 'Send me,'" said Brigadier Gen. Billy Don Ferris of the 7th Infantry Division."
Yeah right.lol
@Blindman I was one of those soldiers sitting in that theater and that is exactly how I felt when I signed my contract to be an Infantry soldier.
@Steven Leach @Blindman And I was proudly sitting next to Leach.Â
@Blindman You also have Navy personnel who raise their hands and say send me. We have been sending Navy personnel over to Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning.Â
@beetle73Â @Blindman I always worried about the navy guys, you are all sitting in plain sight, good target. I like deep holes and big trees, hard target.
@beetle73Â @Blindman Yes.They were trained in some Army post before they get deployed to overseas.
@Blindman   This a volunteer army. JeepRex nailed it. What have you done for this country?
@Blindman ..I always thought you were an ass...you prove it every time you open your mouth
@Blindman Every service person, when they volunteer, is writing a check to include the amount of their life. Those of use who have served know this is true. Besides sitting behind a computer, what have you done for this country?