Lenny, our chapter received these three emails I thought you and WLIP might like to read. Two including this one are from SPC 4 Vincent Mannions father. Vincent Mannion is one of the first servicemen we sent checks to. He was a paratrooper and was at Fort Bragg this past week for All American Week with his family. He received wounds to his head and elsewhere. I am sending you the two emails, one from his father and one from one of our chapter members who also attended and met him. They are very touching especially the one from our member Bob Morgan.

Regards

Nick Pulera

Chairman

Southern Wisc. All Airborne Chapter

82nd Airborne Division Association

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This is the seccond letter from his dad.


 I and my family just returned from Fort Bragg from a very memorable and momentous display of courage and sacrifice I have ever witness in my life by not only my son but the 82nd Airborne Division.. My son Vincent returned to his unit 14 months after being severely wounded. On hand , were his friends to meet him SP4 Andy Taylor, SP4 Jared Wardell, Sgt . Hart. and his whole company including Captain Greg Sakimura,  his Company Commander. Friends from Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval , 82nd Commander General David Rodriguez and his wife Ginny, Colonel Paul Bricker who commands the 82d Airborne Combat Aviation Brigade. 82nd CSM Capel . 82nd Water Reed Liaison SFC James Babin and SFC Jonathon Mackey. LTC Michael Lopez. and 82nd Wounded warrior Committee Vincent 's Brigade Commander Bryan Owens , Deputy Commander Edmondson and 319 FA Commander DiRuzza  . 2-505th Battalion Commanders' LTC.  Leung and LTC .Zeisman  Captain Sakimura provided us with 2 excellent escorts in LT. Keith Weaver and SSG John Sastre . Bert Schmitz from the 505th Panther Association was on hand to greet us .Vincent also met MOH Recipient from the Korean War Rudy Hernandez and President Bush welcomed all the families.

Vincent back with his Company B-2-505the PIR and friend SP4 Andy Taylor , 14 months after his injury.
 
Vincent's Battalion ( 2-505th PIR) made the jump into Sicily Drop zone and his company did the JRTX assault.
 
President Bush was on hand to review the troops and unveil the new Global War on Terrorism Monument. He also awarded 3 Distinguished Service Crosses . 2 of those medals were awarded to 2 members of Vincent's Battalion ( 2-505th PIR) . SGT Chris Corriveau and SGT. Eric Moser who were part of a 4 man sniper team surrounded by hundreds of terrorists . The trapped team killed dozens of insurgents and only half of them made it off the roof top , Corrieiveau and Moser until reinforcements from the battalion came to their aid.
 
5 Silver Stars were also awarded by the President,  one to SSG Peter Rohrs of the 82nd Aviation Brigade for rescuing 12 critically wounded soldiers while under fire in Afghanistan.


President Bush and General Rodriguez review the Panther Brigade


Vincent and his mother with 82nd Commanding general David Rodriguez at the new memorial.
 
The courage and valor displayed by the 82nd was incredible. If the public ever knew the sacrifices these men and women make. You don't hear any of these soldiers complaining about the war or having to go back. They know their mission and they do it.  The country is very fortunate to have a unit like this. President Bush was at Fort Bragg all day and gave outstanding praise to the division for its valor.
 
Guest Speaker LT. Gen Vines couldn't have said it better when he said he was watching the news and someone who made a last second basketball shot to win the game was described by the announcer as a hero for making the winning shot . What a laugh !! The real hero's were at Fort Bragg that day including my son Vincent.
God Bless America.


The Final Chapter and a new beginning.
 
Korean War Veterans Association
National Director
Jeff Brodeur
Father of SP4 Vincent Mannion
B-2-505th PIR 82nd Airborne Division
WIA- 3-11-07 Tikrit Iraq.

Bob

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