"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #929, May 14, 2021
Issue #929, May 14, 2021
Vice Mayor John Crane said, "Our first speaker, Sargent Richard Gregory joined the U.S. Army in September 2002 as an Airborne Infantry Mortarman. After serving a year in Korea, Rick served with the 82nd Airborne Division in North Carolina, where he deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. After months of combat, on December 22, 2005, the small Forward Operating Base, in which Rick was a part, came under attack from a large force of 200 combatants. Using a 60 mm mortar system in handheld mode, he repelled this direct attack. For this, Rick was awarded the Silver Star. His unit took zero casualties. Rick left the Army in 2008."
Sgt. Gregory said he was very honored to be on these hallowed grounds. He didn't prepare anything because he felt it was better to speak from the heart. He spoke of a day that was special to him and about one of the men he was lucky to serve with, as well as sharing the names of some people he had lost along the way. He begged forgiveness if he became teary. This was very personal and close to him. He noted that Memorial Day is not about veterans. "It's not about us; it's about them." He shared a story about Staff Sgt. Travis Nixon.
On this day in Afghanistan, they were on Hill 2911. Like any other day when they were "outside of the wire", they acted with an abundance of caution, always looking out for trouble. It was his son's 2nd birthday, October 29th, 2005. Sgt. Gregory was showing pictures and talking to his friends. "We're in this country and no one back home even knows we're in a war, to be honest."
Suddenly, fire from the hills was opened on Travis Nixon's position. About 200 of the enemy had been stalking them all night, and had closed on their position. Travis was the first to notice them. He alerted the platoon, then went around to the various positions to check on his men. One of the machine guns had fallen over and he got it back up. He was transitioning it to another soldier when he was hit by AK-47 fire.
"Travis was a soldier's soldier. He was one of the best in the platoon. Airborne, Infantry, Ranger, all the things that you'd want to be as an infantryman, he was that, and for him to be hit was an eye opening experience for all of us." He was rushed down the mountain in the back of a Humvee, with people doing CPR, waiting for a med evac. Sgt. Gregory was one of the 4 who helped Travis Nixon into the helicopter and one of the last 4 to see him alive. That hit them all hard because Travis was held in such high esteem, and it made them realize they were all vulnerable.
Sgt. Gregory loves this country because he has seen the best that America has to offer and is proud to have served with them. He asked for a moment of silence while he read the names of those he lost, both "in country" and from veterans suicide. He read the names of 16 soldiers, beginning with Travis Nixon.
Vice Mayor Crane thanked Sgt. Gregory and thanked him for sharing the names of those fallen soldiers.
https://vimeo.com/558644140
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
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Sgt. Gregory said he was very honored to be on these hallowed grounds. He didn't prepare anything because he felt it was better to speak from the heart. He spoke of a day that was special to him and about one of the men he was lucky to serve with, as well as sharing the names of some people he had lost along the way. He begged forgiveness if he became teary. This was very personal and close to him. He noted that Memorial Day is not about veterans. "It's not about us; it's about them." He shared a story about Staff Sgt. Travis Nixon.
On this day in Afghanistan, they were on Hill 2911. Like any other day when they were "outside of the wire", they acted with an abundance of caution, always looking out for trouble. It was his son's 2nd birthday, October 29th, 2005. Sgt. Gregory was showing pictures and talking to his friends. "We're in this country and no one back home even knows we're in a war, to be honest."
Suddenly, fire from the hills was opened on Travis Nixon's position. About 200 of the enemy had been stalking them all night, and had closed on their position. Travis was the first to notice them. He alerted the platoon, then went around to the various positions to check on his men. One of the machine guns had fallen over and he got it back up. He was transitioning it to another soldier when he was hit by AK-47 fire.
"Travis was a soldier's soldier. He was one of the best in the platoon. Airborne, Infantry, Ranger, all the things that you'd want to be as an infantryman, he was that, and for him to be hit was an eye opening experience for all of us." He was rushed down the mountain in the back of a Humvee, with people doing CPR, waiting for a med evac. Sgt. Gregory was one of the 4 who helped Travis Nixon into the helicopter and one of the last 4 to see him alive. That hit them all hard because Travis was held in such high esteem, and it made them realize they were all vulnerable.
Sgt. Gregory loves this country because he has seen the best that America has to offer and is proud to have served with them. He asked for a moment of silence while he read the names of those he lost, both "in country" and from veterans suicide. He read the names of 16 soldiers, beginning with Travis Nixon.
Vice Mayor Crane thanked Sgt. Gregory and thanked him for sharing the names of those fallen soldiers.
https://vimeo.com/558644140
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.