A Fort Drum & 10th Mountain Publication

THE SUN NEVER SETS ON THE 10TH MOUNTAIN PATCH August 2019, Vol. 2 Issue 7

A Soldier from 2nd Brigade Combat Team em- braces a loved one at a redeployment ceremony in- side Monti Physical Fitness Center on Fort Drum, NY, July 11, 2019. The event was one of several Welcome Home Ceremonies following a nine- month deployment to and Afghanistan. OUR LEGACY

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment stand with Robert Loughhead, July 17, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY. Loughhead was a former forward observer attached to 1-87, who fought as a rifleman during the Battle of Mogadishu, a battle that occurred during Operation Restore Hope. He was invited to speak to present-day 1st Soldiers to give them advice for future deployments.

Operation Restore Hope began Dec. 8, 1992, under the direction of a multinational Unified Task Force. The U.S. Army component Task Force Mountain was built around the 1st and 2nd Brigades of , along with avia- tion, artillery and support assets.

During Operation Restore Hope, the 10th Mountain Division’s mission was to secure major cities and roads to provide safe passage of relief supplies to the starving Somali population. They saved hundreds of thousands from starvation, and by mid-February 1993, the division began the gradual reduction of forces in the country.

In May 1993, the United Nations assumed the task of securing the flow of relief supplies to , ending Operation Restore Hope, and marked the beginning of Operation Continue Hope.

During the months to follow, Somali militia members continued to attack humanitarian relief convoys and seize supplies for their local warlord leaders. On Oct. 3, 1993, Task Force Ranger undertook a raid to capture warlord leaders in Moga- dishu.

When Task Force Ranger became pinned down during the raid, which became known as the Battle of Mogadishu, 10th Mountain Division provided a quick reaction force of infantrymen to rescue them. The battle became the longest sus- tained firefight by U.S. forces since the Vietnam War.

2 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY WOUNDED WARRIOR VISITS OLD UNIT (left) Retired Capt. Jake Murphy visits his previous unit, Bravo Company, 2nd Bn., 87th Inf. Reg. on Fort Drum, NY, July 24, 2019.

This was his first visit to Fort Drum since he was sta- tioned here, which also marked the eight-year anniver- sary of his injury, that happened July 23, 2011. While there, Murphy visited Memorial Park, which honors all 10th Mountain Division Soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“I’m glad to see their names are up there forever,” said Mur- phy, “That’s good to know that years will pass and they’ll be remembered in that form.”

3 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY A Soldier fires an M4 rifle round during a combined arms live-fire, July 31, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY.

(left) A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment’s medical platoon conducts a live hoist operation using a training mannequin, July 22, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY. This medical evacuation training was done in order to better understand air MEDEVAC operations and included hot patient loading procedures.

A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, takes cover during a combined arms live-fire exer- cise, July 31, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY. The purpose of the training was to validate their abilities before the Mountain Peak exercise.

4 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 1st Sgt. Robert J. Hance, a Soldier in Charlie Battery, 2nd Battal- ion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, engages a target during rifle-bayonet training, Aug. 1, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY. The training was held to ensure leaders and Soldiers develop con- fidence within themselves and the capabilities of their individual weapons.

(below) Less than two weeks after returning from a nine-month deployment to Kosovo, Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Reg- iment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, bid farewell to Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Heyliger (left), and welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin McLellan (right), the Wolverine squadron’s new senior noncommis- sioned officer, during a Change of Responsibility ceremony, July 30, 2019, on Fort Drum, NY.

5 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, conducted physical readiness training at Fort Bliss, Texas, with Gen. Michael X. Garrett, commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command on August 6, 2019. The Soldiers performed functional fitness exercises to highlight their progress in preparation of the new Army Combat Fitness Test.

6 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY (above) Pfc. Francisco Pagan, Pfc. Zevon Frazier, and Pfc. Ian Munna, Soldiers with 3rd Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and Staff Sgt. Brandon Dawson, a Soldier with 10th Mountain Division Artillery, participated in the employment of the Q-53 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar System, July 28, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY. The purpose of the training was to validate their abilities before the Mountain Peak exercise.

7 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY A Soldier from Alpha Company, 3rd Gener- al Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, engages a training target from the inside of a hovering UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with a mounted M240 machine gun, July 19, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY.

This training is in preparation for their de- ployment to Afghanistan.

Soldiers run a mile-long trail during a fun run August 1, The 10th Combat Aviation Brigade conducts Spouse Orien- 2019 on Fort Drum, NY. tation Flights July 29, 2019 on Fort Drum, NY.

The Falcon Brigade held a fun run that was open to all This unique once-in-a-lifetime event gave those who partic- Soldiers, families, and dogs across the organization. The ipated a glimpse into the lives of their husbands and wives run served to build camaraderie and unit cohesion amidst who fly the skies every day. In addition to flying on either a the advent of a long block leave period and an upcoming UH-60 Black Hawk or a CH-47 Chinook, spouses learned deployment. about the capabilities of the CAB and the gear used by avia- tors. 8 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY (left) Soldiers from the 10th Headquarters Special Troops Battalion’s Color Guard marched in a parade held in Antwerp, NY, to celebrate “Old Home Day,” August 3, 2019.

Every year on this day, the cit- izens of Antwerp host a day full of fun activities, food, live music and fundraisers to restore their communi- ty and give to those in need.

(below) Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Bostic, the former se- nior enlisted leader for the 10th Headquarters Special Troops Battalion passes the guidon to Lt. Col. Ronald Stew- art during a Relinquishment of Responsibility ceremony at Magrath Sports Complex on Fort Drum, NY, June 18, 2019.

9 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY (left) The U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School at Jericho, Ver- mont, graduated the latest class of basic and advanced Mountain Soldiers on July 26, 2019. The school is home to the 86th Infan- try Brigade Combat Team, which is partnered with 10th Mountain Division under the Associat- ed Units Program. Among the graduates are two Soldiers from Senegal, one of the Vermont National Guard’s partners in the State Partnership Program.

(above) 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers stand for a photo at the conclusion of Operation Ransom Guard at Taylor Park-Saint Albans, Vermont on Aug. 11, 2019. The photo was a recreation of an Honor Day photo taken June 1918 in the same location.

(right) 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers perform a ground clearance as part of Operation Ransom Guard at Taylor Park-Saint Albans, Vermont on Aug. 11, 2019. The Soldiers perfomed a walk through of Vermont National Guard’s history for the local community.

10 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY HIDDEN HISTORY TOUR Fort Drum invited the public to discover the history throughout Fort Drum’s installation, during its Hidden History Tour at Fort Drum, NY, July 10, 2019.

Many tours have been held on Fort Drum, with LeRay Mansion being a popular stop. However, this tour was unique because it featured stops at a couple battalion headquarters, division head- quarters and Memorial Park.

The history tours allow individuals from the surrounding areas, who may not have military access to the installation, an opportunity to come on post and see what the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum have to offer.

Along with locals from the community attend- ing the event, six Army cadets from various col- leges also attended the tour. After just arriving here two days prior, the tour allowed the cadets to gain familiarity with the installation.

11 READYREADY NOW, NOW, RELEVANT CLIMB TO TOMORROW GLORY ROLLING TRIBUTE

(above) Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Floyd R. Beech, an Operation Enduring Freedom veteran, visits Fort Drum on July 19, 2019, to share a piece of moving Military Memorial Art with passing Soldiers and their leadership. “This particular stop in Fort Drum is significant because on my FOB (Forward Operating Base) I lost two aviators on April 23rd, 2013; one of them I knew,” said Beech. Capt. Aaron R. Blanchard and 1st Lt. Robert J. Hess died of wounds sustained from indirect fire in Pul-E-Alam, Afghani- stan. Both Soldiers were members of 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade. “I’ve made it a point to put those two at the forefront of the memorial so that whenever we go out, I can explain we do this to honor them as well as honor everyone from and Afghanistan who has not returned home.”

12 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Want to see more from the 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum? View our social media sites below.

Units 10th Mountain Division - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/10thMTNDIV/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/10MTNDIV - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fd10thmtn/

1st Brigade Combat Team - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1BCT10MTN/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/1BCT10MTN

2nd Brigade Combat Team - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2BCT10thMTN/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/2BCT10thMtnDiv

3rd Brigade Combat Team - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/10thMTNPatriots/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/3_10MTNPatriots

10th Combat Aviation Brigade - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/10thCAB/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/10thCAB

10th Sustainment Brigade - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/10thMountainDivisionSustainmentBrigade/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/10thSBDE

Fort Drum Fort Drum - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drum.10thmountain/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/drum10thmtn - Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/drum10thmountain/

Fort Drum Museum - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortDrumMuseum/

Fort Drum FMWR - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrumFMWR/

Fort Drum BOSS - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bossfortdrum/

All photos, products and 10th Mountain Division “The Blizzard” were created, produced and published by 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs, 27th Public Affairs Detachment and Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs.

READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Families cheer from bleachers inside Monti Physical Fitness Center as Soldiers of 2nd Bri- gade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division stood on the basketball court during the first of several Welcome Home Ceremonies following a nine-month deployment, July 11, 2019, at Fort Drum, NY. Last fall around 2,000 Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team de- ployed to Kosovo and Afghanistan in support of an ongoing NATO peacekeeping mission and Operation Resolute Support. READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY