{"id":234,"date":"2010-01-20T16:25:37","date_gmt":"2010-01-21T00:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/?p=234"},"modified":"2018-10-10T14:33:09","modified_gmt":"2018-10-10T21:33:09","slug":"messages-for-the-3-17th-cav","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/messages-for-the-3-17th-cav\/","title":{"rendered":"Messages for the 3-17th Cav"},"content":{"rendered":"

Updated:\u00a020 Dec\u00a010<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 3-17th Cav is currently deployed in Afghanistan.\u00a0 [They returned in late November 2010]. \u00a0Fellow 3\/17th Air Cav veterans (some of “God’s Own Lunatics<\/em>“),\u00a0families and close associates\u00a0can leave messages here for the unit in our comment section. <\/strong><\/p>\n

We have much more posted on our <\/strong>3-17th Cav\u00a0Support page<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 We are updating that page as details\/articles become available.\u00a0 I’m extremely proud of the 3-17th Cav serving our nation today!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are a few intial updates from Lighthorse 6<\/em>:<\/strong>\u00a0[Requires Adobe Reader<\/a>]<\/p>\n

PDF: <\/strong>Lighthorse FRG Newsletter #1<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

PDF: <\/strong>Lighthorse FRG Newsletter #2<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

PDF: <\/strong>Lighthorse FRG Newsletter #3<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

PDF: <\/strong>Falcon Flyer – Jan 2010 edition<\/strong><\/a> [Similar to our old “Hawk” newsletters]<\/strong><\/p>\n

PDF: <\/strong>Falcon Flyer – Feb 2010 edition<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Lighthorse Inn<\/strong><\/a> on Facebook<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Flying in the shadow of the \u2018valley of death\u2019: Task Force Falcon airlift U.S. Soldiers from Korengal Valley<\/strong><\/a> – Courtesy of Lighthorse 6<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tip of the Spear<\/strong><\/a> – MSNBC Special Report<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

We Will Never Leave A Fallen Comrade – The February 8th Lighthorse MEDEVAC Mission <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0– [2003 Microsoft Office document file] courtesy of LTC Tom von Eschenbach, Lighthorse 6<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roger “Bear” Young <\/a>– Spur (Vietnam) webmaster<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Uncasing the Colors courtesy of LTC Tom von Eschenbach, Lighthorse 6, Dec 2009<\/p><\/div>\n

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3-17th Squadron Colors<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kiowa Warrior flying up the Konar Valley – Courtesy of Lighthorse 6<\/p><\/div>\n

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3-17th Patch<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lighthorse 6 pinning on combat patches<\/p><\/div>\n

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Afghan helicopters coming in for fuel at our FARP<\/p><\/div>\n

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Snapshot from the countryside as the SS flew a mission in the Konar Valley<\/p><\/div>\n

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Kunar Valley<\/p><\/div>\n

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LTC Tom von Eschenbach & CW2 Vanduynhoven<\/p><\/div>\n

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CSM flying 3-17th battle flag in the back of a Chinook<\/p><\/div>\n

3-17th deployments during war on terrorism<\/span>:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apache Troop, 3-17th – Afghanistan 2004<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

3-17th Lighthorse<\/em> Squadron – Iraq 2004\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

3-17th Lighthorse<\/em> Squadron – Iraq 2007-2008\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

3-17th Lighthorse<\/em> Squadron – Afghanistan 2009-2010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Official 3-17th Lighthorse Squadron site\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Official 3-17th Cavalry History\u00a0& Current Composition<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Video: <\/strong>How the USAF Brings Our Wounded Home<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0– San Francisco Chronicle<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

News from the front lines<\/span>:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

10 Feb 2010<\/p>\n

Wanted to pass on a story to you and the guys about Lighthorse in
\nAfghanistan.<\/p>\n

Without getting into too much details in a story that would take an hour
\nto tell, on Monday February 8th we sent aircraft in terrible weather
\ninto one of the highest threat areas in Afghanistan and picked up a
\nwounded Soldier and flew him to Bagram Airfield.\u00a0 My most memorable
\nmoment of event was standing in the TOC looking at the faces of the
\naircrews and leaders as they were looking at me for a decision to go.
\nWe had already launched and turned around once but they wanted to try
\nagain.\u00a0 This time we were going to try with only an Apache and one
\nMEDEVAC.\u00a0 I called the ground force to see how long a ground evac would
\ntake and was told 2 hours to get it going.\u00a0 The roads were bad and the
\nSoldier was on a breathing apparatus and the bumping ride would make it
\nvery difficult to keep him stable.\u00a0 One of the pilots says to me, “Sir,
\nwe can do it.\u00a0 Let us try”.\u00a0 The look of confidence on this face said it
\nall.\u00a0 I still had to call the Brigade Commander for permission but told
\nthem.\u00a0 “OK, get to your aircraft, I’ll tell COL Galli we are going.”\u00a0 I
\ncalled Falcon 6, who was aware of the previous attempt, and instead of
\nasking told him that we were trying again.\u00a0 He approved and the rest is
\nhistory.\u00a0 The Soldier is awake and responsive in the CSH at Bagram.
\nFate had it hands in many things that day.\u00a0 Below is the email my
\nCommand Sergeant Major sent out to the leaders that night.\u00a0 Pretty
\nawesome stuff that will bring tears to your eyes.<\/p>\n

“Today was one of the most humbling days of my 21 year adventure with
\nthe Army.\u00a0 Today we saved a life.\u00a0 The family of the Soldier that was
\nsnatched from the hands of death in the Pech Valley will never know.
\nRightfully so, it is not within our character to boast.\u00a0 They will never
\nknow that, we too, value their Son as if we were Family and so much
\nmore.\u00a0 We are him.\u00a0 We will never leave a fallen comrade.\u00a0 Thanking the
\nenormous team involved in saving this Soldier would take a novel, so I
\nwill attempt to do it with brevity.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

From Colonel to Private…….\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The amount of blood, sweat, tears, and energy put into today’s extremely
\nhigh risk MEDEVAC mission would not fit into any earthly container.\u00a0 The
\nheart of an American Soldier is the only thing big enough.\u00a0 I am honored
\nto be part of the whole, for the whole will risk all for the part.\u00a0 We
\nhave come a long way from beginning of the formation of Task Force
\nLighthorse at Fort Bliss, TX.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

From the Commanders who deliberately agreed to trust their Troopers to
\nthe aircrews that wouldn’t quit.\u00a0 From the NCO that busts his knuckles
\ndaily making sure our horses are fixed, fueled, and armed to the
\ncountless others that make sure the mission comes first, all the way
\ndown to the private on the radio.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

7 for 1.\u00a0 Seven went into harm’s way for one.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Nerve, guts, bravery, courage, gallantry, valor.\u00a0 Parts of the whole.”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

LTC Tom von Eschenbach
\nCommander, TF Lighthorse<\/p>\n

We Will Never Leave A Fallen Comrade – The February 8th Lighthorse MEDEVAC Mission <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0– [2003 Microsoft Office document file] courtesy of LTC Tom von Eschenbach, Lighthorse 6<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. flies Afghan troops to retake district<\/strong><\/a> – ArmyTimes<\/em> – 1 Jun 10 – [According to sources, the 3-17th was involved with the insertion]<\/strong><\/p>\n

US hunts wanted Taliban and al Qaeda commander in Kunar<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0– Posted 21 Jul 10<\/strong><\/p>\n

21 Aug 2010<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Article in the upcoming issue of Men’s Journal about Kiowa Warrior pilots. Pretty good read on what we do here. The units in this article is stationed south near Kandahar and are commanded by a good friend of mine that I went to flight school with, LTC Hank Taylor. They are out of Fort Campbell.<\/strong><\/p>\n

LTC Tom von Eschenbach
\nCommander, TF Lighthorse
\nFOB Fenty<\/strong><\/p>\n

PDF: <\/strong>America’s New Cavalry by Michael Hastings<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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3-17th Kiowa Warrior flying U.S. Flag – courtesy of CSM Lemke<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n
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3-17th Cav Rides Again! – Courtesy of CSM Lemke<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u00a0<\/object>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pictures from Vietnam, A Troop, 3\/17th <\/strong><\/em>Silver Spurs<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 Speech by\u00a0Joe Galloway originally given at the Wall for VHPA in 2000. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

24 Nov 2010 – Return of the Silver Spurs<\/span>::<\/strong><\/p>\n

A buddy of mine from my first tour has a daughter married to a commander based at Hunter Army Airfield. Today my buddy attended a welcome home ceremony\/party there for the 3rd Squadron 17th Cavalry, including our A Troop. They are back home, with no losses. He said they wore Cav hats and spurs in the formation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chuck Oualline, Spur 3 –<\/em> Vietnam<\/strong><\/p>\n

20 Dec 10<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For homecoming pictures, additional\u00a0links to news articles\u00a0from the 3-17th Cav, please see:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/northwestvets.com\/spurs\/support.htm#updates<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

I want to thank all of you who posted messages of support for the 3-17th Cav while they were deployed!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Roger “Bear” Young –\u00a0Vietnam Spur Scout Crew Chief & webmaster<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Updated:\u00a020 Dec\u00a010 The 3-17th Cav is currently deployed in Afghanistan.\u00a0 [They returned in late November 2010]. \u00a0Fellow 3\/17th Air Cav veterans (some of “God’s Own Lunatics“),\u00a0families and close associates\u00a0can leave messages here for the unit in our comment section. We … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,16],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-3-17th-lighthorse-cavalry","category-afghanistan","tag-3-17th-air-cavalry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=234"}],"version-history":[{"count":96,"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2053,"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/234\/revisions\/2053"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northwestvets.com\/blog1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}