We just returned from a most memorable trip to Anchorage Alaska. Thank you to the 4th Brigade (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division and 1st Squadron of the 40th Cavalry Regiment for remembering and honoring 77 paratroopers who all paid the ultimate sacrifice on battlefields somewhere in Iraq and Afghanistan. We traveled to Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) to participate in their annual week-long Spartan Memorial Week. The words on this page cannot begin to express our sincere thoughts and thank you to everyone who made Spartan Memorial Week what it is.
Upon arrival at the Anchorage airport, we were met by seven 1/40 CAV (Tom’s unit of assignment during his 2006-2007 deployment to Iraq) Soldiers. Although they knew we had a car rental, those seven arrived late on a Sunday evening to welcome us. That small act of respect set the tone for how we were treated for the next four days.
Monday we were provided a briefing update of unit training, something Old Soldiers (Ed and I included) truly enjoy! They also briefed us on the activities that would happen throughout the week.
Tuesday, we found ourselves on the JBER Malamute drop zone, watching more than 200 paratroopers drop from CH-47 Chinooks (helicopters). What a beautiful sight, but even more meaningful as 77 of those paratroopers jumped with dog tags and name tapes of the 77 who never came home alive from the 4 separate deployments of the 4/25.
Tuesday evening, we dined with the leadership team of the Spartan Soldiers and other Gold Star Families at the Eagle River VFW Post. Truly an evening of fellowship and memories. Late Tuesday afternoon, 1/40 CAV started a 17-hour perpetual run, in honor of the 17 CAV Soldiers that are forever in the hearts of those who knew them, served with them, and those who have come to know their stories. One hour of running was dedicated to each of the 17 fallen paratroopers of 1/40 CAV. Tom’s hour was the last, finishing up on Wednesday morning.
Wednesday afternoon, the Brigade hosted a beautiful memorial service, where each of the 7 battalion command teams read aloud the names of those missing forever from their formations. The service was complete with the laying of a wreath, amid the 4 granite memorials, displaying the names of the fallen from each of the 4 deployments.
Thursday, we joined more than 300 Spartan Soldiers who climbed Gold Star Peak. The climb is not a walk in the park, but a mountain climb. It’s a 2.5-mile trail, with an elevation change of more than 3,000 feet. Ed left with the CAV Soldiers at 8:30 and he finally made it back to the base camp at 5:20! He holds the record for being the 2nd oldest to ever climb Gold Star Peak and being the last climber off the mountain on that day! I stayed at the base camp and helped the fabulous USO Alaska team prepare burgers and munchies as the paratroopers descended from the climb. Ed claims he is…one and done! One climb was incredibly special, and he is assured if he ever makes it to the top again, it will be by airlift!
I have deliberately left out the names of all those who touched our lives and remembered Tom this past week, because each of them knows who they are and there are far too many to mention. I would feel terrible if I left out one single name. We were touched by so much more than the organized activities of the units. We were brought to tears to learn that one of the Troop Commanders played Army Rugby and he now carries a card in his wallet with the names of all the West Point Rugby players who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Tom’s name is among those names, and Tom is remembered daily by his USMA Rugby Brothers. A handful of the young officers were part of the Task Force Martin West Point training during the summer of 2015, when that summer training was named in Tom’s memory. One knew Tom’s story and asked if we maintained contact with Erika and how our three daughters were doing. We were touched by the former Spartan Soldiers who have separated from the Army, continue to live in the Anchorage area, and took the time to pay their respects to Tom this past week and stop by to see us. We learned that no matter if you are a Crusader or full of Chaos, you are family for life. (If you know…you know!)
While the 4th Brigade (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division will reflag to a new unit name, change their colors, switch left shoulder patches, and become 2nd Brigade (Airborne) of the 11th Airborne Division on June 6, 2022, they will never forget their fallen comrades. The 1/40 CAV will remain the same name with a slightly different mission — Arctic! Our week in Anchorage could not have been more perfect as the weather cooperated, we never saw darkness, and we were escorted by 2 of the finest officers. Getting to know our escorts on a personal level (we spent a lot of time in the big white van!) assured us that with young officers like them, the future of our Army is in good hands. We are forever indebted to the diligent Chaplain teams that planned most of the memorable events. Everything was with purpose and every event was incredibly special. Sparta Lives!
