The Alpha Company Award Ceremony is a special occasion once a month to allow the unit commander to honor recipients who have been recognized for their accomplishments while assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Realism Gaming Unit.

The Secretary of the Army has reposed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and professional excellence of the following Soldiers. In view of these qualities and their dedicated service to the 3rd Infantry Division they are, therefore, promoted and awarded the following.

Notes for June:

First Lieutenant B.Lambert marks 2 years of service.
Staff Sergeant G.Tucci marks 1 year of service.
Sergeant A.Sam marks 1 year of service.
Sergeant J.Kiheri marks 1 year of service.
Sergeant K.Skitz marks 1 year of service.

First Lieutenant Bailey Lambert takes on duties as Alpha Company Executive Officer.
Officer Candidate Jannes Drake takes leadership of First Platoon as Widowmakers Platoon Leader.

Alpha Company, Second Infantry Brigade Combat Team has deployed to Mopti, central Mali.

The following Soldiers are promoted to:

E-3  PRIVATE FIRST CLASS

Private Second Class David Pelerine is promoted to Private First Class.

Private Second Class Ray Thomas is promoted to Private First Class.

Private Second Class Jimbo Red is promoted to Private First Class.

E-4B  SPECIALIST

Private First Class Tony Pearson is promoted to Specialist

E-4A  CORPORAL

Specialist Paul Liwa is promoted to Corporal.

W-2  CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 2

Warrant Officer 1 Garry Beaudoin is promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2.

E-5  OFFICER CANDIDATE

First Sergeant Jannes Drake is promoted to Officer Candidate.

The following Soldiers were awarded:

MILITARY OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL

HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL

Sergeant James Kiheri

Corporal Arthur Pendergast

Specialist Vinny Garcia

ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL

Warrant Officer 1 Robert Paxton

Corporal Ryan Leng

Specialist Giancarlo Orsini

GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE MEDAL

Private First Class Wolffe Fives

Private Second Class Adi Bar

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL

Sergeant Kyle Skitz

Sergeant James Kiheri

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

Private Second Class Austin Bills

GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL

Officer Candidate Jannes Drake

Staff Sergeant David Sklenar

Sergeant Daniel Shade

Specialist Kyle Holmes

Specialist Brandon Perez

Specialist Tony Pearson

Private First Class Zoren Bernardino

Private First Class David Meadows

ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Sergeant Daniel Shade - With “C” Device

Corporal Arthur Pendergast - With “C” Device

Corporal Paul Liwa - With “C” Device

Specialist Nathan Cooper - With “C” Device

Specialist Tomas Unger - With “C” Device

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Garry Beaudoin

Specialist Alexander Vandle

JOINT SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL

Staff Sergeant David Sklenar

Sergeant Johnny Ayers

Sergeant Emil Poltorak

Specialist Alexander Vandle

Specialist Vinny Garcia

Private First Class Joe Harris

ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL

Warrant Officer 1 Ben Inka - With “V” Device

Sergeant Emil Poltorak - With “V” Device

Specialist Vinny Garcia - With “V” Device

JOINT SERVICE COMMENDATION MEDAL

First Lieutenant Bailey Lambert

Warrant Officer 1 Robert Paxton

Staff Sergeant David Sklenar

Staff Sergeant Giancarlo Tucci

PURPLE HEART

BRONZE STAR

DEFENSE SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL

COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE (STAGE 1)

Specialist Alexander Vandle

Private First Class Chris Winters

Private First Class Austin Mundar

Private First Class David Meadows

Private First Class Damian Paz

Private Second Class Damian Rivacoba

Private Second Class Min Nguyen

Private Second Class Derek Frost

Private Second Class Spencer Reynolds

Private Second Class Luke Smith

Private Second Class Scott Kidon

COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE (STAGE 2)

Specialist Nathan Cooper

Specialist Giancarlo Orsini

Private First Class David Pelerine

COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE (STAGE 3)

Private First Class Wolffe Fives

Private Second Class Adi Bar

COMBAT ACTION BADGE

Private Second Class Austin Bills

3RD INFANTRY DIVISION UNIT PATCH

Private First Class Wolffe Fives

Private Second Class Adi Bar

During Ceremony this past Sunday First Sergeant J.Drake announced two major leadership assignments in Alpha Company, First Platoon. The following Soldiers have been promoted to:

First Lieutenant Bailey Lambert – Executive Officer, A-CO, 1-2 IN

A seasoned 3rdID veteran, First Lieutenant B.Lambert has continued to to set the example within the Unit. As a Soldier during operations he leads from the front and commands with respect and authority and expects his orders to be carried out by the letter, which in 99 percent of all cases they do. 1LT B.Lambert has also shown great commitment to the Unit in DMOS duties as well, holding seven individual DMOS jobs and committing to them with excellence. It is with great pride that we announce and recognize 1LT’s accomplishments and his promotion to Executive Officer of Alpha Company.

Officer Candidate Jannes Drake – Platoon Leader, 1/A-CO, 1-2 IN

Another long standing 3rdID veteran, Officer Candidate J.Drake shown great leadership and dedication to the Unit. Over his time within the 3rdID OCS J.Drake has proven to be dependable and always at the ready, taking over when things get rough and setting the example for those under him to follow. Due to his exemplary leadership as 1SG, it is with great admiration that Jannes Drake be promoted to Officer Candidate to further lead the Unit as he has in the past. We have no doubt in his ability to lead and delegate those under him. Congratulations Drake and welcome to the Officers Corps!

HOOAH!

Congratulations to the soldiers of OSUT class 21-21 (ARMA3) for successful completion of training! These soldiers have been awarded the Army Service Ribbon and have earned the right to be fully active members of their squad and the unit! This is merely the first step in your career here at 3rdID, we look forward to your continued success! Hooah

Graduates:

Private First Class John Reynold 
Private Second Class Chase Harris 
Private Second Class Scott Kidon  

Image credit: US Coast Guard

Today the free world commemorates the 77th anniversary of the Allied Landings at Normandy. These combined airborne and amphibious assaults were codenamed Operation Overlord, the invasion of  western Europe. D-Day was June 6, 1944.

Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada conducted the assaults onto Fortress Europe.

The attack began shortly after midnight with airborne assaults by the US 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and UK 6th Airborne Division. Parachuting across Normandy, these airborne troopers were to secure the flanks of the landing zone and clear roads from the coast inland. However, in the confusion of that drop, many soldiers were scattered, with some men landing miles from their objectives.

Several hours later, at daybreak, Allied Command launched the amphibious assault on five beaches: Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword.

Image credit: HM Government, United Kingdom

The US Army deployed the 1st, 4th, and 29th Infantry Divisions, as well as numerous smaller units onto Utah and Omaha Beaches. Omaha was the most heavily fortified and defended, and GIs suffered immense casualties in the first waves of the attack. The UK also deployed its 3rd and 50th Infantry Divisions on Gold and Sword Beaches, with support from elements of 79th Armoured Division and 8th Armoured Brigade across the entire British zone. Canada’s 3rd Infantry Division landed on Juno Beach.

Having expected landings to be made further north near Calais, German forces were initially shocked and confused by the assaults. However, they organized their forces quickly across the front and defended against the Americans, British, and Canadians ferociously. Confusion among the Allies also slowed the initial push into the French interior.

The fighting was hard and the costs were high. On D-Day, some 4,414 US, British, and Canadian personnel were killed or missing in action. An almost equal number were wounded.

The Germans suffered similar losses, with an estimated 4,000-9,000 casualties that day.

From June 6 until the end of the operation on August 21, 1944, Allied Forces suffered a total of 72,911 killed or missing in action. Another 153,475 men were wounded in action.

The Germans continued to lose more and more under the weight of the invasion. In Normandy, the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe suffered some 240,000 casualties, with 200,000 more captured.

Through this chaos, the free world made its return to Western Europe, and in the process, freed untold millions of people from the murderous oppression of the Axis. Today, we remember the cost of freedom.

Congratulations to the soldiers of Combat Lifesaver Course class 21-04 (ARMA3) for successful completion of Combat Lifesaver training! The Combat Lifesaver Course is the official medical training course conducted by the US Army, intended to provide an intermediate step between the buddy aid-style basic life support taught to every soldier. The combat lifesaver is primarily responsible for providing emergency medical treatment at point of wounding on the battlefield, limited primary care, and health protection and evacuation from a point of injury or illness.

Graduates:

Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock
Specialist Paul Liwa
Specialist Angie Bee
Private Second Class David Pelerine
Private Second Class Derek Frost

Instructors:

Corporal Arthur Pendergast
Specialist Hazel McMahon
Specialist Giancarlo Orsini

Congratulations to the soldiers of Land Navigation Course class 21-04 (ARMA3) for successful completion of Land Navigation training! The Land Navigation course is designed teach the fundamentals of basic land navigating skills. This course assists Soldiers in Infantry and non-Infantry fitted rolls to understand the techniques required to land navigate. Students learn navigating from one point on the ground to another point individually. 

Graduates:

Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock
Staff Sergeant David Sklenar
Sergeant Maarten Gregoire
Sergeant Johnny Ayers
Warrant Officer 1 Ben Inka
Private First Class Austin Mundar
Private Second Class Jimbo Red
Private Second Class David Pelerine

Instructors:

Corporal Arthur Pendergast
Specialist Alexander Vandle
Private First Class Tony Pearson

NCO's are the backbone of the unit and the Army. The Warrior Leadership Course is a two day event that helps prepare soldiers to take up the role of NCO, giving them the tools needed to be effective leaders. Candidates are those Specialists and Corporals who have shown the potential and drive to be solid leaders of Fireteams as well as opening the opportunity for advance to Sergeant and beyond.

Graduates:

Warrant Officer 1 Ben Inka 
Specialist Alexander Vandle 
Specialist Caue Moalli 
Specialist Angie Bee 
Specialist Kyle Holmes 

Instructors:

First Sergeant Jannes Drake

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May every year, in remembrance of those who have died serving the United States Military. While its exact origins are not known, it was started sometime after the Civil War when Americans across the country started to independently give tribute to the sacrifice of those who served, decorating their graves and giving prayers. In 1868 General John A. Logan proclaimed that May 30th would be “Decoration Day”, which would soon evolve into Memorial Day, earning status as a federal holiday in 1971.

The total number of American soldiers who have died in war is over a million, the most deadly conflicts being the American Civil War (620,000-750,000 dead), both World Wars (116,516 and 405,399), the Vietnam War (58,209) and the Korean War (36,516). In the three day Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War, both sides had a combined amount of casualties of 51,000 with 7,000 dead. In World War I, the Meuse–Argonne offensive was the final Allied push which ended the war, but claimed the lives of 22,277 American expeditionary troops. In the invasion of Normandy, 2,500 American servicemen died in one day. In Vietnam, 12,000 of the American soldiers who died were draftees. In the forgotten war of Korea, the aptly named Battle of Bloody Ridge resulted in the loss of 2,600 American lives.

Those may just be statistics, but each number had ascribed to it a name and a family like you or I, cut short by conflict in the preservation of the nation and her interests. Soldiers faced many deadly challenges throughout the years of conflict, beyond combat with the enemy. These included starvation and exhaustion, disease, and environmental exposure. Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer in the United States, with the weekend being taken up by family barbeques and stores sales, take a minute of the day to remember those took up arms, and gave their lives.

If you wish, you can look here to see some of those faces of the 6,840 killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.