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Note: Story is interview with VFW National Commander Lisicki about him meeting with soliders of the 173rd recovering at Landstuhl who suffered wounds during Sunday's Taliban attack on the American base in Kunar Province. Link to audio interview is included. Attack is worst attack in Afghanistan in three years.

Quote:

"Although it was emotionally difficult for them to talk, their spirit and morale was amazing. In their words, even though they were outnumbered four-to-one, they 'took it to the enemy, and kicked butt," the VFW national commander said.

LANDSTUHL, Germany, July 17, 2008--The national commander of the nation's largest organization of combat veterans on Tuesday met with wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, who were recovering from last week's battle on a remote outpost in Afghanistan' Kunar Province, near the border with Pakistan, discounting some media speculation that the soldiers allegedly were ill-prepared when insurgents stormed the American and Afghan outpost in the mountainous northeastern province.

"That's simply not true," George Lisicki, a Vietnam War veteran from Carteret, N. J., said during an interview with Veterans of Foreign Wars "The National Defense" [listen to interview] talk-radio show," adding that, although the men had endured a tremendously fierce battle, they were all lucid in providing details of the early morning Sunday battle.

"Although it was emotionally difficult for them to talk, their spirit and morale was amazing. In their words, even though they were outnumbered four-to-one, they 'took it to the enemy, and kicked butt," the VFW national commander said.

The soldiers, who are with the Vicenza, Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade, had just been deployed to the outpost when about 200 heavily-armed insurgents attacked. Nine of their comrades died during the battle. According to published sources, the attack was "one of the deadliest engagements for the international forces that arrived in Afghanistan in late 2001 to fight the hard-line Taliban movement now waging an insurgency."

"They really smoked them," Lisicki relayed after listening to the soldiers recant the battle in their hospital beds. "They are our heroes, and we are so proud of the individuals who fought in the battle. They gave the insurgents quite a beating."

When asked about their morale, Lisicki said their spirits are high.

"They're really gung ho in everything they are doing. The only thing they regret is that they are in the hospital, and their buddies are back there fighting the war," he said. "Just about all of them want to get back there to fight the battle because they believe in what they are doing and in their mission," adding that he knows they will win the war.

"We have great Americans fighting the battle," he said, "and just listening to their spirit and seeing the dedication they have for their county is remarkable. They believe in what they are doing."

Lisicki, who was on a fact-finding mission in Europe meeting military and government officials, said this unfortunate incident verifies the need for more resources and more allied help in Afghanistan, especially in the eastern area near the Pakistan border.

"We need help," he said, sharing the governmental agencies concerns that the situation is Afghanistan is worsening. "They are telling me our troops are under resourced and are undermanned. We need more help, especially helicopter support, from our allies."

The VFW national commander of the 1.6 million-member combat veterans group will travel next to Kuwait and Bagdad, where he will spend five days with troops

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Here

10 January 2008
Story by Spc. Crystal Abbott, SETAF Public Affairs Office

A Message to the Families of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team

5 June 2008

As the 173rd ABCT passes the year mark of its 15-month tour in Afghanistan, we begin looking forward to redeployment and reunion with families and loved ones. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, we are not yet finished with our mission there. In fact, our Soldiers will be busier than ever during the final three months of their deployment. It is important they remain focused on accomplishing the mission.

At the same time, our installations at Vicenza, Schweinfurt, and Bamberg will begin to establish and rehearse their redeployment systems. Large tents will pop up. Soldier processing facilities will expand. Barracks will be re-opened. Family reintegration programs will be activated. A growing sense of excitement and anticipation is almost inevitable.

Please do not misread this increased activity as a sign of an early redeployment of the 173rd ABCT. Our "Sky Soldiers" are committed to the mission and will complete their 15-month tour in Afghanistan as scheduled. Once the mission is complete, we will welcome our Soldiers home with open arms, recognizing them as the heroes they are.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Our 173rd families have borne a heavy burden during this deployment yet continue to take care of each other and inspire us all. We are in awe of your strength, sacrifice, and resilience.

Sincerely,
BG William B. Garrett III
Commanding General, US Army Southern European Task Force

CSM Earl Rice
Command Sergeant Major, US Army Southern European Task Force

Nine Soldiers killed in Afghanistan

16 July 2008
By: Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (July 16, 2008) — CASERMA EDERLE, Vicenza Italy – Nine Soldiers with the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, currently deployed as Task Force Bayonet in support of the NATO International Security Assistance Force, were killed in action near the city of Wanat, Afghanistan, July 13. Killed were: Spc. Sergio S. Abad, 21, from Morganfield, Ky. Cpl. Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, from Snellville, Ga. Cpl. Jason M. Bogar, 25, from Seattle, Wash. 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, from Honolulu, Hawaii. Sgt. Israel Garcia, 24, from Long Beach, Calif. Cpl. Jason D. Hovater, 24, from Clinton, Tenn. Cpl. Matthew B. Phillips, 27, from Jasper, Ga. Cpl. Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, from Haw River, N.C. Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, from St. Louis, Mo. The nine Soldiers, assigned to Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Brigade (Airborne), were killed when a large enemy force attacked their position using small arms, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. A memorial ceremony will be held Friday, July 18, in the post chapel at 2 p.m. For additional information, call the SETAF Public Affairs Office at 0444-71-7011 (office) or 328-733-2167 (cell).