Charlie Co. Today.....News & What's happening with our current Currahee's
AFGANISTAN DEPLOYMENT - 2016
Sir, I apologize for the radio silence as of late. We have been hard at work training with METF (Mongolians) and Gurkhas. Things have definitely been "boring," more so than usual. The fighting season is close to an end, but not quite, so we're still expectant of something more happening before winter rolls around.
We finally got around to taking a new picture of the platoon for you. the picture includes (left to right):
Front: SFC Beauchamp (PSG), PFC Massa, PV2 Mendoza, CPL Sufra (1st ATL), and PFC Raines
Middle: PV2 Rogers, SSG Whenman (WSL/2nd SL), SPC Guzman (2nd ATL), SPC Shepherd (FO), SPC Johnson, PFC Russell (RTO, promoted to PFC immediately following this picture), SPC Boehm, 1LT McNeilly (PL)
Back: SGT Bockmier (1st BTL), SPC Watson, SPC Solórzano, SPC Mathias, SGT Hedge (1st SL), SPC Gilabert, SGT Quintana (2nd BTL)
You'll notice our task org is small. When we deployed we were told our mission set would require fewer PAX, so in addition to 6 PAX I lost to injury/legal issues, I lost another 5 PAX now serving in 1st and 2nd PLT. However, we fought to keep our best; while we lost one we really wanted to keep, the people represented in the picture earned their place there.
As for the needs here, I collected a list of things some of the guys were asking for (I kept their notes the way they wrote them so you could get a laugh out of it; (they're Infantrymen for sure):
- Real Beef Jerky, none of that Umberto's bulls**t. I want beef, not soy
- Big's Seeds, Ranch
- Sour Candy
- Hygiene stuff, especially Razors and Shaving Cream. Gotta be tough with the scruff
- Recommended reads, military, philosophy, history, adventure
- Comic books
- Puzzle Books, Sudoku, Crosswords, I'm going insane
- Sketch Books and Wooden Pencils
- Hot Cheetos, the DFAC hasn't torn me up enough
- Copenhagen, always more Copenhagen
Thanks for your continued correspondence, and for the continued support. _____________________________________________________
Send the above items to the following address; ___________________________________________________________________________
1LT McNeilly, Brian (3rd Platoon)
C Co, 2-506 IN
NKC
APO AE 09354
...
CURRAHEE REUNION - 2015, Toccoa GA
Over the Labor Day Weekend in September 2015 a core group of Charlie Company Afganistan Veterans headed up by Kerry Basset started a new Currahee tradition. They got together for their 1st Reunion in Toccoa Georgia, the birthplace of the 101st Airborne Divison. Not counting the 5 old Currahee Vietnam Vets on the right that showed up for support, here is the line-up that attended this 1st Reunion;
Kerry Bassett, Tony Garcia, Josh Williamson, Nick Fout, Chase Hamley, Josh Kemp, Chris Gildner, Josh Swink, Seth Vance, Chad Sears, Mike Hall, Charles Peifer, Tommy Vanier, Eric How, Dustin Simmons, Ezekiel Rivera, and Nate Weiss
A morning run to the "Top of Currahee Mountain" brings it all home. _Three generations of currahee veterans have now shown the world that the motto "Once a Currahee, Always a Currahee" is alive and well. _In each of the future reunions this core group will grow and grow. I believe that the "Torch has been Passed" and that time will reveal the true hearts of these young Vets. They have come together for the support and benefit of all. Come what may, "Currahees - Then, Now, & Always!"
Gary's Gilliam Report. . .
Over Labor Day weekend Charlie Company 2/506 2004-2009 had their first reunion attended by Kerry Bassett, Tony Garcia, Josh Williamson, Nick Fout, Chase Hamley, Josh Kemp, Chris Gildner, Josh Swink, Seth Vance, Chad Sears, Mike Hall, Charles Peifer, Tommy Vanier, Eric How, Dustin Simmons, Ezekiel Rivera, Nate Weiss, along with some of their significant others.
Dave Simonds, Frank Matsko, Glenn Shuman, Bob Lister and I attended their first reunion and it was amazing. They had 17 attend and 5 old Currahees crashed their party. We were treated so amazing but we went with a mission to encourage them to join with us as we go to Ft Campbell next year as Charlie Company.
They ran up Currahee Mountain while we followed in the 4 wheel drive Yukon. It was a hard run for them but we did shut off the AC so we could experience the hard climb to the top. Currahee mountain is 3 miles up and 3 miles down I have to say we old Currahees hardly broke a sweat.
...
CURRAHEE RENDEZVOUS - 2014
Another chapter in the history of the Regiment is coming to a close when the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 506th Infantry Regiment (Currahee) returns home this Winter after its' most recent deployment in Afghanistan.
COL Valery C. Keaveny, Jr., Brigade Commander, is inviting all of us to Fort Campbell in order to celebrate the unit's return. Plans are being made for Currahee Rendezvous - 2014 to take place in March 2014. So far plans include an Open House at Brigade and all Battalion HQ's on Wednesday, March 12th and Thursday, March 13th; Also on Thursday, March 13th a Currahee Memorial Monument Rededication and a Distinguished Member of the Regiment (DMOR) Ceremony will be held. The grand finale will be on the evening of Friday, March 14th a Currahee Regimental Ball to be held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
Job Well Done & Welcome Home!! . . . . We will see you in March!!
...
Straight from Fort Campbell KY....The latest news and happenings right from the CO's Office. The Company Commander desires to work closely with us Vietnam Veterans, and keep us informed on the most recent developments. It is of great importance to all of the 2/506th members, past and present, that the Currahee Tradition of the older veterans supporting the active soldiers of today continues to stay strong. Once a Currahee, Always a Currahee! To that end, our website will begin to work closer and harder to keep you up to date.
Just scroll down this page and have a look on what is happening now and how you can help the young men and their family's who are currently serving with the 2nd/506th Battalion. What a great way to help out the Battalion and develop some really neat relationships. Nothing can do more for your personel pride than to continue to work in the behalf of the unit that you served with.....
CURRAHEE! 4th BCT - 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION deployment recap video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVSpl1vk-nk&noredirect=1
The defense of COP Margah: a story of valor:
http://www.army.mil/article/49309/The_defense_of_COP_Margah__a_story_of_valor
Watch "C 506th" in action during this deployment (AKA Fox Co.) . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GkNb7V_0XM
Fox Co., 2-506 PIR, air assault, northern Bermel, ...
Fox Co , 2-506 PIR, patrol in Baqer Kheyl, Afghanistan, ...
Fox Co., 2-506 PIR, patrol around Margah, Paktika, ...