Posted by
crosspatch on Thursday, July 17, 2008 1:53:00 AM
On 13 July 2008, 45 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade along with 25 Afghan soldiers defeated a coordinated attack by 500 Taliban in Kunar province Afghanistan. Nine of the paratroopers were killed and 15 were wounded leaving 21 paratroopers and 21 Afghan soldiers to fight off an attack of 500 enemy. Not only did they manage to kill dozens of the enemy, they also succeeded in repelling the assault.
Ladies and gentlemen, this generation of Americans have stood and answered the call with amazing heroism. Words fail me in my attempt to describe the pride and the gratitude in my heart. The 173rd is based in Italy. There will be no homecoming here in the US. But if any unit in this war deserved a parade, it would be those of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. What an amazing group of young Americans!