Widows, Orphans, and Wounded Soldiers Fund Recipients

The Widows, Orphans, and Wounded Soldiers Fund (WO&WS) has identified a number of needs in order to support the active duty troops of the 4th Brigade Combat Team while they are deployed to Afghanistan 2013 - 2014. WIA in US Hospitals: if a WIA soldier is transported to the United States, the Hospital Visitation Teams from the 506th Association spring into action. Working closely with the 4th BCT Rear Detachment at Fort Campbell, KY, the Association is notified of any incoming wounded. A representative of the Association visits soldiers in hospitals throughout the United States. This representative assists the soldier and any visiting family members in any way pos- sible. In addition, the Association representative presents a number of items to the soldier who has been injured. These items include the following: 506th Association Gym/Duffel Bag Currahee Battle Flag Pin 4th BCT Low-Profile Hat Currahee Battle Flag Static Cling Currahee Decal 506th Association Challenge Coin. Families of KIA Soldiers: at funeral/burial services, a 506th Association representative presents a Currahee Battle Flag and Currahee Battle Flag Pins to the family of any soldier who is KIA. The 506th Association provides additional items, including a luncheon at the Dining Facility (DFAC) and flowers, at the monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Campbell, KY. Grants to WIA Soldiers and Their Families: if there is a financial hardship which involves either the wounded soldier or their family, the WO&WS Fund may award a monetary grant to provide assistance during their time of need. A need may be identified by the family of the soldier WIA, the 506th Association Representative or the 4th BCT Rear Detachment at Fort Campbell. The WO&WS Fund has been able to assist the following families and/or individuals during their time of need. 2013 Grants: (1) to PV2 Caleb V. Hemmen (A Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Caleb at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (2) to CPL Ethan Laberge (A Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with unanticipated expenses incurred by family members traveling to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Ethan while he undergoes medical treatment. (3) to SGT Jason Brown (A Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with unanticipated expenses incurred by family members traveling to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Jason while he undergoes medical treatment (4) to 2LT Sean Johnson (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by Sean's parents while visiting Sean at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (5) to SPC Jeff Page (A Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with travel expenses incurred by family members who came a great distance to be with Jeff at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where he is undergoing treatment. (6) to members of B Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT, to assist with expenses incurred during travel from Fort Campbell, KY to Arlington National Cemetery so they could attend the funeral of SGT Corey Garver B/1-506 Infantry, KIA in Afghanistan. The contingent consisted of SFC Garcia and his wife, SSG Wood with his wife and son, SGT Carvallo, SSG Perkins, SGT Fritch, SPC Velazquez, and SPC Angerstein. (7) to PFC Brian Messersmith (A Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with unanticipated expenses incurred by family members traveling to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Brian while he undergoes medical treatment. (8) to SPC Pierre Lallemand (B BTY, 4th BN, 320th FA, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting him at Fort Belvoir Army, Hospital where he is undergoing treatment (9) to SPC Claude Pullen (B BTY, 4th BN, 320th FA, 4th BCT ), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting him at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. 10) to 1LT John Orosz (B BTY, 4th BN, 320th FA, 4th BCT ), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with travel expenses incurred by his parents and sister who are now with John at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. 11) to SPC Aaron Decino (C Co, 2nd BN, 506th, 4th BCT), injured in Afghanistan, to assist with unanticipated expenses incurred by family members traveling to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Aaron while he undergoes medical treatment. 12) to SPC Joe Cleland (B Co, 801st BSB, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with unanticipated expenses incurred by family members traveling to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Joe while he undergoes medical treatment. 2012 Grants: (1) to SP4 (R) Eric Jordan (C Co, 1st BN, 506th, 2003-2005), to assist with expenses associated with the repair of his IBOT Mobility System, which is out of warranty. Eric survived a truck rollover accident on November 10, 2004 in Iraq and was awarded a Purple Heart on his 21st birthday at the James Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL. February 15, 2012 Thank you so much for helping me get my chair fixed. I really appreciate what you have done for me. Sincerely, Eric Currahee (2) to SSG Julio Larrea (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), for unexpected needs that have occurred, as a hospital outpatient, during a prolonged recovery from wounds received during the 2010-2011 4th BCT deployment to Afghanistan. (3) to SGT Wayne Swier (C Troop, 1-61st CAV, 4th BCT), for unexpected needs that have occurred, as a hospital outpatient, during a prolonged recovery from wounds received during the 2010-2011 4th BCT deployment to Afghanistan. (4) to CPT Aaron Palmer (C Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), for unexpected needs that have occurred, as a hospital outpatient, during a prolonged recovery from wounds received during the 2010-2011 4th BCT deployment to Afghanistan. 2011 Grants: (1) to SGT Julio Larrea (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Julio at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (2) to SPC Wayne Swier (C Troop, 1-61st CAV, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members traveling from South Dakota to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Wayne while he continues to undergo treatment related to his wounds. (3) to SSG Jibriel Starks (B Battery, 4-320th FAR, 4th BCT), to assist with legal expenses incurred as a result of an incident of child neglect involving Jabriel's children and wife. This incident occurred while SSG Starks was deployed to Afghanistan. He is now back at Fort Campbell attempting to resolve a child custody issue in his favor. (4) to CPT Aaron Palmer (C Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Aaron at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (5) to SPC Keith Mendez (D Co, 1st BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Keith at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (6) to SPC Miguel McNair (C Troop, 1-61st CAV, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Miguel at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (7) to PFC Keith Oliver [E Co, 801st BSB (1st BN, 506th), 4th BCT], WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Keith at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (8) to SGT Stanley Zavalla (A Co, 2nd BN, 506th, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members while visiting Stanley at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where he is undergoing treatment. (9) to PFC Jenny Urbano (C Co, 4th BSTB), for expenses incurred at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, while undergoing treatment for wounds sustained in Afghanistan. (10) to Chris Dubois (former SP4 in C Co, 4th BSTB), to assist with expenses incurred while visiting his comrade in arms, PFC Jenny Urbano (C Co, 4th BSTB) at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she is undergoing treatment for wounds sustained in Afghanistan. PFC Urbano's family members live in Columbia, South America, and are unable to travel to the United States to visit her. (11) to Tina Roman [mother of SPC Rafael Nieves, Jr. (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, KIA 07/10/11 in Afghanistan)], for expenses incurred while transporting Rafael's siblings to the Eagle Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Campbell, KY to honor SPC Nieves. October 4, 2011 To: 506 Association My whole family appreciation for this special gift has no words. We are thankful for people like you that help in a time when some of us are so lost, we can not focus at the time. It is my duty to honor my son Rafael Nieves Jr. He was an amazing son, father, husband, and brother, and most of all, soldier. Thank you again, Roman Family Nieves Family Santiago Family (12) to Roseanna Bowen [stepmother of SPC Rafael Nieves, Jr. (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, KIA 07/10/11 in Afghanistan)], to assist with expenses incurred while traveling to the Eagle Remembrance Ceremony at Fort Campbell, KY to honor SPC Nieves. (13) to Katie Adams [mother of the youngest daughter of SSG Kenneth K McAninch (A Co, 1st BN, 506th, KIA 10/21/10 in Afghanistan)], to assist with travel expenses, for one of her daughters, to Fort Campbell, KY, to attend the Gold Star Family events at the 2011 Currahee Rendezvous. (14) to cover the costs of meals for all of the Gold Star family members (of the KIAs from the 2010-2011 Afghanistan deployment), who attended the Gold Star Luncheon and Currahee Memorial Dinner at the 2011 Currahee Rendezvous at Fort Campbell, KY. 2010 Grants: (1) to SFC(R) Todd Ingraham of Converse, TX [father of SSG Thor H. Ingraham, (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, KIA 05/08/05)] for unexpected legal expenses incurred while performing his job as a private security officer. Since the original incident occurred, Todd Ingraham was able to pay back the Association for their grant, turning this assistance from a grant to a short term loan. Todd Ingraham wants to thank the Association for their assistance in his time of need. (2) to SSG Mario J. (Hank) DiCarlo of Fort Washington, PA who served as a SSG in H Co, 3rd BN, 506th PIR, 1942-1945 [WIA D-Day (06/06/44) bullet in chest] for his medical expenses and living expenses for his wife, Gloria, while both battle separate illnesses. Hank died of his illness on 09/30/10. October 21, 2010 Dear Mr. Moore (and everyone at the 506th), I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the WO&WS award you sent. It was very unexpected, but was extremely helpful and made me feel much better during a very difficult time. It's nice to know there are still caring people like you. My husband treasured being a part of the 506th, and I can understand why. Again, a very special thank you. Sincerely, Gloria DiCarlo (3) to SPC Wayne Swier (C Troop, 1-61st CAV, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members traveling from South Dakota to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Wayne while he undergoes surgery related to his wounds. (4) to SPC Josh Brown (HHC, 4th BSTB, 4th BCT), WIA in Afghanistan, to assist with expenses incurred by family members traveling from Wisconsin to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in order to be with Josh while he undergoes surgery related to his wounds. 2009 Grants: (1) to the family of SPC Ryan Price (D Co, 2nd BN, 506th; WIA 05/07/08) to help cover the cost of adding a room for Ryan onto the family home in Nuevo, CA. From the family: "Thank you for everything you do for Ryan and the other men & women who have served, are serving and will be serving. You are truly a blessing to us." March 15, 2009 Good Morning Mr. Langenberg, I wanted to thank you for inviting us to attend the Dinner last night I had a great time. The men of the 101st are truly something. I also wanted to let all of you know what it means to those of us who are not in the service but can see how a tight, caring group of people you are. I would have said this last night but I did not think I could get it all out without tears. When I received the call from the Army and was told that Ryan was injured I just flat could not breathe for days. At that time the Captain that called me did not know how bad of shape he was in. He just said Ryan had severe artery damage to his right arm and some shrapnel damage and burns to his face but he was not sure how bad. It was not until about 2 days later when he arrived in Germany that I learned about everything else. The doctor in Germany told me to start with that they were calling Ryan the beautiful miracle because there was no other way to explain how he was still with us. She said that the only part of Ryan that had not received some kind of injury was his left arm. I remember thinking to myself that can't be Ryan is like 6'4" that would be a whole lot of injuries. Unfortunately that is what it was. I will not go into all his injuries but the doctor informed me that I needed to be prepared for brain damage because (she said I needed to understand this) Ryan was dead twice. The men from the 101st and 506th kept Ryan alive in the field by not giving up on him and by (as we were told later) relaying to the pilots coming to get him how bad he was so when the weather turned even worse and they were told to abort and leave Ryan they would not. Back at the base hospital when they were so short of blood because Ryan and his 1st lieutenant had the same blood type the men lined up and gave blood even though they had just come in or were just getting ready to go out to the field. There was also a 101st member standing at Walter Reed when he was flown in from Germany. The support that was given to Ryan also extended to his family. I truly cannot possibly explain what it meant to have someone their who really cared about Ryan and not just another patient that came in. I sometimes wondered if the men from the 101st that were watching over the men in the hospital there ever went home because they always seemed to be their not only for Ryan and all the men of the 101st but for me as well. They would offer to sit with Ryan while I took a walk outside for a minute or sat with Ryan when I had to sit in with the doctors. One even rounded up all of us Mothers one day and gave us each a 20.00 bill and said this was a new branch of the 101st he said we were to get out of the hospital right then. He said go to the movies at the mall, go out to lunch in town or go hang our legs over the bar stool on the corner but that we were all getting out of that hospital for the afternoon and that was that. When we had Ryan transferred to San Diego they had called down here to friends, family and a member of the 506th, Hoyt Bruce Moore, III, to let them all know Ryan was coming. We have received the same amount of care and concern here in California that we had there. I had a reporter ask me the other day what it was like for us to be alone in all this, I told him I did not know what he was talking about I have my faith in GOD and the men of the 101st and of the 506th we were never alone. From a Grateful Mom Beverly (Dee) Shackford (2) to SFC Jeremy D. Henderson (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, Sep 03-Sep 05; WIA 04/15/07), severely WIA in Iraq while serving with the 2-12 INF. SFC Henderson continues to have medical problems with additional surgeries. His wife Tina was officially dismissed from her Department of Army job because the DOA did not want to allow her to come back as a part-time worker. This resulted in continuing financial hardship on the family. 2008 Grants: (1) to SFC Jeremy D. Henderson (B Co, 1st BN, 506th, Sep 03-Sep 05; WIA 04/15/07), who was so severely WIA in Iraq while serving with the 2-12 INF, that Tina, SFC Henderson's wife, had to take a leave of absence from her job in order to assist in the convalescent care of her husband. The loss of her income placed a financial hardship on the Hendersons and their children. From the Hendersons: "Thank you so much. We appreciate all your help. People like you make the difference!" (2) to SSG Michael G. Smith (C Co, 2nd BN, 506th, 2007-2008), an Iraq veteran who became severely ill, placing a financial hardship on his wife and children. SSG Smith died of his illness on April 8, 2009. 2006 Grants: (1) to SGT Anthony Santiago for expenses to travel from the School of Special Warfare in North Carolina to Florida to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law, SSG Marco A. Silva (HHC, 1st BN, 506th; KIA 03/13/06) (2) to Andrew and Anita Torres of Crossville, TN, parents of PFC Matthew Torres (B Co, 1st BN, 506th; WIA February 2006), for expenses incurred while visiting their son, who had been evacuated to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.