Memorial Day - 2025

[Ooh-Rah]

Putting my personal memories aside, each Memorial Day I find myself reflecting on two specific events: the tragedy in Benghazi and the loss of Extortion 17. Both were devastating in their own right — one likely preventable, and the other so staggering that I still struggle to comprehend the impact; not only to the Special Operations community, but to our Nation itself.

Extortion 17 - National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum

Never Forget

 

[Topkick]

Putting my personal memories aside, each Memorial Day I find myself reflecting on two specific events: the tragedy in Benghazi and the loss of Extortion 17. Both were devastating in their own right — one likely preventable, and the other so staggering that I still struggle to comprehend the impact; not only to the Special Operations community, but to our Nation itself.

Extortion 17 - National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum

Never Forget

Watching a veterans memorial day tribute on TV last night, my wife could tell I was in a somber state and asked if me I was ok. I told her that what upsets me is that these very kind of days tend to be forgotten with time. My battle buddy was killed by a VBIED in 2005, I was there and helped clean it up, and besides his family, sometimes I think I'm the only one who remembers that instead of just a day off work to drink beer and barbecue.

 

[Gunz]

Marines of my company--7th Co, 2nd Combined Action Group, 1970-71--I've carried their names in my wallet for decades. When the paper the list is written on wears out, I write a new list.

Pfc Andrew Phillips
Pfc Daniel Wood
Sgt Ron Chapman
Pfc David Fogg
L/Cpl Frank Dawson
Sgt Ken Whitmer
Pfc Robert Hardwick
L/Cpl Doug Carrol
L/Cpl Larry Hoyt
Cpl Dale Hutchins
Pfc Richard Smith
HM2 Robert Lopez
Cpl Ansel Morse
Sgt John Thornton
Sgt Mahlon Kelly
Pfc Johnny Briseno
L/Cpl John Sievers
Pfc Greg Keller
L/Cpl Glen Fiester
L/Cpl John Arteaga
L/Cpl Dan Gallagher
L/Cpl Ronnie Ross

 

[Ooh-Rah]

I happened upon this over the weekend, and thought it a story worth sharing. It is the story of US Army Captain, Reilly Leroy Pitts; Pitts was first black man to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

This story is less about the Medal (you can read the citation in the link below), and more about his family and their ability to connect with him long after his death in Vietnam. It’s a short video, and well worth a viewing in remembrance.

Random observation — I went down a bit of a rabbit hole on Captain Pitts after watching that video and ended up watching a few other interviews and clips about him. One thing that really stood out: during a firefight in Vietnam, he jumped on a grenade that landed near him… and it turned out to be a dud.

No sarcasm or controversy intended here, but honestly — shouldn’t there be a standing rule that if someone jumps on a grenade, dud or not, it’s an automatic Medal of Honor?

Riley Leroy Pitts | Vietnam War | U.S. Army | Medal of Honor Recipient