Fort Rucker, AL
C 509th Wall
Desert Two - Operation HONEY BADGER the planned second attempt to rescue the American Embassy hostages in Iran. The mission was cancelled when Ronald Regan was elected President and the hostages were released. Many of our modern day Special Operations capabilities were born from the experience.
Back Row (L to R) 1. SSG Street, 2. SSG Burger, 3. SSG Harrmann, 4. 2LT Luedke, 5. SPC Roberts, 6. SPC Gilmore, 7. SPC Miller, 8. SPC Collier, 9. Mystery from Dallas, 10. SPC Goings, 11. SPC Trumble, 12. SGT Rock, 13. CPL Palmer, 14. SPC Bellamy, 15. SGT Cruzan, 16. SPC Honeycutt, 17. SPC Crosby, 18. SFC Simon, 19. CPT Holden, 20. SPC Joslin, 21. SGT Motta
Middle Row (L to R) 1. 2. SPC Boyin, 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. SPC Phelps, 8. SPC Eskeli, 9. PFC Darden, 10. PFC Allen, 11. SPC Morden
Front Row (L to R) 1. SPC Little, 2. SPC Gilespe, 3. 4. 5. SPC Darden, 6. SPC Gossett, 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. PFC Perez, Mystery, SSG Bledsoe
Early 1980s
Back Row (L to R):
Middle-Back Row (L to R):
Middle Row (L to R):
Middle-Front Row (L to R):
Front Row (L to R): 1. PFC, 2, PVT, 3. SSG, 4. SPC, 5. SPC, 6. SSGT, 7. 2LT, 8. SPC, 9. SSG, 10. PFC, 11. SPC
Kneeling Front (L to R): 1. 1LT, 2. SFC, 3. CPT, 4. 2LT
Sharkwater DZ 1983
Back Row (L to R):
Middle Row (L to R):
Front Row (L to R):1. UKN, 2. UKN, 3. UKN, 4. UKN, 5. UKN, 6. Russ Grindle
Fort Rucker, AL 1986
Back Row (L to R):
Front Row (L to R): 1. SFC, 2. UKN, 3. PVT, 4. SFC, 5. UKN, 6. SPC, 7. SGT, 8. UKN, 9. CPT, 10. 1SG J. O. Hartsfield, 11. UKN, 12. UKN, 13. UKN, 14. SPC, 15. UKN, 16. UKN, 17. 1LT, 18. UKN, 19. 1LT, 20. 1LT
This article provided by Chris Leyda describes a 509th PIR activation ceremony taking place on 14 Feb 1986 at Fort Rucker, AL. It is interesting to note since it is not documented in the offical unit lineage and honors
C Company, 509th Parachute Infantry (Pathfinders) 1987 at Fort Rucker, AL
Back Row (L to R): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Ratowski, 25 Thomas Morris, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
Front Row (L to R): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22
Reunion 2003
Back Row (L to R): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Front Row (L to R): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
(L to R): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
SGT(P) Patbouvier E Ortiz - KIA
On 22 August 1990, five members of C Co (Pathfinders) stationed at Ft Rucker, AL were selected to go to the Persian Gulf attached to the 18th Airborne Corps, 101st Airborne Div (Air Assault). Their mission was to perform search and rescue for downed aviators, sling load operations, and set up Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARP). For this deployment they received the Valorous Unit Award.
During a search and rescue mission with three 509ers aboard, their helicopter was shot down. Two were KIA and one became a POW.
Their names are:
SSG Larry M(Mike) Richardson - AL left the service.
SGT (P) Dennis L(Lloyd) Smith - went to 75th Rangers (Active)
SGT(P) Patbouvier E Ortiz - KIA
SGT Roger P(Paul) Brilinski - KIA
SGT Troy A. Dunlap - POW
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