bigjarofwasps

Appleton Guard Unit Returning From Iraq

(AP) A unit of the Wisconsin Army National Guard that has had three soldiers killed in action is due home this week after more than a year in the Middle East.

The Guard said about 600 members of the Second Battalion, 127th Infantry are scheduled to return to Volk Field in two plane-loads, one tomorrow evening and the other Saturday afternoon.

The unit was based in Kuwait, and its convoy security mission took the troops throughout Iraq as they escorted military and civilian convoys in armed and armored Humvee "gun trucks."

The soldiers who died were 20-year-old Specialist Michael Wendling of Mayville ... 25-year-old Sergeant Andrew Wallace of Oshkosh ... and 20-year-old Sergeant Ryan Jopek of Merrill.

The Guard says members of the unit will stay at Fort McCoy for several days before heading home.

The 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry is headquartered in Appleton.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Ceremony to honor 127th Infantry soldiers

Three soldiers of the Appleton-based 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry will receive Purple Heart medals Friday [sept. 8], 2 p.m. at the Appleton National Guard armory, 2801 W. Second St., for wounds received while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A fourth soldier will also be honored for his service.

The soldiers mobilized in June 2005 and after several weeks of mobilization training, deployed to Kuwait in August 2005 where they escorted civilian and military convoys throughout Iraq. The unit completed their mission and returned to the U.S. last month.

Receiving Purple Heart medals are:

Sgt. Luke Luther, Green Bay, and Spc. Andrew Neumeyer, Neenah, who were wounded by an improvised explosive device on Jan. 31; and

Spc. Rueben Macias, Menasha, who was wounded by an IED on March 9. Spc. Eric Neumeyer, Neenah, will receive the Army Commendation Medal for the duties he performed as a gun truck driver.

Medals will be presented by Brig. Gen. Kerry Denson, deputy adjutant general and commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard — himself a Purple Heart recipient from a combat tour as helicopter pilot in Vietnam

From above post........

"A high school friend of Wendling's, Spc. Jeremy Roskopf of Brownsville, suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs."...........I wonder why Roskopf didn`t get a Purple Heart?

I recieved this reply to my enquiry from an American Lt Col...........

The reason these soldiers are mentioned in the news release is that this particular ceremony involved only these three. The Purple Heart Medals for SGT Wallace and SPC Wendling were presented posthumously at their funerals. The other soldiers you mention have either already received their awards or haven't yet got them.

Lt. Col. Tim Donovan

Director, Public Affairs

Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard

608-242-3050

DSN 724-3050

Cell: 608-516-1777

Naa Guv, take a long-weekend pass to London, and then you would take a walk down to the "Volunteer" or the "Barge Aground" pubs in Barking, or similar watering holes in Daghenam, and Bobs your Uncle, soon be sorted wif all those Arfer Daly types , although I believe they are used to shifting far bigger loads that fall of trucks coming fro Heffrow Aerport.

Kevin in Deva

Or you`d end up in the Thames? If you get what I mean!!!

If the brick in #5 was real, I don't think he'd be able to lift it like that.

Good point

Statement by Maj. Gen. Albert H. Wilkening on the death of Wisconsin Army National Guard Sergeant Ryan D. Jopek

Words fail to convey the depth of my sorrow following the death of Sergeant Ryan Jopek in Iraq early Wednesday. Ryan was one of Wisconsin’s very finest and served his nation with bravery, distinction and valor. He was on his final convoy security mission in Iraq after serving overseas for the past 50 weeks with his unit, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry.

My deepest sympathy goes to Ryan’s entire family and especially to his father, Staff Sergeant Brian Jopek, who served a year in Iraq with a different Wisconsin Army National Guard unit in 2004. I want the Jopek family to know just how proud Wisconsin is of Ryan, how grateful we are for his service, and how saddened all of us are for his tragic loss. I pledge to the Jopek family all the support of the Wisconsin National Guard we can provide them during the difficult days ahead.

In tribute to Sergeant Ryan D. Jopek I am ordering the flags at all Wisconsin National Guard armories, air bases and other facilities lowered to half-staff beginning Sunday morning and continuing until after his funeral service.

On behalf of all 9,900 of Sergeant Jopek’s fellow soldiers and airmen of Wisconsin’s National Guard, I salute this fallen hero and pray for the safe and speedy return of 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry, and the continued safety of all 2,500 soldiers and airmen of the Wisconsin National Guard who are still serving overseas in harm’s way.

Major General Albert H. Wilkening

The Adjutant General of Wisconsin

Sgt. Ryan D. Jopek

Hometown: Merrill, Wisconsin, U.S.

Age: 20 years old

Died: August 2, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army National Guard, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, Waupun, Wis.

Incident: Died from injuries suffered when a makeshift bomb exploded near his convoy in Tikrit.

MEDIA ADVISORY

Ceremony to honor 127th Infantry soldiers

Three soldiers of the Appleton-based 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry will receive Purple Heart medals Friday [sept. 8], 2 p.m. at the Appleton National Guard armory, 2801 W. Second St., for wounds received while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A fourth soldier will also be honored for his service.

The soldiers mobilized in June 2005 and after several weeks of mobilization training, deployed to Kuwait in August 2005 where they escorted civilian and military convoys throughout Iraq. The unit completed their mission and returned to the U.S. last month.

Receiving Purple Heart medals are:

Sgt. Luke Luther, Green Bay, and Spc. Andrew Neumeyer, Neenah, who were wounded by an improvised explosive device on Jan. 31; and

Spc. Rueben Macias, Menasha, who was wounded by an IED on March 9. Spc. Eric Neumeyer, Neenah, will receive the Army Commendation Medal for the duties he performed as a gun truck driver.

Medals will be presented by Brig. Gen. Kerry Denson, deputy adjutant general and commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard — himself a Purple Heart recipient from a combat tour as helicopter pilot in Vietnam

From above post........

"A high school friend of Wendling's, Spc. Jeremy Roskopf of Brownsville, suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs."...........I wonder why Roskopf didn`t get a Purple Heart?

Have a little think about this for a moment. Okey he manages to get his gold bar out of Iraq and now has it back in his barrack block. Now what??? Its not as if you could just pop down to the local jewellers and sell it is it?? What on earth would you do with it? Use it as a very expensive door stop or something?

I think there are different sized Krugerrands.

Also.... The Krugerrand may be more internationally known? from the old Apartheit days when every Liberal overseaser was confidering "Selling their Kruggerands" to protest the SA Govt?

Also... Maybe if the brit SAS doles out Krugerrands because if they give out Brit coins, everyone would know who was there.

I agree it seems to make very good sense to issue Krugerrands instead of Sovereigns. However, I feel that a better option would have been to issue the 1/10 Oz of 1/4 OZ coins instead of the full OZ, but I suppose they must have had there reasons.

Yes Krugerrands are minted in different sizes, the below link gives details...

http://www.24carat.co.uk/krugersframe.html

Gunner Lee Thornton died on 7 September from injuries sustained in a shooting two days earlier at Al-Qurna, north of Basra. He was transferred to a military hospital in Germany but his injuries were too severe to survive, the Ministry of Defence said.

He was serving with 58 Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5326874.stm

UK soldier dies in Iraq shooting

A British soldier has died after a shooting in the Iraqi town of Al-Qurna, north of Basra, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The incident happened on Tuesday, but the soldier, whose name has not been released, died on Thursday.

He served in 58 Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery - the same unit that lost two soldiers on Monday.

The ministry said added that no further details would be released until the family's wishes had been established.

"His injuries were so serious that, despite the best treatment available, the medical team involved were unable to save him," the ministry said in a statement.

The soldier was the 118th member of the British armed forces to die while serving in Iraq since the conflict began in March 2003.

He had been taken to Germany for treatment, where his regiment is normally based.

It is part of the Danish-led Basra rural north battle group.

Two of his colleagues were killed by a roadside bomb on Monday.

Gunner Stephen Wright and Gunner Samuela Vanua, both members of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, were killed in an explosion near Ad Dayr, north of Basra, on 4 September.

A total of 22 members of the British armed forces have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since the beginning of September; 19 in the latter and three in the former.

Gunner Stephen Wright and Gunner Samuela Vanua died in a roadside explosion near Ad Dayr, north of Basra, on 4 September. Both were members of 12 Regiment Royal Artillery.

Gunner Wright, 20, from Leyland in Lancashire, had joined the Army aged 16 after four years as a cadet.

His commanding officer said Gunner Wright had "very much come of age in Iraq".

Lt Col Jon Campbell said: "I was struck by Gunner Wright's confidence, growing maturity and belief in himself."

Col Campbell said he got to know Gunner Vanua, a 27-year-old Fijian, in July when they had been on patrol together.

"I was impressed by his excellent attitude, infectious cheerfulness, conduct and confidence," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5319350.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5317032.stm

Iraq Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

http://www.indexmundi.com/iraq/reserves_of...e_and_gold.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_gold

The total number of UK troops killed in operations in Iraq has risen to 117 after the death of two soldiers in a roadside attack near Basra on 4 September 2006.

SEPTEMBER 2006

Two UK soldiers died after a patrol was targeted by a roadside bomb and small arms fire about nine miles (15km) north of Basra, close to the town of Ad Dayr on 4 September.

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the criteria for the award of Service Stripes to the British Army during WW2, and were they were worn?

And this, but now I`m totally confused, as an ounce Krugerrand is worth 3 times as much as a Sovereign...

"A user unit asked to change what they were carrying for the following reasons:

a) The area they were operating in/over included societies that were unlikely to be persuaded by any form of paper money - they worked in a barter based society where gold had a value but paper/banking didn't.

b) The Sov as an individual coin represented too high a value. There being little chance of getting change, any transaction could lead to a ridiculous overpayment and consequent loss of credibility. Any single coin also represented a large proportion of the total 'stash'.

c) The Krug, being of smaller denomination made barter a more flexible operation. More coins could be added incrementaly to a deal, or more deals could be made etc.

There was no consideration given to the total value of gold carried ie Krugs weren't a 'cheaper' option the plan was to carry approx the same sterling value. There was no intention to 'distance' the carrier from any particular state/government. The fact that the Sov carried a picture of the Queen's head versus the Krug's antelope was considered, but was not a significant consideration. The main issue was personal security and the flexibility to barter in a culture where, whatever the situation, barter was expected."

I fear its far from over.

I have no hard evidence, but have been told the following............

"I was a GLO on a GR4 Sqn. In the gulf I had to sign for all of the gold, money & blood chits. All were wrapped into bundles that consisted of:

1 x blood chit (printed on waterproof paper IIRC)

10 x Large Krugerrands (from the picture on the previous page)

$250 or $500 (can't remember, sorry) in $20 bills

With reference to the last, if crews had to divert and didn't take some operating cash with them, then God bless 'em, they'd just pile inot the cash and try to justify it on their return. Some of the packs had mangy $1's, $5's and the like! On our Op, all received the same pack-up which was signed out just prior to flight with their PPW. The Ops Sgt and I spent a whole day at either end of the tour sorting it all out and checking it for audit purposes. We calculted that the safe where it was all kept had in excess of ?40,000 in gold alone!!!"

"If I recall it was the biggest one (sorry, can't remember what it was called!) of those in the picture and the guys carried 5 of them. I think they amounted to about ?2500 and were wrapped in the E&E maps and then plastic to stop the maps getting covered in sweat (not that it made a difference to the map, I guess it was to stop them stinking out the office!). They would carry them along with their goolie chit in the top pocket of their flying suit. By the time they walked to the jets with everything else they had to carry they were a good couple of stones heavier!"

"Aircrew currently carry Krugerands. Had to sign for the detachments gold - some ?40,000 worth!"

I found this web page, which is very interesting......

http://www.sacoin.co.za/topic_info_8.htm

The symbol on the coin looks very much like the Landstorm Netherlands symbol, are they related?

With all thats going on for the British Army in places like Iraq & Afganistan, I cam across this article its not so much the content of the article, but the fact that British soldiers are still deployed on operations there that the world seems to have forgotten about!!!

From Bosnia to Wales: a cycle challenge with a difference

Bighearted soldiers from 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment are preparing to undertake a cycle ride with a difference.