Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
Fort Campbell, KY. – Soldiers, their family members and veterans of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) took part in a series of events to celebrate the Curahee legacy of excellence, Thursday, March 13.
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The day started early with the last run of the 4th BCT before they are inactivated which is scheduled for sometime in late April. Close to 3,500 Soldiers, family members and veterans of the 4th BCT took off on a 4-mile run just before dawn which also included a Family 1.5 mile Fun Walk/Run.
After the run the Commander of the brigade, Colonel Val C. Keaveny Jr., talked about the Soldiers and the power of the Currahee Nation. “It’s a brotherhood, it’s a family thing that’s eternal whether the regiment remains active or the brigade remains active or not I enjoy building those bonds,” Kaeveny said.
Keaveny added that the 4th Brigade will inactivate and spread excellence throughout the Army and somewhere down the road when things get rough again our nation will call on the Currahees once again and we’ll be ready.
Later in the morning the 4th BCT remembered their fallen soldiers and inducted this year’s class of Distinguished and Honorary Members of the Regiment.
Following the induction ceremony the Iraq/Afghanistan Memorial stone was unveiled containing the names of the eight fallen Currahee Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 4th Brigade’s 2013 deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
Honored at the ceremony were 2nd Lt. Justin Sisson, Specialist Robert Pierce, Sgt Corey Graver, Staff Sgt. Sonny Zimmerman, Spc. Keith E. Grace, Staff Sgt. Octavio E. Herrera, Sgt. Jamar Hicks and Staff Sgt. Thomas Baysore Jr.