NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM DELAYS OPENING

The Board of Directors of the National Infantry Foundation announced in mid-January that the opening of the Museum, originally scheduled for 20 March 2009, would be delayed until sometime in June. National Infantry Foundation President MG (R) Jerry White, citing unanticipated delays in a complex project, indicated that delay was necessary to ensure a quality opening.

However, some portions of the National Infantry Museum and Heritage Park will open to the public before June.

• The new parade field will experience its first graduation on 19 March 2009 starting with the parade field dedication and sacred soil ceremony.
• The Soldier Center in the Museum, which includes the IMAX Theater, Fife and Drum restaurant, Soldier Store, Second Infantry Regiment mezzanine, classroom space, the Officer Candidate Hall of Honor, and the Ranger Hall of Honor will open on 19 March 2009.

Between March and June, Infantry School graduations will continue on the new parade field. The Soldier Center will remain open for family members, graduates, guests, and members of the public for entertainment and dining.

From all reports and indications, the National Infantry Museum will be a ?must see? for all soldiers and especially those who proudly earned the accolade, "Grunt." We look forward to its June opening.

Ground broken on 173rd Airborne Memorial

COLUMBUS, Ga. — More than 250 military officials and family members of soldiers who died in combat gathered here on July 11 for ground-breaking ceremonies for the 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial.

Construction of the memorial, which is being built to honor the "sky soldiers" who died defending the United States, is scheduled to begin in September in Patriot Park at Fort Benning. Officials involved in the project expect it will take about a year to complete.

Ken Smith, president of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Foundation, said the ground-breaking represents a significant step in the process. The foundation was created two years ago with the sole purpose of raising money, gathering names and putting together the design for the memorial.

"The monument fulfills a promise that we made silently to our fallen warriors that they would never be forgotten and to each other after the war that we would remain a band of brothers," said Smith, a retired U.S. Army colonel. "Some of us have waited more than 40 years to see these promises fulfilled."

The memorial will honor more than 1,700 sky soldiers who have died in battle as well as recognize the brigade, which has been instrumental in American military operations in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Names of the 1,643 members of the 173rd Airborne who died in Vietnam will be listed along with 59 others who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as all future casualties.

Accommodations have been made to include additional names at the memorial should it become necessary. The memorial will also have a designated section for the 13 Congressional Medal of Honor winners who were members of the 173rd Airborne. The medal is the highest honor an American soldier can receive.

Military officials and family members travelled from as far away as California and Minnesota to attend the ground-breaking ceremony in Georgia. Included in the ceremony was an appearance by the country music group Big and Rich. The duo sang their top-selling hit "8th of November," which they wrote to honor the 48 sky soldiers who lost their lives on Nov. 8, 1965, during an ambush in Vietnam.

The 173rd Airborne Brigade Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization, is continuing its fund-raising efforts with all donations being used to build and maintain the memorial. To make a contribution or to find out more about the memorial, link to www.173airbornememorial.org.

HELP US FIND OUR FALLEN BROTHERS!

Recently, a Gold Star sister and a comrade came forward with information which enabled the Heraldry Committee of the Brigade Memorial Foundation to add two Vietnam era Sky Soldiers to the KIA list posted on the Memorial website.

In the Fall of 1968, Timothy S. Owen disappeared from his unit, D/1/503, during a combat operation. He was listed as MIA (presumably captured), and finally declared KIA on 4 June 1974. He has never been posted on any of the various Brigade "Died in Service" lists that have been published over the years. G. Alice Owen, his sister, reviewed the website list, saw him absent, and notified the Board with the details of his service.

Charles W. Webb was KIA on 21 November 1967 while serving with C/4/503 during the battle for Hill 875. His M60 MG teammate, Ron Jordan , saw the omission on the website and notified the Board, including a copy of the C/4/503 Morning Report on 22 November 1967, listing him as KIA. Ironically, Webb is not included on The Wall, nor is he listed in the National Archives, a situation the Heraldry Committee intends to rectify.

Our goal is that the list of our fallen brothers engraved on the Memorial be COMPLETE and ACCURATE. We can only accomplish thi mission with YOUR help, the Brigade Family. Please click on the KIA List link, and check to insure your comrade or family member is listed. All additions or corrections may be forwarded, with any documentation available, to the Foundation`s Heraldry Committee Chair, Bob Wolfgang (email), or 651-485-7792.