While there, he consumed extremists propaganda from O9A and the Islamic State. The Order of the Nine Angles, a U.K.-based anarchist operation that espouses antisemitic and satanic beliefs, is known for encouraging its membership to infiltrate the military, among other organizations, with the goal of dismantling from within, according to court documents. He was awarded the Medal of Honor nearly 60 years after he was nominated. The jungle is laced with vines and thorns, and in it live diverse snakes, a million leeches and about half the mosquitoes in the world. Another historian called the terrain probably the wildest in South Vietnam if not all Southeast Asia., CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY PHOTOS. All told, the 1st Brigade lost 86 KIA during Dak To, with the 3rd Bn., 8th Inf., accounting for 46 KIA and 3rd Bn., 12th Inf., sacrificing 24 KIA. Specifically, Melzer corresponded with individuals belonging to an O9A subgroup known as the RapeWaffen Division, which is known to promote rape and murder as weapons in the groups pursuit of a race war. Americans serving their country overseas should never have to fear a terrorist attack from within their own ranks, and todays sentence holds him accountable for his deadly plan to attack the brave men and women of the armed forces who protect our nation.. [The 173rd] were good soldiers and did their fair share, said Steve Stark, who was an artillery liaison specialist with 6th Bn., 29th Artillery, 1st Bde., 4th Inf. Soldier charged with plotting 'mass casualty' attack on his own unit", "Army soldier charged with giving classified info to satanic neo-Nazi group", "Press Release - Statement regarding incident in Cheshnegirovo", "Big and Rich talk about inspiration behind their '8 November', "Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0886", "Medal of Honor Recipients Vietnam (A-L)", "Medal of Honor Recipients Vietnam (M-Z)", "Readout of the President's call with Specialist Salvatore Giunta", "Former sergeant to receive Medal of Honor for Afghanistan actions. He was hit and killed later, still tending to the wounded. A former member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison on Friday for plotting with a white supremacist group to attack his fellow soldiers, officials . Barnes manned a machine gun after its crew had been killed. [67]:396400, The unit then served in An Kh until mid-1969, seeing little in the way of heavy fighting. 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team | Military Wiki | Fandom The 173d Airborne Brigade was now attached to JSOTF-N as the conventional force. [70] However, with the ending of conscription following America's disengagement from Vietnam, many of the Army's formations had to be rebuilt for the volunteer force. Read the full press release at the DOJ's website. Gold Star, Active Duty, etc.). [3][18] After the war, the troop reverted to reserve status and was posted at Birmingham, Alabama from 1947 until 1951. A former U.S. Army soldier was sentenced to 45 years in prison Friday after he plotted to ambush his unit and illegally shared classified information with a violent transnational extremist organization, of which he was a member. Eric Melzer, a 24-year-old from Kentucky, shared location and layout information about a sensitive U.S. military installation to the violent, anti-government, neo-Nazi organization Order of Nine Angles. Privacy Policy | For corrections contact corrections@rawstory.com, for support contact support@rawstory.com. 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team - History - Dak To He was dead, but he kept me warm.. [68], After widely publicized reports by battalion commander Lt. Col. Anthony Herbert, investigators confirmed that military interrogators of the 173rd Airborne Brigade "repeatedly beat prisoners, tortured them with electric shocks and forced water down their throats". The anguished cries of the wounded are what they remember most. Assistant U.S. The 173rd Airborne Brigade United States Army Beanie Hat Winter Knitted Caps Unisex Warm Hat,Skull Cap Slouchy Beanies. Copyright 2023 Raw Story Media, Inc. PO Box 21050, Washington, D.C. 20009 | . "He is not the unrepentant monster the prosecutors and the Court portrayed him to be," defense attorney Jonathan Marvinny said by email. The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands' areas of responsibility within 18 hours. Ex-soldier sentenced to 45 years in neo-Nazi plot to kill his troop 173rd Airborne Afghanistan Veteran Enduring Freedom Patch Design Military Cap Black. Jesus, they were all over the place, one paratrooper recalled. (Photo: U.S. Army) Only the battalion's Company B was available for the attack, which was borne by helicopter. U.S. aircraft hit enemy positions as close as 50 meters to the perimeter as GIs dug in for an NVA night attack. The 1/91st Cavalry was given a mission to transform western Logar province into a secure environment; a mission that was not greeted as an easy task. Melzer, a private, was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which was deployed to Italy. He was the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. [19] The reorganization also allowed for the use of "separate" brigades which had no division headquarters and could be used for missions that did not require an entire division. DEDICATION. US soldier plotted with Satanic neo-Nazis to ambush his own unit . IE 11 is not supported. [25] They took their theme song from the television series Rawhide. A second base was opened in Vicenza called Del Din and is the current headquarters of the 173rd. [62] Combined with noncombatant losses, this represented one-fifth of the 173rd Airborne Brigade's total strength. Last year a former member of an Air Force security team was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a police officer in the name of sparking a second civil war. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. [7] The 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry was reflagged as 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment to resume the Vietnam-era lineage of the 503rd Infantry battalions under the 173rd IBCT(A). [54] Task Force Blue drew the job of going to the relief of the beleaguered task force; however, Task Force Blue ran into resistance and was pinned down by enemy fire on all sides. | Melzer is a 22-year-old infantryman assigned to the 173rd Airborne's 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, in Vicenza, Italy, 173rd spokesman Maj. Chris Bradley told Military.com. [40], The attached helicopter unit became the Casper Aviation Platoon, befitting a separate infantry brigade as the only separate aviation platoon deployed in Vietnam. Headquarters and Headquarters Company Todays sentence holds Mr. Melzer accountable for an egregious and shameful act of betrayal against his own military unit and his country, said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Departments National Security Division. until 0400 est. Russian Tank Gets Absolutely Shredded by Ukrainian Fire. (U.S. Army video by Sgt. According to the PAC, the maximum penalty for such a "prohibited corporate contribution" is five years in prison and fines of 200% of the value of the contribution. The Army did not immediately respond Friday to comment about when Melzer was discharged from the service. ALSO IN THE NEWS: Americans belief in God hit an all-time low about 6 months ago here's why. [94] As Task Force Bayonet, the brigade included the: 503rd Infantry; 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry; 173rd Combat Support Company; 74th Infantry Detachment (LRS); Battery D, 319th Field Artillery; 501st Forward Support Company; and the attached 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor of the 1st Infantry Division from Rose Barracks, Germany; 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry of the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colorado; and Company B, 110th Military Intelligence Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) from Fort Drum, New York. no news. O9A members are instructed to fulfill sinister deeds, including insight roles, where they attempt to infiltrate various organizations, including the military, to gain training and experience, commit acts of violence, identify like-minded individuals, and ultimately subvert those groups from within. One hit outside the perimeter, killing 25 NVA troops. Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Attempting You slept with corpses. Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Attempting US Army soldier gets 45 years for neo-Nazi plot to ambush his own paratrooper unit . Satanist Soldier Who Plotted To Slaughter Companions Sentenced To 45 The 173rd had been operating near Bien Hoa Air Base outside Saigon and had been in combat only against NLF guerrillas. In-Depth Coverage . Ethan Melzer infiltrated the U.S. Army in service of a neo-Nazi, white supremacist and jihadist group, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a Department of Justice release on the sentencing. [111] Also in mid-2013, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (ABN) moved from Schweinfurt, Germany to Grafenwoehr, Germany. The 173rd Airborne Brigade serves as the conventional airborne strategic response force for Europe. Brigadier General Ellis W. Williamson took command of the unit,[3][25] which was chartered to serve as the quick reaction force for the Pacific Command. "Melzer allegedly attempted to orchestrate a murderous ambush on his own unit by unlawfully revealing its location, strength, and armaments to a neo-Nazi, anarchist, white supremacist group, then-Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York at the time, Audrey Strauss, said in a statement at the time. $6.98 delivery Mar 14 - Apr 4 . When he learned in 2020 that his unit would help guard a sensitive military installation overseas, he transmitted location, schedule and security information to the O9A subgroup known as RapeWaffen Division, prosecutors said. Ethan Melzer, 24, of Kentucky, pleaded guilty last year to attempting to murder U.S. service members, providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and illegally transmitting national defense information. Prior to its deployment to the highlands, Peer's operations officer, Colonel William J. Livsey, attempted to warn the Airborne officers of the hazards of campaigning in the highlands. In May 2010 2nd Battalion returned to 173rd IBCT(A) and was responsible for security and stability in northern and western Wardak Provinces. cause another 10 year war in the Middle East would definitely leave a mark.. The battalion lost 12 KIA. The package also includes a provision authorizing the state to fine, suspend, or revoke the license of any public lodging establishment or public food service establishment if the establishment admits a child to a live adult performance that depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, or lewd exposure., Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at Harvard Law Schools Cyberlaw Clinic in a tweet described the measure as a full elimination of recognition and a limitation on access to care for all trans people, including adults.. Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Attempting for Murder Fellow Service Members in Deadly Ambush. Short Range Ambush Platoon - 50th Infantry Regiment [citation needed], In July 2012, the 173rd IBCT(A) once again deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Bayonet to relieve the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Task Force Bulldog in the Logar and Wardak Provinces. Ambush by VC Foiled, March 1970 Ambush by VC Foiled from Vol. The song was based on the story of Niles Harris, a member of the 173rd, during Operation Hump. Step 2 - Use PayPal with the highest . Exactly five years ago today, Veterans from the 173d Airborne Brigade gathered on the. But there was a silver lining: Investigators . The following year, he deployed to Italy with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images), Black Vietnam veteran receives long-awaited Medal of Honor. It is that most become delirious and almost always cry out for their mothers., Copyright 2010-2023, National 4th Infantry (IVY) Division Association. According to court documents, Melzer is a member of O9A. [99] The brigade returned to Italy in March 2006. Have You Heard of the 173rd - YouTube [citation needed], In mid-2013, some of the returning forces reorganized and re-designated the 173rd Airborne Brigade. February 15th, DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled, Version: 89f6906e9817dc7b192edf8e8d786e2b331150b5_2023-02-27T10:21:17, B-Roll Package: Squad Ambush with Cypriot Troops, Strategic Nov. 18 saw the 1st Bn., 503rd Inf., lose seven KIA on Hill 882, while D Company of the 4th Battalion had six dead to friendly fire.. At 08:28 on 11 November, after leaving their overnight laager and following a PAVN communications wire, the force was ambushed by the 8th and 9th Battalions of the PAVN 66th Regiment and had to fight for its life. In April 1967, I was a first lieutenant commanding a rifle company in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. Neo-Nazi soldier who planned to ambush army unit jailed for attempted murder Sky Palma. She then had another arrest warrant issued against her after allegedly violating the terms of a protective order by contacting her former Mesa County office to demand a recount of that election. All rights reserved. Melzer and his alleged co-conspirators used this information to plan what they referred to as a "jihadi attack" with the objective of causing a "mass casualty" event victimizing his fellow service members. [78] VCorps was not able to surround Baghdad as quickly as it had hoped because of a lack of available forces in the north. Soldiers accidentally entered and secured a sunflower oil factory next to the airfield while it was operating. Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets Ambush of 173rd Airborne, South Vietnam Tim Page/Corbis Expand Favorite Artist Tim Page British, 1944-2022 Titles Ambush of 173rd Airborne, South Vietnam Date 1965, printed 2004 Place Vietnam Medium Silver dye bleach print Dimensions Image: 18 3/8 12 3/8 in. "[119][120][121] He was charged in June 2020 with conspiring and attempting to murder military service members, and providing and attempting to provide material support to terrorists. [32] The brigade was put under the command of IIField Force, Vietnam. from around the world. The 173rd secured these areas with company sized detachments, often patrolling the 4th ID's sectors with two unarmored M998 cargo Humvees at any given time. During the day, the company lost 8 men killed and 21 wounded. By clicking below to download MFAH collection images, you agree that you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions of MFAH Website Use: The military has been dealing with an extremism problem for years, specifically far-right extremism, which has garnered increased attention recently. [15] Four months later, the brigade returned to the United States, and was demobilized with the rest of the division in January 1919 at Camp Dix, New Jersey. He used his membership in the military to pursue an appalling goal: the brutal murder of his fellow U.S. service members in a carefully plotted ambush. [3][24], On 26 March 1963, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) was assigned to the Regular Army and activated on Okinawa. He was arrested in June 20020 and pleaded guilty in 2022. All rights reserved. (U.S. Army Photo by Visual Information Specialist Davide Dalla Massara) Read more Image Jumping in July, 173rd Airborne at Aviano One of the most notable units to operate out of a FOB was the brigade's 74th Long-Range Surveillance (LRS) detachment. remember that day and the jump that followed for the rest of our lives.. I wouldve died successfully . The brigade returned to its home station in Europe in November 2010. [3] U.S. Army unprepared to deal with Russia in Europe - POLITICO [38], The brigade was the first unit sent into War Zone D to destroy enemy base camps, introducing the use of small Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols. Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. [102] In the early 2007, the 173rd again deployed to Afghanistan, as Task Force Bayonet, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF 0709),[102] their first deployment as a fully transformed brigade combat team. [5] The 173rd incurred 1,533 deaths and around 6,000 wounded. According to the latest filing in the case citing Murdoch's sworn deposition, the Fox boss admitted that he provided a preview of the ads to Kushner before they became public. [139], Sixteen soldiers have been awarded the Medal of Honor for service with the 173rd IBCT(A) and its subordinate units. (U.S. Army Photo by Visual Information Specialist Davide Dalla Massara) Read more. The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team ("Sky Soldiers") is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. After the end of major combat operations in mid-2003, the 173rd Airborne Brigade did not engage in any major battles, though it was regularly involved in skirmishes with Iraqi insurgents. Five times troopers tried to hold him back, yet Watters persisted in aiding and carrying the wounded back to safety. Besides Melzer and O9A, the Neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen whose leader was arrested for plotting to attack Baltimores energy grid and other groups have tried to recruit active-duty and veteran service members or have their own members join the military for training. . "The defendant believed he could force the U.S. into prolonged armed conflict while causing the deaths of as many soldiers as possible," the Justice Department said in a previous statement. [84] As the preparations for the brigade were in their final stages, it moved 10 trains and 300 trucks worth of equipment to the air base, as well as 120 busloads of soldiers. The enemy loss in lives was about four times that of the allies.. By Nov. 19, the NVAs 174th Regiment, moving south along the Laos/Cambodia border, had covered the retreat of the 66th Regiment. [92] Between 30 March and 2 April, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, along with the Special Forces detachment and the Kurdish forces, engaged and destroyed the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 38th Iraqi Infantry divisions as well as a force loyal to Ansar al-Islam. Forward-based in Italy and Germany, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build interoperability and . Reproduced from VFW Magazine, March 2006 issue, article by Tim Dyhouse. Though they were severely bloodied, the paratroopers inflicted even heavier losses on the NVA. The PAVN, in turn, had moved almost 6,000 troops in four infantry regiments and one artillery regiment. To further the attack plan, Melzer and his co-conspirators passed these messages to a purported member of al Qaeda. In November 1967, North Vietnamese Army (NVA) units were determined to rid the Central Highlands of American forces. Former Army private Ethan Melzer planned to ambush soldiers and cause a "mass casualty" attack in the service of a Neo-Nazi group. B-Roll Package: Squad Ambush with Cypriot Troops 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Meanwhile, NVA soldiers began a ferocious attack on A Company at the bottom of the hill. Dawn on Tuesday, Nov. 21, revealed a scene on Hill 875 no survivor of that battle could ever forget, Edward F. Murphy wrote in Dak To: Americas Sky Soldiers in South Vietnams Central Highlands. The 4th Infantry Divisions 1st Brigade included the 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 8th Inf. [5][12][13], The 173rd Infantry Brigade was constituted on 5 August 1917 as an infantry brigade and organized on 25 August at Camp Pike, Arkansas,[14] as an element of the 87th Division[15] along with the 174th Infantry Brigade. [121], In May 2021, as part of the NATO training exercise Swift Response 2021, soldiers of the brigade were simulating seizing and securing the decommissioned Cheshnegirovo airfield in Bulgaria. It would be in combat 12 days later. At its peak of its deployment in Vietnam, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate) comprised over 7,000 soldiers. Today, the 173rd Airborne Brigade pauses to remember the loss of 48 Paratroopers during Operation Hump in Vietnam, on this day 52 years ago. Former Army private sentenced to 45 years in neo-Nazi plot to kill Ambush by VC Foiled, March 1970 - old.506infantry.org The changing face of the 173d Airborne Brigade now offers opportunies for both Female and Male individuals. [3][44][45] The operation saw three brigades controlling eight battalions dropped by helicopters and US Air Force aircraft into War Zone C, in Ty Ninh Province. 3. . The operation was a success, and the battered VC division fled. Soldiers with the 173rd have faced some of the fiercest fighting in Afghanistan over the past decade. Image Saber Strike 15 - Apaches take Flight. At 06:58 the following morning, Alpha Company began moving alone up a ridge finger and triggered an ambush by the 6th Battalion of the 24th PAVN Regiment. It is a merciless land of steep limestone ridges, some of them exceeding 4,000 feet, wrote Robert Barr Smith in, Vietnam magazine. In order to successfully accomplish this mission, the battalion . An official website of the United States government. [W]ho gives a f---? he wrote. [6], On 11 October 2006, as part of the Army's "Unit of Action" modularized unit force restructuring that General Shinseki had originally envisioned the 173rd Airborne Brigade became the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team (an airborne IBCT). Melzer was taken into custody by the FBI on June 10, 2020. My plan was to make captain and go to Vietnam as an experienced company commander. [3][15] Commanders during the war included:[17], On 24 June 1921, the unit was reconstituted as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 173rd Infantry Brigade,[15] and was assigned to the Organized Reserve Corps and the 87th Division at Shreveport, Louisiana. [77] This meant that the entire northern front of the war would be conducted by the 173rd Airborne Brigade and Army special forces operating with aircraft from Europe as their only supply line. Melzer pleaded guilty in June 2022 to charges of attempted murder of U.S. Army soldiers, illegally sharing national security information and providing and attempting to provide terrorists with material support. 173rd Airborne Brigade in Kirkuk, Iraq (#152) - Any Soldier Melzer, 22, was arrested last spring in Italy, where he served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and pleaded not guilty in September to eight charges, including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals . [6] During the operation, some of the troops discovered at least two caches of Iraqi gold, totaling more than 2,000 bars. Former Army soldier who plotted 'jihadi attack' on fellow service MICHAEL LEVENSON. (the Red Warriors), participated in the final assault on Hill 875. "Combat Operations After Action Report, Operation GREELEY." He allegedly pledged his allegiance to O9A and relayed sensitive information about his unit's upcoming deployment including the location, movement and security of the service members. 3rd Edition Sky Soldiers - The Society of the 173D Airborne Brigade - YUMPU Watters received a posthumous Medal of Honor. [69] Herbert was relieved of his command shortly after reporting to his superior the war crimes he had witnessed. The LRS detachment and 5th Group ODA conducted many combined and individual operations to ensure the stability of the region. The brigade returned most recently from a deployment stretching from late 2013 to late 2014. All Rights Reserved. Given the province and its three major districts saw a massive influx of both foreign and domestic fighters due to the relatively calm winter prior to the brigade's arrival, its company-sized and platoon-sized elements found themselves in combat against anti-Coalition forces almost daily from the start of March 2010 until its relief. And about 60 of the dead paratroop-ers29%were killed by friendly fire.. The unit fought in the Iron Triangle, a VC stronghold north of Saigon,[35][39] seeing many engagements with VC forces during that time. The 4th Battalion launched an unsuccessful attack at around 3 p.m., and pulled back to defensive positions after dark. He used his membership in the military to pursue an appalling goal: the brutal murder of his fellow U.S. service members in a carefully plotted ambush. After he was notified of the assignment, Melzer joined his new unit and attended weeks of training, including classified and unclassified briefings, to prepare for the deployment.