Day Zero Memorial Day Weekend Convergence & 2 yr anniversary

Day Zero Memorial Day Weekend Convergence & 2 yr anniversary

With 3 shovel flags planted firmly into the earth, 52 men and one photographer spent an hour honoring the brave men and women who have fought for our country.  It went something like this:

0700 – Radar, Purple Haze & Prohibition take the flags and carry them out to the middle of the field.

PART I: COP – Radar on Q

Radar had the Pax count off into 4s (to make your team) and then had the odd numbers step forward to create two circles. Radar then asked everyone to all take a knee and then informed us that there were approximately 455,000 American deaths in WWII…an average of 297 deaths per day.  He then read Citation #1 – Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (see full citation below)

• SSHs x 50 IC
• Calf Raises x 50 IC
• Mountain Climbers x 50 IC

Radar asked the 2.0s to take the flags and lead us in three lines to the Yellow Rose parking lot.

Part II: Main Exercises – Purple Haze on Q

Purple Haze asked everyone to take a knee and then informed us that there were nearly 60,000 American deaths in the Vietnam War along with over 150,000 wounded.  He then read Citation #2 – Pfc. Gary Martini (see full citation below)

In your groups of 4:

• Partner 1  – Run with the sandbag
• Partner 2 – 10 merkins, then catch Partner 1. Flapjack all the way around the .6 mile loop
• Partner 3 – Hairburners in parking lot/road
• Partner 4 – Suicide run in parking lot. Flapjack with hairburners until Partners 1 & 2 return.
• Then Partners 1 & 2 to the hairburners and suicides. Partners 3 & 4 do the CMIYC.

Repeat above except with 10 squats for the CMIYC.

Again the Pax lined up into three lines behind our flag carrying 2.0s and returned to the fields.

Part III: Final Exercises – Prohibition on Q

Back on the field, YHC had Pax bring it in tight and elbow plank shoulder to shoulder around the flags.  The Pax remained in the elbow plank position while listening to a Ronal Reagan speech found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzUU-hdtxv8

YHC then asked everyone to take a knee while I read Citation #3 – Corp. Jason Dunham (see full citation below)

YHC then encouraged the Pax to “suffer in silence” as we do 100 burpees and asked that guys who finish early, help out a fellow brother by doing additional burpees to help them finish.  At the very end, YHC asked everyone to do an additional 5 to help out those that couldn’t.

Ball of Man:

Purple Haze took us out with fine words about remembering and honoring those that gave their lives for our freedom and that we always endeavor to uphold the ideals for which they died.  We then concluded with The Lord’s Prayer.

Moleskin:

Thank you all for joining us at Day Zero today to honor America and those that have fought for it and paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy every day.  It was a great group of men and 2.0s out there today and everyone truly gave it their all.  This was the second year we have done this workout and I would like to make it a tradition going forward.  I hope you will continue to join us.

A special thank you to Purple Haze and Radar for creating Day Zero two years ago today.  I know it has been difficult to let it go, but Hairball and I are honored to keep your legacy alive and I hope we are continuing to build it the way you intended it.

Also, thank you to Alf and TR for bringing the hairburner plates.  You are welcome to thank them personally however you see fit.

Announcements:

• All Sites Convergence on Monday 5/25 at South Charlotte Middle School – 7am
• F3 Dads is approaching. There will be a limit on sign ups.  Be on the lookout for more info.

CITATIONS:

*ANTOLAK, SYLVESTER

Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 15th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division

Place and date: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, 24 May 1944

Entered service at: St. Clairsville, Ohio

Citation: Near Cisterna di Littoria, Italy, he charged 200 yards over flat, coverless terrain to destroy an enemy machinegun nest during the second day of the offensive which broke through the German cordon of steel around the Anzio beachhead. Fully 30 yards in advance of his squad, he ran into withering enemy machinegun, machine-pistol and rifle fire. Three times he was struck by bullets and knocked to the ground, but each time he struggled to his feet to continue his relentless advance. With one shoulder deeply gashed and his right arm shattered, he continued to rush directly into the enemy fire concentration with his submachinegun wedged under his uninjured arm until within 15 yards of the enemy strong point, where he opened fire at deadly close range, killing 2 Germans and forcing the remaining 10 to surrender. He reorganized his men and, refusing to seek medical attention so badly needed, chose to lead the way toward another strong point 100 yards distant. Utterly disregarding the hail of bullets concentrated upon him, he had stormed ahead nearly three-fourths of the space between strong points when he was instantly killed by hostile enemy fire. Inspired by his example, his squad went on to overwhelm the enemy troops. By his supreme sacrifice, superb fighting courage, and heroic devotion to the attack, Sgt. Antolak was directly responsible for eliminating 20 Germans, capturing an enemy machinegun, and clearing the path for his company to advance.

*MARTINI, GARY W.

Rank and Organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company F, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division

Place and Date: Binh Son, Republic of Vietnam, 21 April 1967

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 21 April 1967, during Operation UNION* elements of Company F, conducting offensive operations at Binh Son, encountered a firmly entrenched enemy force and immediately deployed to engage them. The marines in Pfc. Martini’s platoon assaulted across an open rice paddy to within 20 meters of the enemy trench line where they were suddenly struck by hand grenades, intense small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. The enemy onslaught killed 14 and wounded 18 marines, pinning the remainder of the platoon down behind a low paddy dike. In the face of imminent danger, Pfc. Martini immediately crawled over the dike to a forward open area within 15 meters of the enemy position where, continuously exposed to the hostile fire, he hurled hand grenades, killing several of the enemy. Crawling back through the intense fire, he rejoined his platoon which had moved to the relative safety of a trench line. From this position he observed several of his wounded comrades Lying helpless in the fire-swept paddy. Although he knew that 1 man had been killed attempting to assist the wounded, Pfc. Martini raced through the open area and dragged a comrade back to a friendly position. In spite of a serious wound received during this first daring rescue, he again braved the unrelenting fury of the enemy fire to aid another companion Lying wounded only 20 meters in front of the enemy trench line. As he reached the fallen marine, he received a mortal wound, but disregarding his own condition, he began to drag the marine toward his platoon’s position. Observing men from his unit attempting to leave the security of their position to aid him, concerned only for their safety, he called to them to remain under cover, and through a final supreme effort, moved his injured comrade to where he could be pulled to safety, before he fell, succumbing to his wounds. Stouthearted and indomitable, Pfc. Martini unhesitatingly yielded his life to save 2 of his comrades and insure the safety of the remainder of his platoon. His outstanding courage, valiant fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty reflected the highest credit upon himself, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

*Corporal Jason L. Dunham

Date of Issue: 01/11/2007

Organization: U.S. Marine Corps, Company K, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, First Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander’s convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.