Paratroopers rededicate new memorial

  • Published
  • By Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson
  • 4-25th IBCT Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alasak --  The 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, hosted a rededication ceremony for the 1-501st Infantry memorial outside their headquarters on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska Nov. 15.

Members of the 1-501st Infantry removed the sidewalk that passed between the memorial rocks and replaced it with the Geronimo diamond emblazoned with the Geronimo head in the center, said Army 1st Lt. Matthew Carstensen, the narrator of the rededication ceremony, assigned to Headquarters Company.

"The significance of the diamond-shaped memorial is rooted in the battalion's history," Carstensen said. "During World War II, the four regiments under the 101st (Airborne Division) were told to wear one of the four suits from a deck of cards on their helmets to make them easily recognizable on the drop zone after an airborne operation. The 501st used the suit of diamonds, a tradition that is still used today by all paratroopers assigned to the 1st of the 501st. As service members, family members and visitors walk across the diamond, they will be able to see all four memorial rocks facing them towards the center."
Carstensen then explained the significance of the rocks.

"The monument rocks in front of the battalion have stood vigilant as a constant reminder of the sacrifices all Geronimo's have made," he said. "The first rock seated at the front left of the memorial diamond depicts a placard of our first commander, Col. Howard 'Jumpy' Johnson, killed in action during Operation Market garden. This placard and rock represents all the paratroopers from the 501st who have given their lives in defense of this great nation since World War II. The remaining three rocks and placards seated around the diamond represent the ultimate sacrifices made by 26 Geronimos while the battalion was deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq in support of combat operations during the global war on terror."

After the playing of the national anthem and a brief invocation given by 1 Geronimo's Army Chaplain (Capt.) Matthew Miller, the guest speaker, Command Sgt. Maj Bernie Knight, current senior-enlisted advisor to United States Army Alaska and former Geronimo 7, was introduced.

"Geronimo!" Knight yelled at the paratrooper formation standing in front of him.
"There's nothing more proud to be than a paratrooper, especially a paratrooper serving in the United States Army Alaska. Imagine that. Who would have thought? I know 'Jumpy' Johnson didn't think we were going to be in Alaska jumping into the snow."

Knight talked about Johnson and his accomplishments, notably taking care of his Soldiers.
"He looked out for his paratroopers," Knight said. "He said, 'You don't have to be nuts to jump out of an airplane, but it helps.'"

Knight also acknowledged the hard fact that comes with serving in a time of war.

"To forget those who gave their lives for the defense of our nation, our fellow paratroopers would be ashamed," he said. "This is very important that as your loved ones and friends and family of Geronimo come back here to Alaska, they see that we pay some homage to our fallen comrades that are listed right here on these rocks. "

"When we put the first one out here, we didn't think we would have to put out any more, but the sad truth is, it happens."

Knight concluded with his enthusiasm for his old unit.

"I'm proud to be part of the Geronimos," he said. "I'll always be a Geronimo. It will always be right here and so will these paratroopers that stand before you on these rocks. Geronimo!"

The memorial was designed and painted by two 1-501st Infantry paratroopers.
Spc. Michael Driscoll, a mortar gunner assigned to Comanche Company, who gained recognition for his handy work during the recent deployment to Afghanistan, was approached by his command to paint the unit crest on a diamond measuring roughly 48 feet by 33 feet.

"They asked me if I could do something like this and I said it shouldn't be a problem with my skills in drafting and land surveying," the former land surveyor from Rochester, N.Y., said.

Driscoll enlisted the help of another paratrooper, Spc. Corey Acres, assigned to Headquarters Company, to help with the three-week project, which included a fight against the Alaska elements.

"I helped paint," Acres, a native from Spokane, Wash., said. "He did most of the drafting and we drew it onto the concrete. From there we painted for the next few weeks."

The ceremony was also an opportunity to recognize recent Geronimo achievements.
During the ceremony, Easy Company, 1-501st Infantry was awarded the unit level physical fitness award streamer for having a company Army Physical Fitness Test average of 270 or more.