Lt. Col. Robert Gordon (left) presents Col. Paul Bontrager with a plaque honoring his service. (Photo by Beth Liggett, APSU photographer)

He graduated from APSU in 1987 as an ROTC Distinguished Military Graduate (he was in the top 20 percent of cadets nationwide graduating that year) with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association

Fort Campbell, KY – The U.S. Army unit that includes the famous “Band of Brothers,” the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment, has announced a new monument to honor soldiers of the unit killed in service to their country. The 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association, a nonprofit veterans’ organization dedicated to the active duty soldiers and veterans of the 506th Infantry, is acting on behalf of the regiment to collect contributions in support of the memorial.

The granite monument will be funded totally by private contributions, according to COL John P. “Pete” Johnson, commanding officer of the 101st Airborne Division’s 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Campbell,. A Nashville cement contractor, Glenn Goodwin of Roy Goodwin Contractors, is contributing all the materials and labor needed for the foundation of the monument. COL Johnson made the announcement as part of a ceremony welcoming the regiment home from a combat tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment – nicknamed the “Currahees” – has been part of the 101st Airborne Division for most of its history.  It has fought with distinction in World War II, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, suffering in that time over 1,400 killed in action.  It was elevated in the public’s consciousness by the hit movie “Saving Private Ryan” and the television series, “Band of Brothers.”

U.S. paratroopers fix their static lines before a jump before dawn over Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944, in France. The decision to launch the airborne attack in darkness instead of waiting for first light was probably one of the few Allied missteps on June 6, and there was much to criticize both in the training and equipment given to paratroopers and glider-borne troops of the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions. Improvements were called for after the invasion; the hard-won knowledge would be used to advantage later. (AP Photo/Army Signal Corps)

The regiment parachuted into Normandy before D-Day and fought through the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Market Garden to V-E day.  In Vietnam, it achieved additional fame in fierce battles at Hamburger Hill and Firebase Ripcord. It has been deployed to Korea protecting the northern borders, and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It recently returned to Fort Campbell, home of the parent 101st Airborne Division.

The volunteer 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment Association sponsors scholarships, packages for overseas soldier, and aid programs for the families of soldiers killed or wounded in action.  In doing so, it brings veterans and active duty troops together, and hosts a large website dedicated to the history and people of the regiment.

The Association will accept tax-deductible contributions by mail, or electronically through their website at  http://www.506infantry.org. The Association is a charitable War Veterans Organization under IRS section 501(c) (19), and as such, contributions are tax deductible.

Caraccilo assumed command of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (187th Infantry Regiment) in November 2006 and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Prior to commanding 3rd Brigade he held several positions within the 101st Airborne Division. He served as the Division’s operations officer for transformation and the deployment to the Multi-National Division-North, Iraq.

Caraccilo will be the Executive Officer to the Commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq.Luong has served as Deputy G-3 (operations), XVIII Airborne Corps (Rear) since February 2008. He has commanded several units, most recently 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3d Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

Luong started his military career upon receiving a regular Army commission after graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in bio-chemistry along with a Masters of military arts and science. Military training and education include Airborne School, Ranger School, the Infantry Officer Basic and Advance Courses, Command and General Staff College, and Joint Forces Staff College. He is accompanied by his wife Kimberly and their three children.

These remembrance ceremonies are held to honor division Soldiers deployed in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and those
who have died in the effort.

A private reception for family members and affected units will follow at
Cole Park Commons.

These ceremonies are not memorial ceremonies for fallen soldiers. Those
will continue to take place in the theatre of operations by the unit as is standard procedure.

The ceremonies are open to any soldiers, families and members of the surrounding Fort Campbell community who wish to attend.

For more information, please call the Protocol Office at 270-798-9913.