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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Fred William Zabitosky ~ 23 January 2017
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC and The Canteen Crew

Posted on 01/22/2017 5:04:35 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska

 

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday...
Thank the Veterans who served
in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States
Armed Forces Today!
 
 

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Fred William Zabitosky
Info from here.

ArmyPatch small   Marine small   Air Force Seal   Air Force   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

Fred William Zabitosky (October 27, 1942 – January 18, 1996) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War.

Zabitosky joined the Army from his birth city of Trenton, New Jersey in 1959, and by February 19, 1968 was serving as a Staff Sergeant with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). On that day, while on reconnaissance patrol in Laos, his small team came under intense enemy fire. Zabitosky directed the defense until rescue helicopters arrived, and when the helicopter that was to extract him from the battlefield crashed, he ignored his own injuries to save the downed craft's pilot. Zabitosky was later promoted to Sergeant First Class and, in 1969, was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon. He retired from the Army after 30 years of service with the rank of Master Sergeant.

Zabitosky, aged 53 at his death, was buried in Lumbee Memorial Park, Lumberton, North Carolina. A street, the former Community Access Road, on nearby Fort Bragg was named in his honor.

Sergeant First Class Zabitosky's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sfc. Zabitosky, U.S. Army, distinguished himself while serving as an assistant team leader of a 9-man Special Forces long-range reconnaissance patrol. Sfc. Zabitosky's patrol was operating deep within enemy-controlled territory when they were attacked by a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army unit. Sfc. Zabitosky rallied his team members, deployed them into defensive positions, and, exposing himself to concentrated enemy automatic weapons fire, directed their return fire. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sfc. Zabitosky ordered his patrol to move to a landing zone for helicopter extraction while he covered their withdrawal with rifle fire and grenades. Rejoining the patrol under increasing enemy pressure, he positioned each man in a tight perimeter defense and continually moved from man to man, encouraging them and controlling their defensive fire. Mainly due to his example, the outnumbered patrol maintained its precarious position until the arrival of tactical air support and a helicopter extraction team. As the rescue helicopters arrived, the determined North Vietnamese pressed their attack. Sfc. Zabitosky repeatedly exposed himself to their fire to adjust suppressive helicopter gunship fire around the landing zone. After boarding 1 of the rescue helicopters, he positioned himself in the door delivering fire on the enemy as the ship took off. The helicopter was engulfed in a hail of bullets and Sfc. Zabitosky was thrown from the craft as it spun out of control and crashed. Recovering consciousness, he ignored his extremely painful injuries and moved to the flaming wreckage. Heedless of the danger of exploding ordnance and fuel, he pulled the severely wounded pilot from the searing blaze and made repeated attempts to rescue his patrol members but was driven back by the intense heat. Despite his serious burns and crushed ribs, he carried and dragged the unconscious pilot through a curtain of enemy fire to within 10 feet of a hovering rescue helicopter before collapsing. Sfc. Zabitosky's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: SandRat
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SANDRAT!

Don't get TOO wild and crazy! :-)


21 posted on 01/22/2017 7:36:54 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: radu
Yo radu!

A pretty boring weekend for me, went over to see son today for awhile. Weather warmed up a bit but still not enough to melt all the snow.

Howz things your way?

22 posted on 01/22/2017 7:39:41 PM PST by PROCON (Onto the Great American Rebirth!)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Howdy, Kathy.

Y’all are starting to get buried by snow this weekend. A real winter wonderland up there. Hope you don’t have much trouble getting to work in the morning.


23 posted on 01/22/2017 7:40:08 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: PROCON

Howdy, PRO!

Has the weatherman given any indication of when y’all can expect a warm-up? You’re probably reeeeeally tired of all the cold and snow by now.

We’re still fairly warm but will cool off again in a couple of days. Getting a lot of much-needed rain tonight.


24 posted on 01/22/2017 7:43:00 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: radu
Cold for the next ten days.

Oh, I did do some fun stuff during FR's downtime.

I loved debating, mocking and chiding liberals on FB devastated by Trump's election. They are completely unhinged...it's a beautiful thing!

25 posted on 01/22/2017 7:48:03 PM PST by PROCON (Onto the Great American Rebirth!)
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To: PROCON

Sounds like a good enough weekend getting to spend some time with your son. Doesn’t sound like the weather encouraged doing much of anything out and about. It would be NICE if it would clear up!

Been a weekend of ups and downs here. Had to take Darla to the vet Friday for her “final trip”. She seemed to be feeling better early Thurs. night but as the night wore on, I realized she wasn’t running to the litter box every few minutes. All that fluid injected under her skin should have had her going often. It was obvious her kidneys had completely shut down. Weren’t producing any urine.
She’s in a better place now and not suffering. We had almost 17 years with her and are happy for that much time.

Went to a Republican group meeting last evening and they had an interesting speaker. That was fun.

Oh, and I DID wake up early enough Friday to watch the Inauguration. LOL! Ya probably didn’t think I’d be able to crawl out of bed that early, huh? :-)


26 posted on 01/22/2017 7:50:15 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: PROCON

TEN days???? Ouch! I hoped it wouldn’t be that long. Bummer.

Oh well, you have your fun at FB to keep you occupied. LOL! They really are unhinged! I haven’t seen anything like this before.


27 posted on 01/22/2017 7:52:39 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: leaning conservative

Welcome to the Canteen, leaning conservative...I’m glad you enjoyed Sergeant Zabitosky’s story.


28 posted on 01/22/2017 8:00:04 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; AZamericonnie; HiJinx; Colonel_Flagg; BIGLOOK; ...

Honoring our Army MOH Hero...
Fred William Zabitosky

29 posted on 01/22/2017 8:10:41 PM PST by luvie (There is no global anthem, no global citizenship. We pledge allegiance to one country, America.-DJT)
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To: left that other site

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...did you get out and sing this evening?

We are over a foot of snow now, but no street plowing. I’m hoping there has been enough traffic in and out of the cul-de-sac that getting out won’t be bad. If I can get to the end of the street, where I turn is a bus route and should be plowed.


30 posted on 01/22/2017 8:17:14 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: SandRat

Good evening, Birthday Boy...((HUGS))...did you have a party?

I love Charlie Brown and Snoopy.


31 posted on 01/22/2017 8:26:53 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: SandRat

Yummy!!!!!!


32 posted on 01/22/2017 8:27:34 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: PROCON

Age Advancement Day? That sounds terrible, but it’s true. d:o)


33 posted on 01/22/2017 8:32:28 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: LUV W

Howdy, LUV.

Have a good day? How’s your MIL doing? Still recuperating nicely?


34 posted on 01/22/2017 8:35:54 PM PST by radu (May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
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To: LUV W

53


35 posted on 01/22/2017 8:46:52 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: LUV W

You get medals for doing stupid stuff, Its adrenaline


36 posted on 01/22/2017 8:51:06 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: radu

Good evening, radu...did your rain continue? Some good stuff?

Still snowing off and on all day. Should be fun in the morning. Take it slow.


37 posted on 01/22/2017 8:52:21 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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And you love some of those guys


38 posted on 01/22/2017 8:54:47 PM PST by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: LUV W

Good evening, Luv....he surely deserved the recognition.

Did you get a nap? The kids settled in their new home?


39 posted on 01/22/2017 9:03:05 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: LUV W
Happy 10th Birthday, Piper Jane!!


Click

40 posted on 01/22/2017 9:04:41 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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