FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Fred William Zabitosky ~ August 26, 2013

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

[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.

           

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! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Sarge...((HUGS))...very nice, uplifting music.

"Hooray, the Hero has arrived!"

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Chode....thanks for helping honor SFC Fred Zabitosky.

[ConorMacNessa]

Give it a few weeks, then break it to them gently! :)

I know it's not Country, but have you considered "Faith Of Our Fathers?" An old hymn of Irish origin.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Chode]

most welcome... Prayers up for his soul

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you had a nice weekend.

[left that other site]

That’s a good One Too! (And since i am part irish...a Good Choice for Me!)

Also...How great Thou Art, The Old Rugged Cross, and What a Friend we have in Jesus.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Looking good! Proud Dad, proud son!!

And congratulations on his leadership role.

Was it a family day, or can you visit any weekend?

He has no hair...LOL!

[ConorMacNessa]

Certainly "How Great Thou Art" - I'm sure I've heard "The Old Rugged Cross" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" but I can't say they're in my active memory. So many hymns in our tradition - after thirty years of active choristing and cantoring I still encounter new music - not recently composed music, but new to me music from the established repertoire.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[ConorMacNessa]

Today was Family Day - he has a short visit - I think next month - and a Thanksgiving Vacation. Graduates in December.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[left that other site]

They are Country Gospel from The Rural South. I Believe Elvis recorded both of them at one time.

Both very gentle, sweet songs, but back when they were originally popular, were considered quite radical and wild for their time!

One of my all time favorites is “Holy, Holy, Holy”, beloved by both Catholics and Protestants and usually found on Page One of most old hymnals.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...no need to ask if you had a good day.

The Biker Ministry sounds really neat...and you are now the MUSIC DIRECTOR!! Congratulations!!

Can’t wait for a report next week of the first music at the Biker Ministry.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[left that other site]

The Ministry posts their services on You Tube...HOWEVER, the video guy is also the GUITAR PLAYER, so we are going to have to get a sub on the camera.

What is really sweet about this church is that everyone just BRINGS what we need. The Sound System, the Coffee Maker, the Bibles, The Camera, The instruments and Amps.

At the end, everybody packs up their stuff and brings it back home till next week

The Church, in this case, REALLY is in the hearts and hands of the members, rather than a building, because there AIN’T No Building! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Connie, and thanks for the tributes to our troops.

Did you have some “me” time this weekend? Did you get your “promised” rain?

[Kathy in Alaska]

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Works for me!

[ConorMacNessa]

"Holy, Holy, Holy" - I have been singing that hymn since first grade - sixty years ago at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst (LI) New York!

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[left that other site]

Amen to That! :-)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv....another hero for sure.

Hope you had a good weekend. Ready to take on the new week?

[left that other site]

It is a Beautiful Song.

The notes and intervals are so uplifting, like a “Song of Ascents”.

[left that other site]

“Holy, Holy, Holy”, is from Isaiah, a passage which is Part of the Liturgies of Catholic, Protestant AND JEWISH.

In Latin it is the Sanctus.
n, it is “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh”
And the Trinitarian Hymn is VERY Prominent in most Protestant Hymnals.

Isaiah hit it out of the park with that Passage! (A Triple Play!)