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

[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! 

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star, for preparing
the Canteen for today's activities.
A salute and thank you going out to
Fred William Zabitosky. R I P

Well, we had a stressful weekend.
Our oldest granddaughter goes to college in Hattiesburg, MS.
As with many youngsters, she failed to call us
and let us know she was ok.
So, her dad has a friend who lives an hour away
who drove out to check on her for us.
She finally called.
Gave her a tiny piece of my mind (as I don't have a lot to give out. hehe).
She knows how her grandmother worries.

Gotta post and run.
Need to go help my parents out this morning.
It's going to be another rainy day
and some heavy rains and winds due later this morning.
So, I want to be back as soon as possible.

But please stay right where you are.
Chat up the military or a family member.
No need to fret...you know I'll be back!

The FR Canteen is

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

and a rainy one, at that.

[SandRat]

A little Desert Party of Carrot Cake.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. How’s it going?

[SandRat]

YEP!! That’s my favorite,

[SandRat]

Just getting up. Have not yet even started to make coffee.

[SkyDancer]

Got in to Denver late but was fortunate to catch a flight to Seattle where the folks were waiting. I’m home for three days then another three day trip.

[left that other site]

So far, it has been in the 40’s and 50’s around here, so any precipitation has been cold rain. Depressing, but at least it doesn’t have to be plowed! LOL!

[luvie]

Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))

All is well here. It’s 53° here already, headed toward the 70s. Yeesh! We had wind all weekend...and sand, too, of course. It’s the desert. :)

Hope you and Bo have fun at the lake, if you get out there. Good luck with finding more gophers! Does he kill them or just pester them?

[luvie]

....it's Monday...so what?
I got to sleep in!
That's the only way to spend a Monday! LOL!
Hope all you Early Birds have a Mahv'lus Monday....
....and don't work too hard!
It'll still be there tomorrow!
Stay warm and dry...
...if you're in stormy areas!
It's sunny and bright here!
No wind today...thank GOODness!
Anyhoooooo.....
((((hugs))))

[HiJinx]

[luvie]

Don't mind if I do!
I'll pour...
One lump or two?
Hope you and Nana are well! 😊

[HiJinx]

I take my tea NATO-style...two lumps and a splash of cream.

[luvie]

Sounds good to me! Darjeeling or Assam are my two faves.

[luvie]

What’s going on at the D-MAFB near there? Reports of shots fired? Andy suspects or injured?

[SandRat]

[E.G.C.]

I think he just pesters them.

[SandRat]

Center>

[SandRat]

[luvie]

Oops! No hot water at the Sandrat house? Brrr!

[HiJinx]

There’s no word on whether there were actually shots fired; the base was closed on an abundance of caution. Two airmen working the flight line reported what they thought were shots. That could have been, they are in an industrial area with several activities that could produce loud bangs. That report was the only reason to go on lockdown; no shooter, no injuries, no nuttin’.