Gunner Jines
11-26-03, 08:06 AM
This is outstanding and what a show of support!!
LTC Kim Orlando was laid to rest Friday where he had told his wife he always
wanted to be buried among the rows and rows of soldiers interred at the
Veterans National Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. In typical 101st
Airborne Division fashion, the "Screaming Eagles" pulled out all the plugs
to honor a great soldier, leader, husband and 43 year old father of two. As
a military Police Battalion Commander, he understood the dangers of Military
Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT). He knew where the most danger
potentially would be on the night of 16 October, and that was where he was.
As ground forces often have to do, he was eyeball-to-eyeball with bad
people, displaying the unrelenting determination and absolute resolve of the
American Soldier and this countries' commitment to the Global War on
Terrorism. The firefight was brutal and intense. The results are now
history. The 716th MP Battalion recovered their dead, evacuated the wounded,
accounted for sensitive items of equipment, redistributed ammo and continue
with the mission.
Friday, I was present for this outstanding American's memorial ceremony at
Fort Campbell Kentucky and burial in Nashville, Tennessee. What happened on
the approximately fifty-mile funeral procession from Ft Campbell to the
Cemetery is something I want to share with everyone, and something I'll
never forget. I wish everyone who wears a uniform, or has ever worn a
uniform, could have seen this.
Thanks to the Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association several law
enforcement agencies quickly volunteered to assist with the funeral as it
would proceed down I-24 South to metropolitan Nashville. Two other great MP
noncommissioned officers, SSG Bellavia and SGT Grilley died in the firefight
with their commander. SSG Bellavia has a brother on the Hendersonville, KY
police department. In an effort to alert motorists and share the information
with more local law enforcement, the plan was apparently announced via the
NCIC computer system for general knowledge of police and emergency
responders.
I haven't seen as many Fire Department, Police, Sheriff, State Trooper cars
and motorcycles since the Watts riots. The show of support for our fallen
soldiers was overwhelming. And it was a good thing, since the procession was
at least two miles long. But the story doesn't end here. Kay and I were in
the back of the procession on I-24 watching the myriad light show disappear
forward over the horizon southbound. A news helicopter was paralleling the
convoy. Then we noticed the first exit/on ramp was blocked with a law
enforcement vehicle, driver standing outside and saluting as the vehicles
passed. What a class act and great show of support. But then, the next ramp
had a similar sight...and the next, and the next. And there were fire, EMT
vehicles and emergency responders of all sorts. Lights flashing, people
standing outside, lined up, with headgear removed or saluting. The Kentucky
troopers and law enforcement stopped at the state line, and Tennessee showed
how much their native son's sacrifice meant to them. More vehicles on the
overpasses, waiving American Flags, displaying the POW/MIA Flag. These were
units from small towns along the route, coming out to the interstate to show
their support to a fallen soldier who was at the tip of the spear in the
GWOT. To them, he and his troops had gone after the people who had
inflicted such tremendous losses on our police, firemen, EMTs and civilians
in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. It went on and
on...it was about an hour drive. Then, we saw a sight that knocked our socks
off. In the distance we could see two large hook and ladder type fire trucks
on an overpass, literally spanning the south-bound lanes. One had the
ladder extended straight up...and waiving in the wind from it as the hearse
and procession went under was an American flag that had to measure at least
30 feet by 50 feet. Enough said....that message was loud and clear. A big
"thank you" to each and every one of them for their show of support to our
soldiers and the armed forces of this nation. One Team, One Fight.
In loving memory, respect and eternal gratitude for their devotion to duty
and ultimate sacrifice to their country: LTC Kim S. Orlando, SSG Joseph P.
Bellavia, SGT Sean R. Grilley. National treasure of the United States;
soldiers that saw their duty and did it.
Very Respectfully,
Rex Forney
Colonel, Military Police Corps
Chief, Army Advisory Group
325 Chennault Circle
Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 36112-6427
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Bet you didn't see this on CNN
LTC Kim Orlando was laid to rest Friday where he had told his wife he always
wanted to be buried among the rows and rows of soldiers interred at the
Veterans National Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. In typical 101st
Airborne Division fashion, the "Screaming Eagles" pulled out all the plugs
to honor a great soldier, leader, husband and 43 year old father of two. As
a military Police Battalion Commander, he understood the dangers of Military
Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT). He knew where the most danger
potentially would be on the night of 16 October, and that was where he was.
As ground forces often have to do, he was eyeball-to-eyeball with bad
people, displaying the unrelenting determination and absolute resolve of the
American Soldier and this countries' commitment to the Global War on
Terrorism. The firefight was brutal and intense. The results are now
history. The 716th MP Battalion recovered their dead, evacuated the wounded,
accounted for sensitive items of equipment, redistributed ammo and continue
with the mission.
Friday, I was present for this outstanding American's memorial ceremony at
Fort Campbell Kentucky and burial in Nashville, Tennessee. What happened on
the approximately fifty-mile funeral procession from Ft Campbell to the
Cemetery is something I want to share with everyone, and something I'll
never forget. I wish everyone who wears a uniform, or has ever worn a
uniform, could have seen this.
Thanks to the Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs Association several law
enforcement agencies quickly volunteered to assist with the funeral as it
would proceed down I-24 South to metropolitan Nashville. Two other great MP
noncommissioned officers, SSG Bellavia and SGT Grilley died in the firefight
with their commander. SSG Bellavia has a brother on the Hendersonville, KY
police department. In an effort to alert motorists and share the information
with more local law enforcement, the plan was apparently announced via the
NCIC computer system for general knowledge of police and emergency
responders.
I haven't seen as many Fire Department, Police, Sheriff, State Trooper cars
and motorcycles since the Watts riots. The show of support for our fallen
soldiers was overwhelming. And it was a good thing, since the procession was
at least two miles long. But the story doesn't end here. Kay and I were in
the back of the procession on I-24 watching the myriad light show disappear
forward over the horizon southbound. A news helicopter was paralleling the
convoy. Then we noticed the first exit/on ramp was blocked with a law
enforcement vehicle, driver standing outside and saluting as the vehicles
passed. What a class act and great show of support. But then, the next ramp
had a similar sight...and the next, and the next. And there were fire, EMT
vehicles and emergency responders of all sorts. Lights flashing, people
standing outside, lined up, with headgear removed or saluting. The Kentucky
troopers and law enforcement stopped at the state line, and Tennessee showed
how much their native son's sacrifice meant to them. More vehicles on the
overpasses, waiving American Flags, displaying the POW/MIA Flag. These were
units from small towns along the route, coming out to the interstate to show
their support to a fallen soldier who was at the tip of the spear in the
GWOT. To them, he and his troops had gone after the people who had
inflicted such tremendous losses on our police, firemen, EMTs and civilians
in Pennsylvania, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. It went on and
on...it was about an hour drive. Then, we saw a sight that knocked our socks
off. In the distance we could see two large hook and ladder type fire trucks
on an overpass, literally spanning the south-bound lanes. One had the
ladder extended straight up...and waiving in the wind from it as the hearse
and procession went under was an American flag that had to measure at least
30 feet by 50 feet. Enough said....that message was loud and clear. A big
"thank you" to each and every one of them for their show of support to our
soldiers and the armed forces of this nation. One Team, One Fight.
In loving memory, respect and eternal gratitude for their devotion to duty
and ultimate sacrifice to their country: LTC Kim S. Orlando, SSG Joseph P.
Bellavia, SGT Sean R. Grilley. National treasure of the United States;
soldiers that saw their duty and did it.
Very Respectfully,
Rex Forney
Colonel, Military Police Corps
Chief, Army Advisory Group
325 Chennault Circle
Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 36112-6427
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Bet you didn't see this on CNN