Madison County Military Heritage Commission

08/17/2021

For Afghanistan veterans, it may be the same feeling Vietnam Vets probably have, only we got to put two decades of blood, sweat, and tears into it. People that started fighting the war got to see their kids go to into it. Watching people clinging to the side of a C-17 Just to escape and fall to their deaths makes the fall of Saigon with the last Huey take off a little different in perspective. We need to remember for all wars is that we fought for each other, and that is what we need to hold on to.

06/28/2021

To emphasize PTSD Awareness Day, we all need to know that there are thousands of veterans that suffer from this disease. It is important that we break the stigma that surrounds mental health and do everything we can to help those with invisible wounds.

Today, we are highlighting the actions of Major Michael Connelly. He was inducted in the Madison County Hall of Heroes in 2020 and lives with PTSD on a daily basis. During his tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, Mike earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism and the Air Medal for Valor. He opens up some of the symptoms he deals with every day while coping with PTSD. Hopefully this can help even just a single person who is suffering the invisible wounds of war reach out for help.

Please share this post if you think it may be able to help anyone you know or love, or just to highlight the me you can't see that so many struggle with.

WAFF 48′s Haley Baker got a chance to sit down and talk to Retired Army Major Michael Connelly.

04/06/2021

Each year we induct local nominated individuals that have earned awards for valor or heroism into the Madison County Hall of Heroes. If you, or someone you know, meet this criteria and would like to submit an application we encourage you to do so. Such individuals are deserving of recognition, especially within their local community.

The application form and instructions for submission can be found here:

03/30/2021

To honor National Vietnam War Veterans Day, we would like to honor one of our nation's most heroic individuals, Leo Thorsness. He is the recipient of the Medal of Honor and the definition of honor, courage, and selfless service. Please take a moment to hear his story by watching his video interview.

A collection of four videos containing videos with Col. Thorsness.

03/25/2021

In an effort to remember the greatest generation and their sacrifices, we want you to know of a partner site that provides information about Madison County's World War II Fallen. It is part of a continuing project "Stories Behind the Stars".

We'd ask that everyone take a moment of their time to learn about those who gave all.

Their page can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/World-War-II-Fallen-of-Madison-County-Alabama-113449943781614

Remembering the WWII Fallen of Huntsville and Madison County, Alabama.

03/25/2021

Today's local hero is Robert L. Byers.

Robert Byers was born on 22 January 1948 in St Clair, Alabama. He joined the US Marine Corps on 19 March 1968 and trained as a rifleman. Lance Corporal Byers was assigned to Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in Vietnam on 22 August 1968. On 23 February 1969, Lance Corporal Byers earned the Bronze Star with Combat V device for heroism while engaged with North Vietnamese forces. He was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat. On 25 February 1969, Lance Corporal Byers again displayed bravery while engaged with a well entrenched enemy force. He deployed his men to lay down a base of fire, enabling the remainder of his company to maneuver on the enemy positions. For this action, Lance Corporal Byers was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal with V Device for heroism. Then Sergeant Byers was discharged from the service in February 1970 and returned to the Huntsville area.

Please share and like our posts to so we can honor our nation's heroes, especially the ones from our local area. Thank you!

03/22/2021

Charles Robert Gill is a highly decorated local hero. We want to start this week by sharing his incredible story.

Charles R. (Skip) was born at Fort Totten Army base hospital in Queens New York. Skip’s father was a career Army officer and as a result he grew up living in numerous states as well as growing up in Japan for six years. Skip graduated from Baldwin High School, Baldwin Long Island New York in 1966 at the age of 17 and volunteered to join the Army. While attending Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Knox Skip was released from AIT before completion to attend Armor Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Fort Knox, KY and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Armor Branch. While serving in the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron at Fort Knox Skip volunteered for service in the Republic of Vietnam. While in route to Vietnam he attended and graduated from the Jungle Warfare School in Panama and assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment “11th ACR Black Horse” serving as a Platoon Leader with Alpha Troop then as an Aerial Scout Observer with the 1st Squadron 11th ACR S-3 Aviation Section and lastly as Troop Commander of Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 11th ACR. During his service in the Republic of Vietnam Skip was awarded and received the Silver Star for gallantry in action, three Bronze Stars “2 for Valor,” the Purple Heart for wounds during combat action, Two Air Medals “1 for Valor,” and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor. After his service in Vietnam Skip continued his service in the Army serving in the 4th Squadron 7th Cavalry 2nd Infantry Division “2nd ID” Korea, 3rd Squadron 10th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division Fort Hood Texas, 1st Battalion 72nd Armor 2nd ID Korea, 3rd Armored Division in Germany and lastly as an instructor and Branch Chief the the Army Command and General Staff College Fort Leavenworth Kansas. Skip retired after 23 of active service and then continued to support the Army as a trainer with MPRI/L-3 Com and General Dynamics. He currently lives in Hazel Green, Alabama.

Please share and like our posts to continues to honor our nation's heroes, especially the ones from our local area. Thank you!

03/16/2021

Today we honor a local veteran who was decorated numerous times for his gallantry and courage during the Vietnam War. We are lucky to have someone as distinguished as COL (R) Galen Rosher in our community.

Major Galen Rosher distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous action on 30 Dec­ember 1969, while serving as aircraft commander with Troop C, 1st Squad­ron (Airmobile), 9th Cavalry near Song Be, Republic of Vietnam. Flying to the site of a downed helicopter, Major Bosher came under intense machine gun and small arms fire. He made numerous low-level passes locating and engaging a .51 caliber position until it was silenced and several enemy crew members killed. He then led the insertion of the aero- rifle platoon into a landing zone near five heavy machine gun positions, placing accurate suppressive fire on the enemy fortifications. Although repeatedly exposed to intense hostile fire, he expertly coordinated and controlled the fires of supporting gunships and the inserted platoon, destroying numerous enemy positions. For his actions on this date, Major Galen Rosher was awarded the nation's third highest valor medal, the Silver Star.

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03/15/2021

We would like to start off this week by honoring a local hero from Operation Iraqi Freedom, COL (R) Mark Sullivan. If you would like to see his interview, the link below will take you to the video and allow you to hear his story in his own words:
https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/newscenter/video/hall-heroes-mark-sullivanheroism

Major Mark Sullivan was awarded the Bronze Star for valor on 30 April 2003 for in connection with military operations against a hostile force in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While serving as a Brigade Fire Support Officer, his courage under fire and unending enthusiasm inspired his team on the battlefield. His ability to perform multiple skilled tasks while under fire facilitated unparalleled success for the 3rd Infantry Division to defeat enemy forces and liberate Iraq. Major Sullivan distinguished himself repeatedly during the 26 days of sustained combat. After crossing the Kuwait – Iraq border on the night of 20 March 2003, the battalion in which he served traveled more than 750 kilometers in 20 days ending the conflict on the northern edge of Baghdad. The battalion fired a total of 6,283 rounds in support of all three-ground maneuver brigades in the 3rd Infantry Division. Fires were timely, accurate and lethal every time the battalion was asked to “Unleash Hell” on the enemy. The battalion’s fires destroyed more than 800 enemy soldiers, 75 direct fire combat systems and 50 enemy indirect fire systems. Most importantly the battalion lost no soldiers in combat and only sustained one casualty during the conflict. COL (R) Sullivan retired on 1 September 2013 after 27 years of service in the Field Artillery. During his tenure, he served three operational tours in Saudi Arabia, Korea and Kuwait, and five combat tours in Iraq in support of Desert Shield/Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. He was awarded three additional Bronze Star medals and the Defense Superior Service Award for actions during these campaigns.

If you are proud to share his story and others like it, please "Like" and follow our page as we work to spread awareness of Madison County's heroic veterans!

03/11/2021

Not just fighting an enemy on the battlefield are heroes forged, but when disaster strikes at home, we are grateful to have our own local hero who immediately took actions on September 11, 2001. That hero was LTC Adrian Erckenbrack:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier's Medal, the United States military highest award for heroism in non-combat, to Lieutenant Colonel Adrian A. Erckenbrack, United States Army, for actions above and beyond the call of duty on 11 September 2001, after terrorists crashed a hijacked airliner into the Pentagon. Upon impact there was a thunderous explosion and a horrific fire near Lieutenant Colonel Erckenbrack's place of duty. Without regard for his own safety, he overcame the initial shock and chaos, and aided in the rescue effort. He continued to risk his safety on numerous occasions by rendering assistance to the injured, burning and dying personnel located near thousands of gallons of jet fuel often passing through intense fires and smoke to rescue personnel. His unyielding devotion to his fellow soldiers and civilians undoubtedly saved lives and showed America's resolve to overcome this act of international terrorism. Lieutenant Colonel Erckenbrack's heroic acts are a testament of his bravery and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army. 3.LTC Adrian Erckenbrack was born in Glendale, AZ in 1961 and among 4 children of Allen and Genevieve Erckenbrack. Allen Erckenbrack had also served 26 years in the Army and served in the Korea and Vietnam wars. LTC Adrian Erckenbrack graduated from Yelm, High School in 1980 and went on to receive his undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry from Eastern Washington University in 1984. He graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a Regular Army 2nd Lieutenant with a follow on assignment to Berlin, Germany, 5th Battalion, 502nd Infantry. Following this assignment LT Erckenbrack was selected to attend one of the first Special Forces Assessment and Selection courses and to attend the US Army Special Forces officer Qualification Course. Following Airborne school at Ft Benning, GA, French language school at Ft Bragg, NC and other training he was assigned to Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 542, at 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Ft Campbell, KY. While at 5th SFG (A) he deployed on his first combat tour to Desert Shield and Desert Storm followed by other units assignments in combat including Operation Deliberate Force (Bosnia), Operation Allied Force (Kosovo), Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) and Operation Enduring Freedom. During his career LTC Erckenbrack also deployed in support of US security objectives to a number of other countries such as Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Colombia and others. Near the end of his career LTC Erckenbrack was selected as an Army Congressional Fellow and worked in Senator Joseph Lieberman’s (D/CT) office on legislation to form the Department of Homeland Security. He also served on the Army, Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense staff in various positions. Upon retiring from the US Army in 2004, he was selected to serve as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R/TX) Military Legislative Affairs officer, where he worked as the Senator’s focal point for all US federal appropriations for US military, Foreign Affairs, Veterans Affairs and military construction. Following service on Capitol Hill, LTC (Ret) Erckenbrack founded and ran his own company Defense Technology Solutions, which operated domestically and internationally for ten years before he retired in 2014.

03/07/2021

Silver Star Saturday: We would like to share the incredible actions of our local hero, Herbert Carl Johnson.

Herbert C. Johnson, Jr was born on 7 November 1927 in Huntsville, AL. He enlisted in the Army on 16 March 1946 and served on occupational duty in Europe as a rifleman in Company A, 350th Infantry. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1947. He reentered studies at Auburn University. Herbert Johnson interrupted his studies again to enlist in the Army for duty in the Korean War. PFC Herbert Johnson was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. During the Chinese invasion of the winter of 1950-51, PFC Herbert Johnson stood his ground near Kyongan-ni, Korea, alone in a foxhole, his fellow 4th squad members dead or retreated, against hundreds of oncoming enemy soldiers. When other American soldiers found him the next morning on February 14, 1951, he was surrounded by five dead Chinese / North Korean soldiers and he himself was decapitated. For his gallantry in action against superior numbers, PFC Herbert Johnson, Jr was posthumously awarded the nation's third highest valor award, the Silver Star.

f you are proud to share his story and others like it, please "Like" and follow our page as we work to spread awareness of Madison County's heroic veterans!

03/06/2021

Silver Star Saturday: We would like to share the heroic actions of COL Sterling Henry Abernathy.

COL Sterling Henry Abernathy was born on 28 June 1914 and entered the military at Fordyce, Arkansas on 4 February 1941. Then CPT Abernathy served in the African campaign before joining the assault on Germany. During an assault on the coast of France to gather intelligence, then MAJ Abernathy and other select volunteers braved very rough seas before being subjected to heavy enemy machine gun, mortar and artillery fire that later destroyed their DUKW. During the first day of operations, he assisted the officer in charge in gathering and transmitting vital military information to the Commanding General, V Corps and other command echelons afloat. MAJ Abernathy performed his intelligence gathering duty without consideration for his personal safety in order that the detachment of which he was a member could fulfill its mission of supplying information concerning the supply and tactical situation until the V Corps Command Post was established ashore. Such gallantry in action reflects the highest credit upon MAJ Abernathy and upon the Allied Military Service. For his gallantry in action against a superior enemy force, MAJ Abernathy was awarded the nation’s third highest valor award, the Silver Star. COL Abernathy later served in the Korean War and retired from the US Army in 1966 at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama and was inducted into the Madison County Hall of Heroes in 1997.

The Silver Star is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action
against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign
force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which
the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry, while of a lesser degree than that required for the DSC,
must nevertheless have been performed with marked distinction.

If you are proud to share his story and others like it, please "Like" and follow our page as we work to spread awareness of Madison County's heroic veterans!