The Journey of the 69th Infantry after 9/11

This video was put together by a man in my unit who has lost family in the twin towers, the pics and video came from soldiers, police officers and firefighters who had boots on the ground as well as a few clippings from news agencies. I don't own this song, nor the rights to it.

Operation Noble Eagle
From its armory at Lexington Avenue and 25th Street in midtown Manhattan, the Fighting 69th was one of the first military units to respond to the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, where it helped to secure Ground Zero. Two members were killed during rescue operations, 1st Lieutenant Gerard Baptiste (FDNY) & Specialist Thomas Jurgens (NYS Courts). Following duty at the WTC, 200 soldiers were mobilized to protect the United States Military Academy, West Point, serving for 1 year. Numerous other members were on active duty providing protection to nuclear power plants, airports, bridges, tunnels, & trains throughout the New York area as part of Operation Noble Eagle.[2]
[edit] Operation Iraqi Freedom
On May 15, 2004, the Regiment was Federalized for combat duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom, training at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Irwin, California before deploying. The Fighting 69th deployed to Iraq as a battalion under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Slack and Command Sergeant Major George Brett, the first time it had seen overseas combat since World War II.
[edit] Taji
The Regiment performed combat patrols in Taji, Radwiniyah, and Baghdad. The regiment's tradition of aggressive combat action helped suppress rocket and mortar attacks upon the Green Zone and Camp Cooke. A local sheik in Taji assumed the 69th's Rainbow Division Insignia was a Special Forces patch because of their aggressiveness, but Lt Colonel Slack explained to him that it "meant they were from New York and eager to avenge the 9/11 attacks".[2]
[edit] Baghdad
While in Baghdad, the Regiment was responsible for finally securing the infamous "Route Irish" (the airport road) that linked the "Green Zone" to BIAP airfield, Camp Victory and the surrounding neighborhoods including al-Ameriyah. 19 members of the Regiment were Killed in Action, and over 78 were Wounded in Action during "Operation Wolfhound",[9] named after the Irish Wolfhounds on its Regimental crest, before it returned to New York on September 15, 2005.[2]
The March 2006 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade was dedicated to honor the service of The Fighting 69th. On March 13, 2008 the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 991 (H.Res.991) recognizing the exceptional sacrifice of the 69th Infantry Regiment, known as the Fighting 69th, in support of the Global War on Terror. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), and passed unanimously.
[edit] Operation Enduring Freedom


69th Infantry in Japan as part of Orient Shield
In 2008 approximately 300 soldiers from the 69th deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Phoenix, attached to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, where it assisted in stability operations in the Hindu Kush and in training the Afghan Security Forces. Before returning to New York in the summer of 2009, the Regiment suffered 3 KIA.[2]
[edit] Current Operations
Since standing down from federal service and returning to New York, the regiment's activities have included annual Infantry training and qualification at Fort A.P. Hill, Urban warfare training at Fort Knox, providing combat experience briefings to cadets at the United States Military Academy, and sending companies for joint training in Puerto Rico and to Japan as part of Operation Orient Shield. The regiment is anticipating a possible deployment to federal service beginning in December 2011 as part of the now regular rotation of mobilizations among National Guard units.[10]

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[jreynoso141]

my dad is the infantry the 69th a book came out about you guys

[jsilvagni]

@jreynoso141 What is your dad's name? I'm wondering if I know him.

[generaltodd2]

My Airsoft Team is named The Fighting 69th, after the Civil War Unit which my ancestors fought in and carry the 69th's famous green flag into battle sometimes, our name and the carrying of the flag in battle, is to honor the men in the 69th who fought and died for America. out of 7 ancestors who fought in the 69th 2 were killed at Fredricksburg, 1 at Antietam and 1 at Gettysburg.

[jsilvagni]

@generaltodd2 Thanks for the info, I'm a civil war buff myself. Just so you know this fighting 69th is the exact unit that fought in the civil war that your ancestors fought in. I was proud to see the green flag, with the harp and clover flying. I was just as proud of the fact that we were the last surviving unit in the Irish Brigade. Although most of us weren't Irish haha.

[vickiormindyb]

We lost family too. And we know someone who made it out, but not without being burned over his upper body. He's never been able to look at a picture of the towers in flames, b/c he was set on fire.