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www.TalkingWithHeroes.com
Web Based Talk Show Program
Aired Sept 13, 2009
To Listen 24/7 Go To: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19487 Episode 111
CLICK HERE to Watch 24/7 Two 32 Minute Videos Online Watch Episodes 82 and 83 Or Go To www.myfbn.com then click on Truth In Iraq Channel
This very moving program was Broadcasted from Littleton, CO. from the Home of
Fallen Hero SSG Christopher M. Falkel
Talk Show Host: Bob Calvert
Guests:
Jeff Falkel, Gold Star Father of Fallen Hero SSG Chris Falkel
Jeff is currently the president of Junior’s Bullet Pen Company, a company dedicated to Chris that manufactures bullet pens out of .308 shell casings. Proceeds from the sale of every bullet pen go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation – that provides college scholarships to the children of our fallen Special Operations warriors.
Jeff is also the Chairperson of the More Than A Name Foundation – a Foundation dedicated to telling the stories of the true American heroes, letting the world know that these brave men and women are indeed more than just a name.
http://www.morethananamefoundation.org/wordpress/
SSG Christopher M. Falkel
Portrait by Well Known Artist Michael Reagan
{NOTE: Michael Reagan will be calling in to this program over the phone. See the end of this page for details}
Chris was born on 24 September, 1982 in Boston, MA. He lived in Athens, Ohio from 1984 – 1990, when we moved to Littleton, Colorado. Chris attended Northridge Elementary School, Cresthill Middle School, and graduated from ThunderRidge High School in 2001.
On 25 October, 2001, Chris enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA for his Basic Training and his Advanced Infantry Training. He graduated AIT in March, 2002. He then attended Airborne School at Ft. Benning, before being assigned to Ft. Bragg, NC where was a member of the fourth class of the Special Operations Preparatory Course. In June 2002, he completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection, and was assigned to the Special Forces Qualification Course and graduated 21 May, 2003.
After finishing his Arabic Language course and SERE training, he was assigned to Operational Detachment –Alpha 316, Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) as a Weapons Sergeant (18B). He was promoted to Staff Sergeant (SSG) on 1 November, 2004. His schooling in Special Forces included Blackwater Combat Marksmanship Course, Gryphon Group Force Protection Course, Mid-South Self Defense Institute, SFARTAETC, and his favorite course, the one he was most proud of, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course.
His first overseas deployment was in February, 2004 to Gereshk, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His second deployment was also to Afghanistan in June, 2005 and he was killed in action during the fifth of seven contacts in the 54 hour Battle of Mari Ghar in Afghanistan on 8 August, 2005 while saving the lives of his 10 teammates and 16 members of the Afghan National Army that were assigned to his team. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 22 August, 2005.
SSG Christopher M. Falkel’s awards include the Silver Star (the Narrative for his Silver Star is attached), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab.
NARRATIVE RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR TO SSG CHRISTOPHER M. FALKEL, 025-64-2459, ALPHA COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 3RD SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE), FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA 28310
Staff Sergeant Christopher M. Falkel distinguished himself by exemplifying spirited bravery as the Weapons Sergeant for Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 316, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 7 August 2005 to 8 August 2005.
SSG Falkel distinguished himself in five fierce enemy engagements with a well trained, emplaced aggressive enemy during a time span of thirty four hours while operating as the 50 cal. machine gunner on the last vehicle of our element, while conducting operations in the Zabol Province of Afghanistan while deployed to A-Camp Lane. SSG Falkel’s calmness under fire and tactical competence were imperative to the detachment’s survival.
During our unit’s first engagement in the Buka Ghar Valley, SSG Falkel was instrumental in helping fix and engage enemy positions that had the entire element pinned down. His continuous engagement without concern for his own well being allowed our heavily suppressed elements to get to positions of better cover and his relentless punishment to the enemy while fully exposed later caused them to retreat.
During our second contact in the Buka Ghar Valley, SSG Falkel once again was instrumental in accurately putting down heavy volumes of fire on well emplaced machine gun positions so other members of our unit could move up to pinned down Afghanistan National Army (ANA) elements that were part of our patrol and help consolidate, assess, and get control of their situation. We continued to receive heavy volumes of machine gun fire and RPGs from numerous positions.
He played a crucial role in the final elimination and forced withdrawal of the enemy by providing cover for the ODA’s mortar team while they engaged the extremely fortified machine gun positions. If it wasn’t for the cover fire and marking of these positions by SSG Falkel, our element would have been seriously devastated by the well emplaced, heavily armed and numerically superior forces.
Our element continued to pursue the enemy during their retreat when they sent ahead for reinforcements to set up what was to be the third ambush. During our pursuit, we received Anti Coalition Member (ACM) communications stating that they were targeting the last vehicle because it was very strong.
This information didn’t faze SSG Falkel, as he still insisted that we must go forward and finish the enemy off. Upon the third ACM ambush, SSG Falkel immediately located and fired upon the well emplaced and trained enemy force without care for his own life while being engaged himself by a flanking element. His bravery allowed our ANA element to maneuver on the larger ACM element, later causing these same elements to maneuver to a location they thought would give them a tactical advantage.
This only led them to a better vantage point for SSG Falkel, who was able to eliminate them during their maneuver to what would have been a position devastating to our ANA element. The remaining ACM elements broke contact again, only to reform and gather more experienced and trained fighters further down our route. The fourth ACM contact opened up on our lead element with concentrated fire, but SSG Falkel quickly and effectively responded as he had done in the previous contacts, knowing that he would draw fire upon himself. Immediately to the flank of our vehicle the major portion of the ambush opened up with an extraordinary amount of heavy machine gun fire.
SSG Falkel, while fully exposed, quickly and effectively spun his turret and machine gun in the direction of fire and began to engage. The whole time rounds were impacting all around our vehicle and him. He continued to engage without care for his own welfare or safety, his only care being that of his fellow team members. He continued to suppress the well concealed enemy until aircraft came on station. SSG Falkel was able to spot and lay down effective fire so the aircraft knew where to fire to completely eliminate the enemy threat.
Once again, we intercepted ACM communications that again said they were reorganizing at a location that they had success with in the past. SSG Falkel demanded that we continue on and finish the enemy. As we entered Cakyan Ghar Valley, the enemy opened up with what was to be SSG Falkel’s fifth and final encounter with this highly trained, numerically superior, and well equipped ACM force that we had been dealing with and pursuing for the past thirty hours.
They opened up on our lead element as before with extraordinary volumes of machine gun, RPG and AK-47 fire. SSG Falkel rapidly spun his turret and gun while informing the rear gunner of our vehicle where the fire was coming from, and began to engage without care for his own life. His only concerns were for the care of his fellow team mates and trying to eliminate, or draw some of the fire from those machine gun positions that had our lead element pinned down. No sooner had SSG Falkel begun to engage the well emplaced enemy positions, when the rear gunner of our vehicle saw him slumped over his 50 cal. machine gun still orientated towards, and covering down on the ACM elements that were heavily engaging his team mates.
It was later discovered that he had taken a single shot to the head. It is my belief that SSG Falkel was targeted by an ACM sniper due to his effectiveness during the four earlier enemy ambushes that accrued in the 34 hours prior. SSG Falkel willfully and voluntarily chose to serve in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM supporting his fellow soldiers, the legitimate Government of Afghanistan, and the United States of America in the global war on terror.
The distinctive accomplishments of Staff Sergeant Falkel reflect great credit upon himself, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan and the United States Army.
Junior’s Bullet Pen Company is dedicated to one of our fallen heroes in the Global War on Terror -- SSG Chris Falkel. SSG Chris Falkel was a warrior, he was a hero, and he was my son. Chris was a weapons sergeant for 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) on Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 316.
Late on the evening of 8 August, 2005, Chris and his team were involved in a 54 hour battle that “will live in the annuals of Special Forces history.” During the fifth of seven contacts during that battle, Chris paid the ultimate sacrifice and died saving the lives of his team. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery and heroism. He was only 22 years old when he was killed facing the enemy.
We would like to expand our company to provide bullet pens to the men and women who so bravely and courageously have volunteered to keep our country safe. We want to get them to all aspects of the military – from recruiters to re-enlistment coordinators to specific military units and commands. Another market is the military exchange for all services. We also would like to be able to provide bullet pens to our wounded warriors and veteran’s of all military service through the Veteran’s Administration hospital system.
Law enforcement professionals and sportsmen may also prove to be good markets for our bullet pens. Once we know we can get a supply of 7mm .08 brass shell casings, we can produce enough pens to meet the need and demand that we feel our bullet pens will have.
When Chris was 8 years old, he placed a Special Forces “long tab and arrowhead” on the wall above his bed. Even from an early age, he knew he was going to become a member of the United States Army Special Forces. On 22 May, 2003, Chris’ dream became a reality. Chris was an 18 Bravo – Weapons Sergeant, and he served two tours in Afghanistan. Although Chris was the youngest member of his team, he was loved and respected for the professional and warrior he was. His teammates called him Junior, and Chris would make weapons out of what ever was available to him. Once he became a Special Forces weapons sergeant, he would turn bullets into all sorts of things; one such project was to create a way to make a pen out a bullet. Although, he never figured out how to master this skill, his insight and motivation has allowed me to perfect his creation. So, these pens are being made in memory of my son.
Please note that 25% of the proceeds from the sale of every Junior Bullet Pen will be is donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). The SOWF provides college scholarships for the children of our fallen Special Operation warriors. For more information about the SOWF, please contact them at www.specialops.org. Junior’s Bullet Pen Company has donated over $3,000 to the SOWF, but we want to give them so much more.
Feel free to contact us at any time to discuss Chris, the company, or any other aspect of Junior’s Bullet Pens at 720 – 234 – 3166 or jeff@juniorsbulletpens.com. Thank you so much for your consideration and help for getting bullet pens out to our country’s soldiers, those who can truly appreciate what duty, honor, and heroism is all about.
Foreword
by Steven Pressfield, best selling author of Gates of Fire
There are two types, at least, of fighting men who serve their nations with honor. The first is the citizen-soldier. The citizen-soldier is, to my mind, the soul and beating heart of a free republic. His type goes back as far as ancient Greece, to the freehold landsman who takes down his shield and armor from above the hearth, kisses his wife and infants’ goodbye and marches off to defend his city from her enemies. Closer to our era, citizen-soldiers were the "embattled farmers" of Lexington and Concord who took up the same defense with flintlock, powder and ball. The citizen-soldier is a reluctant fighter. War is not his element. When summoned, he rises to the occasion, visits hell upon the enemy, then returns to his true life at home. Probably the most vivid example of the citizen-solider in recent fiction is the character of Capt. John Miller, played by Tom Hanks in "Saving Private Ryan." The citizen-soldier is the first line of defense of any free society, and the man who, throughout our own country's history, has preserved her liberty time and again.
This book is not about citizen-soldiers. Its subject is another type of fighting man, for whom the proper term (overused and misused as it is these days) is "warrior."
The warrior and the citizen-soldier are not the same. I honor both and place neither above the other, militarily or morally. It's an exercise that will reward our attention, however, to consider the differences between the two.
The citizen-soldier fights to defend his country, his family and the values he holds dear. The warrior fights for the fight itself. A warrior does not participate in the fight; he is a fighter. That's who he is. It's all he wants to be. A warrior is not himself, apart from war. Like the priest or the holy man, a warrior is "called"--often at a very early age. Chris Falkel was. So were all the men of ODA 316.
Warriors recognize one another without words. Their type is ancient; it pre-dates nations. Before there were civilizations, there were warriors. The Warrior archetype arose out of and is only a half-step removed from the Hunter, which is the most ancient archetype of all, excepting only Eve. The warrior has not changed in fifty thousand years. His skills are primordial. His being is tribal. His calling transcends patriotism. His love is for his brothers of the group, the clan, the band. He lives and breathes honor and fears only one thing -- that he will prove unworthy of his comrades-in-arms. He will die first, gladly. A flag doesn't mean so much to a warrior, nor does the identity of his enemy. Any enemy will do, as long as he has inflicted harm on those of the warrior's blood. The warrior respects his foe, even honors him, but he lives only to kill him.
The warrior's mythology is not really Christian. His gods arise from cultures like the Lakota, the Native American; from the ancient Spartans, Macedonians and Romans; and from the Vedic precepts expressed in the Bhagavad-Gita. His spiritual home lies in those warrior societies in which the acts of killing and being killed were viewed from a sterner, and some would say more profound, perspective than in our own. I was not surprised to learn that the warriors of ODA 316 elected to tattoo their flesh with the Greek letter lambda, with which the ancient Spartans inscribed the surfaces of their shields to identify their country, Lakedaemon. The hearts of these Special Forces men beat more in synch with Leonidas and Dienekes, perhaps, than with their own countrymen. MAJ Jim (whom you'll meet in these pages) tells the story of the 135 soldiers aboard the homeward-bound jet from Baghdad International Airport. As the wheels lifted off the ground, 134 cheered. Only Jim wept. He hated to leave the fight. That's the difference between a citizen-soldier and a warrior.
Jeff Falkel's tribute to his son Chris is aptly titled. Because Chris' story is that of the making of a warrior. A strong father-son bond is common among warriors. The love flows both ways. Pride is a huge part of it. The father reveres the son and vice versa; each burns to live up to the other and to make the other proud of him.
When you read Jeff's stories of Chris as a young boy, of his stashing of weapons in hidden caches when he was five years old, of training himself to hit hard, hold nothing back, operate without food or sleep, you'll see a warrior in embryo. Chris knew. He saw his own death coming. The passages in this book when Jeff tells of hearing the news, of telling Dianne, of Arlington and of Fort Bragg are heart-breaking but brutally true, not only to Chris' life and death but to the lives and deaths of warriors since time immemorial.
Warriors inhabit this material sphere differently from the rest of us. Their life unfolds on different planes simultaneously. Death is ever-present to them. They live on this side of the curtain and on the far side too -- sometimes they live more vividly on the far side than they do here, in life. A warrior looks into the eyes of his brothers and sees their deaths, as he sees his own. Death doesn't mean that much to him. Those who love warriors must make their peace with this. When you read this book, you'll encounter numerous incidents involving falcons. ("Falkel" means "little falcon" in Lakota.) This is no accident. Hawk and falcon are messengers in Native American mythology. Like the Greek god Hermes, Falcon shuttles between the lands of the living and the dead. Falcon is a warrior bird, who is equally at home in both dimensions. He carries messages. No brother-in-arms can ever die, a warrior believes (and his experience bears this out). The spirit of a fallen comrade remains vivid and communicates continually from the other side. In these pages, Jeff recounts dozens of such messages from Chris. Are they fanciful? The fictitious creations of a father's grieving heart? I don't think so. I have another friend who recently lost his son. For him, the totem animal is a dolphin. My friend has stories too, one after the other that defy all rational explanation. What I admire most about Jeff's achievement in producing this testament to his son are his own efforts to remain rational, to keep a cool, reality-check head. Have you read Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking?" Then you know how difficult that can be.
My own life in recent months, as I said, has brought me into contact with three fathers who have lost grown sons. One is a dear friend from high school, one a famous personage whom I've never met but whose life I've studied. One is Jeff.
Sons should bury fathers, not the other way around. A father never recovers from this loss. There is no healing. One of these fathers wrote, "All kind and well-intentioned words bring little consolation. Nor can I say that time heals the wounds in such a case. On the contrary, the older one becomes, the more he realizes how much he has lost."
This book is by definition personal. It couldn't be more personal. It's Chris' book, it's Jeff's, it's Tim's, it's Dianne's, it belongs to everyone in the extended family. It's not really a book in the sense of a crafted "work" produced by a coolly detached professional. This material is raw. It's as fresh as a fatal wound. Touch it and your hand comes away sticky with blood. It's not a book, it's a document -- a testament etched in acid but with every cell penetrated and permeated by love. It will be as real and immediate a thousand years from now as it would have been a thousand years in the past. Is it too long? Yes. Is it extreme? Yes. Excessive, even obsessive? Yes. But when Jeff asked me, I told him don't change a word.
The person who touches my heart most in these pages is Tim, Chris' younger brother. Chris is fine. As tragic as it is that Chris' life was cut short, that he will never experience the joy of having children or loving a wife or any of the other sweet fulfillments of life, still he stepped out of this world the way he wanted to, in a blaze of glory, doing what he was born to do, among friends he loved and who loved him, comrades-in-arms whose lives he helped to preserve by his valorous actions in the face of mortal peril.
Tim, will you stand to your detriment in your brother's shadow? I don't think so. My instinct tells me that your destiny will be loftier and more complex than any other in this broad, wide family. You may have the trickiest path, to remain part of this sage and to transcend it. Your road may be one of art. I know a little about that and I can tell you: it is transformative, and its gift is meaning. I salute you, Tim. Godspeed.
Lastly, to readers of this Foreword, will you forgive me if, to honor Chris and Jeff, I end with a passage from one of my own books? I wouldn't do it if I didn't think it was appropriate.
[Start quote]
The passage concerns another animal, not a falcon but a horse, perhaps the noblest and most celebrated warhorse who ever lived, Alexander the Great's Bucephalus. This steed carried Alexander into battle at the Granicus River, at Issus, Gaugamela, and in a hundred other clashes, until he fell -- at the age of twenty-four, legend says -- at the battle of the Hydaspes River in India. Bucephalus was a warrior. From "Virtues of War," this is the peroration of Alexander's eulogy:
My friends, many of you have sought to console me for this loss. You have recalled to me that the wide world is mine to search, and from its precincts I may select any horse I wish and train it to be a second Bucephalus. I don't believe it. In all the earth I shall not find his fellow. He was, and is no more. My own end, when it comes, is by his passing rendered less hateful to me in that hope, only, that I shall meet him again in the life to come.
[End quote]
One of my favorite quotes, in fact it has become my life’s mantra, is from Herman Melville’s book, Moby Dick, which reads, “The path to my fixed purpose is laid on iron rails in which my soul is grooved to ride.“
The path my life is now taking, and my fixed purpose started on 8 August, 2005. That was the day my warrior, my hero, my son—Staff Sergeant Christopher Falkel—was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan. He freely gave his life while saving the lives of his “brothers” and teammates during an incredible 54 hour battle with Taliban forces. Chris was a member of 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal as well as the Silver Star Medal for his valor and bravery during that great battle. Two days later, I began writing a book about Chris with his “brothers”, and we call it, The Making of OUR Warrior. I want people to understand the caliber of the man, soldier and warrior that my son was. Writing OUR book has been the hardest thing I have ever done, yet it remains my greatest accomplishment.
It took me three years to finish what I started two days after my son left us. And even though there were times while I was writing OUR book that I felt like I had been “hit by a truck,” once I finished a chapter, and particularly once I finished OUR book, I found a tremendous healing of my pain had occurred. So it was then, in the late fall of 2008 that I KNEW what I needed to do with the rest of my life— help other families tell their stories of their heroes.
Another thing happened to me while I was finishing OUR book. I literally wrote the entire book while sitting in a chair that was under the amazing portrait of Chris that was given to me by Mr. Michael Reagan of the Fallen Heroes Project
(to contact Michael, please visit his website at www.fallenheroesproject.org).
Michael has done over 1600 portraits of our fallen heroes for their families at NO CHARGE, for he truly believes that our families have paid the ultimate price. While I was finishing OUR book about Chris, it hit me like a locomotive this time that I wanted to do the same for the families of our fallen warriors.
http://www.morethananamefoundation.org/wordpress/the-beginning
ALSO CALLING IN TO THIS PROGRAM:
Michael Reagan
Vietnam Veteran
Artist
http://www.michaelgreaganartist.com/
Custom Portraits of Fallen Soldiers Drawn Free of Charge
Premier Northwest Artist Generous Offer to Draw Soldier Portraits
What if all you had left of a loved one was photos and memories? For those that have a family member killed as a soldier in the War Against Terrorism, that is all they have left of them.
Using the family’s favorite photo, professional custom hand-drawn portraits are available free of charge to the families of all servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in America’s War Against Terrorism from portrait
artist Michael Reagan.
Michael Reagan is an internationally-recognized portrait artist who has assisted charities such as the Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center raise over $10 million through his drawn and donated autographed celebrity portraits. As a
portrait artist for more than 30 years, Reagan has drawn approximately 10,000 portraits including over 1500 portraits of celebrities, professional athletes, U.S. presidents and other heads of state.
As a Vietnam War combat veteran, Reagan understands and empathizes with the extreme challenges faced by servicemen and women, as well as the ultimate sacrifice their families make. It is his passion to share his portrait-drawing talents with the families of killed servicemen and women as a lasting memory of the soldier’s contribution, as a comfort to the family in their grief and as a service to the United States.
The first request for a soldier’s portrait commission came from the wife of a serviceman Michael Johnson who was killed in Iraq, Cherice Johnson. Cherice contacted Reagan after seeing a story about his work on Seattle’s Evening Magazine show. As a war veteran Reagan’s heart went out to Cherice and her deceased husband - he would not accept payment for the commission.
“Being a combat veteran that was fortunate enough to make it home has me thanking God every day,” he explained. “Because I truly consider all of us that have fought or are fighting for this country brothers there just isn't any way I could charge you for your picture.
Healing was found in capturing the essence of the fallen soldier in a portrait. “I am forever grateful you have opened your heart and are willing to share your great talent with others,” describes Cherice in thanking Reagan. “It is people like yourself, along with my family and friends, that make this grieving process even slightly bearable.” This rich experience with Cherice inspired Reagan to offer the opportunity to any family with a fallen soldier in the War Against Terrorism.
Reagan views his art as much more than work, he feels called to share his talent for larger purposes. While he is sought out to draw many commissioned portraits, even some as high profile as President and Mrs. Bush, he feels called to bring healing to difficult situations through his art. “After reading in the paper about a terrible car accident involving a drunk driver that had killed two daughters, I felt compelled to provide a memory of the girls through a portrait for the parents,” he describes. “When I met the family to present the portrait, the grandfather told me I had brought life back into the family. I can’t eliminate anyone’s grief, but I can provide some comfort and healing.” This is just one of many such examples of Reagan sharing his gift to bring healing to a family after loss.
Reagan discovered his talent for portrait drawing when as a youth he was looking for distraction while recovering from a football injury. While he enjoyed the praise his work received what he found important was the healing power of drawing. As a Marine in Vietnam, Reagan often drew portraits of the other Marines. “I drew portraits of a lot of Marines whose pictures came home but they didn’t,” said Reagan. “I was on the front lines in Vietnam during most of tour, it is only through the grace of God that I have come back alive. Given a second chance on life, I am making the most of it – including sharing my talent to help others.”
Portraits are drawn from a photo of the soldier. All requests for drawings of soldiers killed in the War Against Terrorism will be honored. Portraits will be completed on a first come, first serve basis. Requests can only be made by a spouse, parent or other immediate family member and are to be e-mailed to artguy@att.net
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MICHAEL AND HIS INCREDIBLE MISSION GO TO:
http://www.michaelgreaganartist.com/FallenHero.htm
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