4th Infantry Division Honors K Company Veterans

Photo By Sgt. Tyler Brock | Veterans previously assigned to K Company, 4th Infantry Division, stand with the cadre of the Pre-Ranger course during the annual K Company reunion, partially held at Fort Carson, Colorado, Sept. 8, 2022. These Veterans were part of an elite group called Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol teams. They would infiltrate deep into enemy lines to gather reconnaissance and report back to their chain of command. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Tyler Brock)  

FORT CARSON, COLORADO, UNITED STATES

09.16.2022

Story by Spc. Tyler Brock 

4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. - Veterans formerly assigned to K Company, 4th Infantry Division, attended a reunion at Fort Carson, Colorado, Sept. 8, 2022. While here, they were welcomed and given a tour by the Pre-Ranger team.
During the Vietnam War era, these Veterans were part of an elite group of Rangers called Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol teams. These teams moved deep into enemy lines, gathered intelligence and reported to their commander.
“They normally moved out in small teams of six elements, and they would move far out before the rest of the 4th Inf. Div. would move,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Davis, a senior tactics advisor and counselor for the Pre-Ranger course, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div.
Such high-risk missions required each Soldier to depend on the men to his left and right. Oftentimes, communication was reduced to hand signals and trusting that each other knew what the other was doing.
“At no time did we think about what the other guy was going to do,” said James Burke, a former radio operator assigned to the LRRP, 4th Inf. Div. “All of us had the same mindset.”
Soldiers like Burke said they set the example for the 4th Inf. Div. by showing how they believed in each other by their dedication. A legacy marked by dedication and commitment remains the standard for any Ivy Soldier to this day.
“If we can get more Soldiers in the 4th Inf. Div. Ranger qualified, we can keep creating this culture Maj. Gen. Hodne is trying to get at, where ‘I believe in myself, I believe in my team and I believe in my leaders,’” said Davis.
Today, anyone who attempts to go through Ranger training at Fort Benning, Georgia is taught strategies derived from LRRP teams in Vietnam. These maneuvers, even though they were used in the years of 1969-1970, still help Rangers gain superiority on the modern-day battlefield.
“All of Ranger School’s tactics are basically Vietnam tactics,” said Davis. “Everything they did in Vietnam and brought back to the force is what we do now when we go to Ranger School and how we are trained. It brings it full circle.”
The reunion concluded Sept. 10, 2022, as Veterans and current Ivy Soldiers sat around tables, exchanging stories during a banquet. Among those attending was Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Nash, senior enlisted leader of 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson. During a speech, Nash praised the men for their bravery and concluded the night by extending words of gratitude.
“You went and you braved the jungles and completed your mission every time,” said Nash. “The spirit you created is still alive today in your division.”
The dedication these LRRP Soldiers displayed during their time of service was marked by honor.
“For a young man, 20 years old, who came over from Ireland and went into the U.S. Army, it was an adventure,” said Burke. “If I had another opportunity to do it again, I would be right there doing it.”
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• Date Taken: 09.16.2022
• Date Posted: 09.16.2022 14:31
• Story ID: 429494
• Location: FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US