MPHC News

Fort Carson receives medal left by Vietnam War hero

Sunday, October 09, 2011

Fort Carson soldiers gathered in formation Thursday during a ceremony with a simple lesson.

The event honored 1st Sgt. David McNerney, a Vietnam War hero died in Texas last year and in his will left his Medal Honor to troops in Colorado Springs.

Friends, family members and comrades talked about McNerney and what he did in 1967 to earn the medal during a day long firefight in the jungle. They talked about McNerney’s generosity, loyalty to family and uncompromising values.

Soldiers with Fort Carson’s A Company of the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, McNerney’s old unit, heard all that and something else.

“I have some huge shoes to fill,” said 1st Sgt. Andrew Whittingham, who holds McNerney’s old job.

The medal will be displayed at the Mountain Post Historical Center near the post’s main gate and commanders will use it to teach young soldiers about the commitment it takes to serve in the Army.

Col. Mike Kasales, who heads the post’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team said the medal shows soldiers something that commanders try and often fail to get through to the troops.

“Being a soldier is more than just meeting the standard,” he said.

McNerney earned the medal for saving the lives of dozens of his troops through a day of unquestionably heroic acts. He took on an enemy machine gun nest single-handed. He repeatedly braved enemy fire to pull wounded soldiers to safety. With bullets flying all around, he grabbed an orange panel and climbed a tree to mark his company’s position, allowing aircraft to bomb the enemy.

But McNerney, in life and in death, said the medal — the nation’s highest decoration for valor — was never really his. Friends say the old sergeant thought by giving the medal to Fort Carson, he was returning it to its rightful owners.

Rick Sauer, who served with McNerney in the firefight and was one of several dozen Vietnam veterans who traveled to Fort Carson for the rites, said he knew what the sergeant would have said at the ceremony.

“He would have turned to the soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division and said ‘Thank you for your service’,” Sauer said.

Capt. Tom Angstadt, who now commands McNerney’s old company, said the gift to Fort Carson will teach his soldiers that the future is built on the lessons of the past.

“It is bigger than one person,” he said.



Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/mcnerney-126317-medal-vietnam.html#ixzz1aIeVoV7K

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Fort Carson breaks ground on new museum

Monday, May 03, 2010

FORT CARSON, COLO. -- Fort Carson officials broke ground on a new museum Thursday.

The groundbreaking marks Phase I of a three-phase project intended to bring history to the Mountain Post.

The idea for the historical center began in 1999 when members of the community organized the Mountain Post Historical Association.

Phase I of the project began with a groundbreaking of a temporary artifact display facility. Phase II is a much larger and a permanent historical facility and Phase III is a community effort to enhance that facility.

"Today is a significant day. It's a milestone in our efforts to make this a reality," said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ed Soriano, who is the president and chairman of the Mountain Post Historical Association.

And with a scoop of dirt, a long-standing dream is coming true.

"A facility that we want to build on behalf of the community and build for Fort Carson. A historical center that will talk about the 68-year history of Fort Carson and its relationship with the community, and to recognize the thousands of soldiers who have come and gone in this installation serving our country and our nation," said Soriano.

The museum will be filled with artifacts ranging from the World War I time period to present day.

"In fact, we have a few of the items that were captured with Saddam when he was captured during Operation Red Dawn. The 4th I.D. First Brigade was involved with that. So we have several items including the money box that was with him," said Steve Ruhnke, curator for the Fort Carson 4th I.D. Museum.

The Mountain Post Historical Association says the museum is a way to honor the men and women who serve our country every day.

"It truly is a way to recognize the contributions and the sacrifices that the great men and women have made to our nation," said Soriano.

And for Purple Heart recipient, Latoya Lucas, it means a lot.

"Not only would this project tell my story and what service members, especially soldiers from this post been through, but it will promote patriotism in our youth,” said Lucas.

Terry Sullivan, president and CEO of Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak, says the museum would also serve as a tourist attraction and estimates that it would receive 75,000 visitors each year.

"Ultimately it will become the icon of the Mountain Post and I would hope that it would be used by all of the soldiers stationed here and people who visit the Mountain Post,” said Sullivan.

But the real purpose of the museum is to ensure that we never forget.

"There is probably no thing that worries a soldier more than people not recognizing what they've done and forgetting the sacrifice they've made," said Denny Cripps, campaign director for the Mountain Post Historical Center.

But the Mountain Post Historical Center does need help.

“We certainly need support. In any way possible whether it’s financial, volunteer, you name it. Whatever support we can generate to make this a reality. We’re well on our way to making it a reality but certainly support from the community is needed,” said Soriano.

If all goes according to plan the project will be completed in 2013.

Phase Renderings

  • Rendering Phase I
  • Rendering Phase II
  • Rendering Phase III

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    Mountain Post Historical Association, Inc., Artifact Exhibit at Colorado Springs Airport

    Monday, May 03, 2010

    The Mountain Post Historical Association, Inc (MPHA) is a community based 501©(3) established to raise funds to build the Mountain Post Historical Center (MPHC).

    The MPHA is committed to bringing a unique landmark to Fort Carson and surrounding communities. The Mountain Post Historical Center (MPHC) will be located just outside Fort Carson’s main gate on Colorado Highway 115 across the street from the Cheyenne Mountain State Park. It will preserve the history from 1942 – when the Mountain Post was founded in response to World War II – to the present day and beyond. The MPHC will be an educational venue for newly assigned Soldiers, family members, other veteran and civilian visitors, a focal point for reunions, a location to promote educational programs, and a gathering place for the Post, veterans’ organization, youth and civic groups. It will be a place of Honor and the legacy for all those who have and will serve.

    Airport Exhibit Photos

    The funding for this project, which is currently underway, will be a combination of federal, state, private, corporate donations and sponsorships. The project is in Phase 1 of a 3-phase project.

    The artifacts on display are provided courtesy of the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson.

    Click here to learn more about how you can help/become involved or call 719-633-2867

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    Progress Report – Recent Developments Propel Mountain Post Historical Center Forward

    Monday, January 04, 2010

    Two recent decisions by the U.S. Army in support of the MPHC have added great momentum to the project.

    First - to build an artifacts display building with $750,000 of stimulus funds provided to Fort Carson. The facility will be built this winter/next spring adjacent to the current visitor center just outside Fort Carson’s main gate. It will provide approximately 4,000 square feet of viewing space for 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson artifacts until the MPHC is built.

    Second – the decision to add a 32,500 square foot museum support facility project to the Army’s program in fiscal year 2011. By adding this to its construction program, the Army is demonstrating a strong commitment to the community’s effort to build the MPHC. Construction should begin in the summer of 2011. When completed, the Army’s museum support facility will integrate with the community’s MPHC project. This will create a historical complex and site at Gate 1 for Fort Carson and the entire community to enjoy. While there is still planning and design work to be finalized, we are well on our way to creating a ‘Mountain Post Historical Center’ of which the Front Range community can be proud. A fitting place to tell the stories of Fort Carson and its Soldiers, past, present, and future.

    Interested in helping the design committee? MPHC project meetings take place the third Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m. in the offices of HB&A, 102 East Moreno Avenue, in downtown Colorado Springs. Anyone interested in helping the MPHC design committee is welcome to attend.

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    Turning a Spade of Dirt

    Monday, January 04, 2010

    Site of future home of MPHC to see construction activity in 2009

    This summer the 4th Infantry Division returns from Ft. Hood, Texas to the Mountain Post after a fourteen year absence. The 4th Infantry Division has a storied history and legacy. Just as capturing the entire history of the Mountain Post from 1942 to present day is important, so is the preservation of the legacy of the 4th ID. Relocation of the 4th ID brings with it up to $750,000 in approved monies to construct a 5,000 square foot facility to display and store some of the Division’s valuable artifacts and pieces of history.

    MPHC leaders recently met with the interim command of the 4th ID to discuss combining our efforts to ultimately complete a 30,000 square foot Historical Center, reflecting the entire history of the Mountain Post. Since moving their heritage from Ft. Hood to Ft. Carson and having a place to put it is a high priority, don’t be surprised to see dirt being moved and construction taking place in close proximity to the existing MPHC site prior to the end of 2009.

    When a construction schedule is announced, expect supporters of the Mountain Post Historical Center to be invited to participate in “turning the first spade of dirt” in the first step toward completion of the Mountain Post Historical Center.

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    Please join me in supporting this great project. Your contributions to the Mountain Post Historical Center are an enduring commitment which recognizes and pays tribute to our Soldiers and their families, past present, and future, service to our Army and our Nation.

    ~LTG (Retired) Edward Soriano.

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