| "There is one in the Oval Office, others in the pockets of congressmen and senators, and, aside from the official insignias they wear, it is the emblem most often carried by members of the military in Afghanistan and Iraq," writes Stephen Mansfield, in his book The Faith of the American Soldier.
But these stylized tags have a special tie to Fort Benning, specifically to our Rangers.
It was April 3, 2003. CPT Russell Rippetoe, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was manning a security checkpoint in Iraq, when a vehicle approached the checkpoint, and a pregnant woman jumped out and started running toward the Soldiers. After instructing his men to stay back, Rippetoe approached the woman with two other Soldiers. When the vehicle exploded, the three Rangers were killed.
Rippetoe, who was the first Soldier from Operation Iraqi Freedom to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, is remembered every year during the Best Ranger Competition. The bronze combat boot trophy, awarded to the team that wins the BRC road march, holds a plaque bearing Rippetoe's name.
Informally, it's known as the Rippetoe award, and fittingly, it's awarded every year by his father, LTC(R) Joe Rippetoe, a former Ranger and Vietnam veteran.
But back to Shields of Strength. The elder Rippetoe has attended the competition faithfully every year since 2004. Officially, he awards the boot trophy, he said, but unofficially he gives away dozens - this year, hundreds - of shields identical to the one his son was wearing when he was killed.
The tags read "United States of America, One Nation Under God" on one side and have the words from Joshua 1:9 imprinted on the reverse. They're offered every year to BRC competitors, and Rippetoe also shares several with other Soldiers, family members and civilians.
It's amazing how the tags have gained in popularity. "Unreal," Rippetoe calls it. If you ask a Fort Benning Ranger if he's heard of them, the answer is often a resounding yes.
If you're interested in getting a tag for yourself, the website www.shieldsofstrength.com offers a variety. My favorite is one that is split in half, with the words of Genesis 31:49: "May the Lord watch between you and me while we are apart." There's a hole for the chain in both halves, so spouses can carry the tags near their hearts, even when separated by deployments.
To find out more about Shields of Strength, including their creator, water ski gold medalist Kenny Vaughan, read the May 14 edition of The Bayonet. |
