Army baseball wears a circle with the number 20 on the sleeve of their uniforms just under the American Flag. That number is retired by Army and Team USA, another team #20 played for.
From a Eulogy by Jack Price, USMA '64
I read the report of his bird crashing during an attempted hot extraction of a small reconnaisance team, deep in hostile country. I was a LRRP in Viet Nam. There were many hot extractions. The bonds that exist between these small teams and the extraction crews are the most sacred in our military, knowing that, when necessary, whatever the circumstances, they would come.
From the ground, you would hear the buildup of the beat of the approaching rotor blades.. the heart beat of the dragon.. and, in a minute, it would be safe.. and away.
Steve and those like him performed legendary tasks.. so few, and so precious. Jill, know that his life is remembered, and honored among us, who lived because of the promise... they would always come when called..
We will never forget..
Major Steve Reich died June 28, 2005, in eastern Afghanistan when his MH-47D Helicopter was shot down by enemy fire during combat operations while trying to rescue an elite U.S. military team that still remains missing in the mountains of Kunar province.
Steve was a baseball player, husband, father and hero, who remembered every day, what and who he was fighting for.
Today is the day after.
It's not hard to get caught up in the emotion of remembering September 11 on the anniversary.
What matters, is what we do about it when the memory fades, and it always fades.
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