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JBLM Rangers receive awards on public stage

46 Soldiers honored at historic Stadium Bowl in Tacoma

Lt. Col. Dave Hodne presents Sgt. 1st Class Eric Echavarria with both the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart during the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment’s combat awards ceremony on April 29. /Melissa Renahan

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On April 29, the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Joint Base Lewis-McChord hosted an outdoor combat awards ceremony at Stadium Bowl in Tacoma, Stadium High School's historic waterfront field.

The event was out of the ordinary since the 75th Ranger Regiment, which falls under Special Operations Command and has battalions stationed at JBLM, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., and Ft. Benning, Ga., is typically more clandestine.

"This is the first combat awards ceremony we've held publicly," said battalion commander Lt. Col. Dave Hodne. "I believe that they deserve this level of recognition or more. We are here to honor their success, courage and selfless service."

During the ceremony, 46 Soldiers were recognized for their actions in combat while deployed over the past 12 months. Second battalion, which has deployed in support of the Global War on Terror 14 times, returned in February from Afghanistan and is scheduled to return downrange in the near future. In fact, the Soldiers of B Company, including those being honored with an award, were absent from the event due to their vigorous training schedule.

"These men are a precious few - the guardians of future generations," said Hodne, speaking to his men and the hundreds of attendees lining the stadium's steep walls. "They do not seek these awards out and will take them off when they leave this field and return to work because when freedom is threatened, Rangers muster. "

Among the awardees was Sgt. 1st Class Eric Echavarria, 30, who received both the Bronze Star Medal (BSM) and the Purple Heart for his "exceptional leadership, heroic actions and total disregard for his own safety." In the last 12 years, he has been deployed for about 55 months.

"I was doing my job, that's it," said Echavarria, who has been in 2/75 for seven years. "I am ready to go back and fight next to my brothers in arms. I want to because we are like a family."

Capt. Brendan McCarthy, 26, was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and couldn't agree more with Echavarria, who served as his platoon sergeant. "I love my job," McCarthy said. "I wake up and want to go to work every morning."

In total, there were three BSMs for valor, five Joint Service Commendation Medals for valor, 14 Army Commendation Medals for valor, 22 Purple Hearts, five Orders of Saint Maurice and one order of Saint Martin presented at the ceremony.

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