On the 8th of November..

When I introduce myself to people the appropriate thing to say would be,

"Hi, I'm Bette Pauling, and I love the 173rd."

I should start doing that. Because it's true, and I know it will always be true.

The 173rd is a unit in the United States of America's Army, they are airborne which means they jump out of airplanes. This brigade was created in 1917, for any history nut out there, just think of the good this particular unit provides. I'm talking some real nice Vietnam rich history. I mean, the first living African American Medal of Honor recipient was in the 173rd. Does that give it some historical credibility? I know the educational systems insist that everyone run in the opposite direction of Wikipedia, but I say spend a second on there and get the rundown on the 1 7 3.
You'll learn why they are nicknamed "The Rock" and why the insignia is as it is.

You'll learn that the Taiwanese called the 173rd, "Sky Soldiers", an appropriate nickname. I don't say "Sky Soldiers" like a regular person, I say it just like the 173rd. When said outloud, it sounds like one word, SKYSOLDIERS! It is said strongly with conviction, respect and on post in Italy, you'll hear it echo. For an outsider, it would seem strange, but hearing a troop blurt out SKYSOLDIER in line at Taco Bell is absolutely normal for me.

Life has a way ya'll, it's impossible to predict what is going to stick. Maybe I'll always be tied to the hospitality of the South, or love the urban feel of a big city like Albuquerque. Maybe my accent will reflect the many many years in North Carolina, or maybe I'll sound like I'm from Alaska. I don't always know what I am going to take away from a place or person, or ,more importantly, what I am going to fall in love with.

That makes me a hard to follow inconsistant mess.

So for no specific reason, I fell hard for the 173rd.
There were units before 173, and there were units after.
Unexplainably, my roots wrapped themselves around the 173rd.
I'm wildly obsessed with the history of this brigade and in lew of that, have celebrated the eighth of November for years. I believe it is no accident that it falls so closely to Veteran's Day.

Watch this video of a song that is a tribute to the 173rd, written and produced by the singing country duo Big and Rich.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozpdBvB0hek




Here is a link to the documentary of Big and Rich and Niles Harris returning to Vietnam.
It's fifty minutes of footage you will never forget.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw_UJwwI_Is



Usually, when someone asks me why I love the 8th of November so much I say, "it's an important day to my dad, so it matters to me". That's true. It's not the whole truth, but that's the easy way to put it.
My boyfriend heard me say once that fourth of July and November 8th were my two favorite days.
He put it in his calender on his iphone, reading "Bette's Favorite Day", so this past weekend when November 8th rolled in, he said "Okay, so what's with this day." I immediately responded with it's my  Dad's favorite day, but that's not true. I remember years ago, after my dad had deployed with the 173rd and the song 8th of November by Big and Rich came out, singing my heart out with my dad. I even watched the making of the video and become obessed with the song for no apparent reason. It's possible younger Bette had a clue back then that I would move to Vicenza and fall in love with the 173rd for myself. It's not my dad's favorite day anymore, it's mine.




The 173rd is stationed in Vicenza, Italy on a U.S Army base called Caserma Ederele. They care about November eight, they usually hold a run in honor and remembrance of the men who perished that day. Last year, my parents were still stationed in Vicenza, my dad was not assigned to that particular unit anymore but every military kid knows that once you've been in a unit, you're family and tied for life. My siblings and I got an email November 8th 2013 from my dad, it read

"Girls, 

I'm heading out soon to start the "Running of the Herd" that is going on at Del Din to commemorate the first major battle in Vietnam where 48 Sky Soldiers lost their lives. The run started at 1000 this morning and will go for 24 hours with teams keeping their "bayonets" on the course for the whole period. I plan on showing up after work and running for as long as my legs will carry me. Remember to keep that song in your heart tomorrow and take a walk around the block to join in with me.

              Loveyoumuch!
               dad "



^That's a former 173rd paratrooper for ya'll.
Every November 8th think of this song, I know I always will.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

 (John 15:13)