Honoring our Heroes: Tribute to Task Force Dagger to be held at Fairgrounds in October
FORT WALTON BEACH - After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt met with his Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss a U.S. response.
After extensive training at Eglin Air Force Base, that response came on April 1942 when the Doolittle Raiders launched off the deck of the USS Hornet and carried out America's first retaliatory strike on the Japanese.
Fifty-nine years later, after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a group of 24 men were the first American troops on the ground in Afghanistan, just 39 days after the attacks. Operational Detachment Alpha 555 and 595, part of Task Force Dagger, were the first U.S. troops to ride horses into battle since January 1942. The actions of ODA 595 were later told in the film "12 Strong: The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers."
On Oct. 21, a few days after the 22nd anniversary of the beginning of the operation, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce will host "Honoring our Heroes: 9/11 America's Response," a tribute event for Task Force Dagger, at 5:30 p.m. at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds.
Along with the tribute to ODA 595, the event will honor the first female gunship navigator to open fire in combat operations.
"Celebrating and honoring the bravery of Task Force Dagger is not only vital for paying homage to our military heroes, but it also serves as a poignant reminder of the values we hold dear in our community and as a nation," Maureen Bierman, 2023 chair of the chamber, said in a statement. "The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce is proud to host this event because it underscores the unity, resilience, and indomitable spirit that make America great. We believe it's an essential opportunity for our community to come together, reflect and express our deepest gratitude for the sacrifices made on our behalf."
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Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Marshall "Brad" Webb; Air Force Col. Allison Black, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field; and retired Air Force Col. Kurt Buller are confirmed speakers for the event.
The event will conclude with a toast to the U.S. Army Green Berets of ODA 595.
"The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce has a long-standing tradition of hosting remarkable events, and this year's banquet honoring Task Force Dagger is poised to be exceptionally memorable," Ted Corcoran, president and CEO of the chamber, said in a statement. "It's not just an event but a historical reunion, bringing together 13 members of Task Force Dagger who played an instrumental role in the aftermath of 9/11. The evening's toast, inspired by the legacy of the Doolittle Raiders, promises to be a momentous experience that will indelibly imprint on all those present. It is an occasion to celebrate not just military valor but also the spirit of unity and resilience that defines our community and our nation."
Tickets are priced at $75 per person, including dinner, beer and wine. Corporate tables are also available but limited in quantity. Tickets can be purchased at FWBchamber.org or by calling 850-244-8191.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Task Force Dagger to be honored by Fort Walton Chamber of Commerce
