Second-Annual Gold Star Peak Climb
“Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession.”
It’s not just the first line of the Ranger Creed, but it’s the embodiment of a calling of the highest power. A willingness to step up and serve your country knowing that you are selflessly putting yourself in harm’s way and that it could ultimately cost you your life.
The Three Rangers and Gold Star Peak Foundation understand this calling of service and the significance of sacrifice to our country. These two organizations are all volunteer and veteran run, they were founded on the principles of honoring those service members who have paid the ultimate price in service to this great nation.
For the last two years, these incredible non-profit groups have teamed up to host an annual event to climb Alaska’s famed Gold Star Peak with some of the Ranger Regiments Gold Star family members. These families made the long journey to the Chugach Mountains of Alaska to spend a week touring the state and capped it off with the climb up to honor their loved ones at the memorial site.
At the top of the 4,148-ft summit, is a multitude of monuments honoring military members across all branches of service and campaigns. The center piece and focal point of these monuments is a metal structure built to hold and display the dog tags of these honored veterans.
The monument is four sided, one facing each of the cardinal directions. It features 21 circular rings going up to symbolize the 21-gun salute. It is topped with a Gold Star, the national symbol and name’s sake for the sacrifice made in military service. Surrounding it are other monuments of all sizes representing various units and conflicts. One of the most truly amazing sites on top, are all the countless personal, handmade mementos and tributes left by friends and families of the service members who have made the climb to pay tribute to their fallen heroes.
Since being federally recognized on February 8th, 2018, to date, the Foundation has hosted over 120 group climbs, honoring nearly 2,300 veterans. The trail and peak are open year-round, and annually thousands of people make the climb up to see this amazingly stoic place.
It’s truly one of the most humbling sites you’ll ever see and worth every step it takes to get to the top.
This past July, seven Ranger Regiment veterans were selected to be honored on this year’s climb.
Here are those brave selfless service members.
SFC LANCE HERMAN VOGELER
SFC Lance Herman Vogeler, 29, was killed by enemy indirect fire during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Vogeler was a Mortar section leader assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Ga. He was on his 12th deployment in support of the war on terror with four previous deployments in Iraq and seven in Afghanistan.
SGT JONATHAN KELLYLEE PENEY
SGT Jonathan Kellylee Peney, 22, was a combat medic assigned to 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. He was born on July 1, 1987, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Peney was killed by enemy fire while moving under heavy fire to provide aid to a wounded Ranger in the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was on his fourth deployment in support of the War on Terror, with three previous deployments to Afghanistan.
CPT CONNOR BEDNARZYK
CPT Connor Bednarzyk attended Penn State on an ROTC Scholarship and graduated in the top 10% of all ROTC Graduates throughout the U.S. Connor was an Infantry Officer assigned as the Platoon Leader of the Distribution Platoon, Echo Company, 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. On September 7, 2018, Connor made the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed during a training mission near Fort Benning, GA. He was a Ranger, a leader, and a friend.
SSG JAMES R. PATTON
SSG James R. Patton, 23, died April 18, 2010, while conducting a combat operation in northern Iraq when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in which he was riding crashed.
SGT JOEL DAVID CLARKSON
SGT Joel David Clarkson, 23, was a team leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Clarkson was seriously wounded during a fierce direct-fire combat engagement against a heavily armed and determined enemy in Farah Province, Afghanistan, March 13. He was treated by unit medics, immediately evacuated to the nearest medical treatment facility and subsequently transferred to Landsthul Regional Hospital, Landsthul, Germany where he died March 16. He was on his fifth deployment in support of the War on Terror with three previous deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.
PFC JONATHAN HALL
PFC Jonathan Hall, 23, was a combat medic assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. He died on April 8 of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device at Contingency Outpost Khayr-Kot-Castle, Afghanistan.
LEST WE NEVER FORGET THEIR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.
If you’re interested in supporting either of these great organizations, or sponsoring a future climb, please check out the foundation’s websites below.
Please check out all the amazing non-profit groups that KUIU has partnered with on our website:
KUIU VETERAN
NON-PROFIT PARTNERS
In honor of our Veterans, KUIU is proud to offer a new American Flag themed T-shirt and hat.
A portion of the proceeds goes directly to benefit Noden's Outdoors. Together, we’re committed to supporting Veterans and their families.
