Hardrock Charlie Foundation

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our Brother Ranger William M. Bierbrodt.

William Martin Bierbrodt was born on June 5, 1968 in Peru, Illinois. William joined the Army in 1988 and served in C Co. 1/75. He was a member of Weapons Platoon operating as an Anti-Tank Gunner. As a combat veteran of Operation Just Cause (89-90), William participated in the Airborne Assault of Torrijos-Tocumen Airfield and other follow-on operations.

William died unexpectedly and is survived by his three daughters: Mikaylah Slater, Rissy Bierbrodt and Molly Bierbrodt, three grandchildren: Kristopher Spence, Aubrey Bierbrodt, and Lola Sepulveres. Funeral services and a Memorial Service are pending with a tentative date of December 29, 2024 in the vicinity of his home in St. Cloud, Florida. Details will be posted as soon as they are available.

We are asking for your help to assist the family during this difficult time with the cost of the services. Please help if you can, so we can give this Ranger a fitting Memorial Service.

Rest In Peace Ranger Bierbrodt.

RLTW

On October 29, 1992, five Rangers and seven Air Force Special Operations Airmen perished as the Pave Hawk helicopter they were flying in crashed into the Great Salt Lake. It was a dark and stormy night that most of us remember very well. The only survivor was rescued by three Rangers, that paddled a mile out into the lake in a rescue raft. There is a memorial to this on Antelope Island. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of this fateful night.

The men below are memorialized on a monument on the causeway of Antelope Island, and as you can imagine, 30 years of salt water has somewhat deteriorated some of the monument. A group of Rangers and AF CCT folks have called to refurbish and rededicate the monument. I'm sure you recall the words of Chaplain Berry at the memorial service on HAAF when he said, "These were men who heard the call of freedom, liberty and justice, men who heard a call to discipline and valor. These were men who stood shoulder to shoulder as modern-day spartans - they were men of the Ranger Creed."

Rangers

LTC Kenneth Stauss 1/75

1SG Harvey Moore 1/75

SGT Blaine Mishak 1/75

SPC Jeremy Bird 1/75

LTC John Keneally 3/75

Air Force

Lt. Col. Roland E. Peixotto Jr. 55th Special Operations Squadron

Senior Airman Derek C. Hughes 23rd Special Tactics Squadron

Staff Sgt. Steven W. Kelley 55th Special Operations Squadron

Sgt. Philip A. Kesler 55th Special Operations Squadron

Capt. Michael Nazionale 24th Special Tactics Squadron

Tech. Sgt. Marck Scholl 24th Special Tactics Squadron

Sgt. Mark G. Lee 4th Special Tactics Squadron

Please help us restore and refit the monument to these men. The renovation of the monument costs around $8,000. Hardrock Charlie Foundation is donating $1,000 towards this venture, and we hope you will join us to ensure these men are ALWAYS remembered.

RLTW