Home of Army Aviation and named for CW4 Michael J. Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient, who made the Wiregrass region his home.
Lexington, KY (June 2023) – U.S. Patriot, a GALLS® company, and one of the largest military suppliers of uniforms, boots, and gear, will stop at Fort Novosel (previously Fort Rucker), Alabama on June 23, 2023. This is the fifteenth stop on their 6800-mile, 25-military base tour in which team U.S. Patriot, comprised of veterans and employees of the company, visit the base exchange to say thank you to the troops.
At every base, the U.S. Patriot team sets up outside the base’s exchange and offers food, drinks, promos, giveaways, and a chance to win the 2023 Jeep® Wrangler Willys 4×4. On Friday, June 23, the USP team will host the Fort Novosel event at the base exchange located at 9214 Fifth Ave. The event is open to all former and current military members and their families.
“The purpose of this tour is to meet our customers face-to-face, get to know our troops, and bring their voice directly into how we serve them better for their tactical gear needs.,” Mike Fadden, CEO of U.S. Patriot, said. “There is no better way to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who serve our country than to meet them in person, celebrate their stories and create a fun and memorable event they can enjoy with their families.”
The tour will be interactive, and the military service members will be encouraged to leave their unit’s memorabilia on the Jeep, making it one-of-its-kind by the end of the tour. At the conclusion of the tour, the Jeep will be given away through a sweepstake random drawing to one lucky winner. All active-duty military members, national guard members, reservists, military retirees, military veterans, and dependents of active-duty military members are eligible to enter the sweepstakes. No purchase is necessary.
Follow the U.S. Patriot Bravery Tour on its Facebook and Instagram.
For more information on U.S. Patriot Bravery Tour, visit www.uspatriot.com.
About U.S. Patriot:
For over 20 years, U.S. Patriot Tactical has been dedicated to serving American heroes at home and abroad. As the Nation’s largest military supplier, and now as part of the larger GALLS® family, we are committed to delivering the highest quality Apparel, Gear, and Footwear so you can focus on your mission. Whether you are a service member abroad, keeping us safe at home, or preparing to tackle life’s next adventure, the U.S. Patriot Team is prepared to deliver the service you deserve. With over 70 locations and lightning-fast international shipping through our online store, getting everything, you need to ensure mission success has never been easier.
About Fort Novosel:
Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker) is located in the Wiregrass countryside of Alabama, where the Gulf provides plenty of outdoor action for fishing and hunting enthusiasts. Originally started up as Camp Rucker after the US entered WWII, to train Soldiers, the area was known as the Ozark Army Airfield until 1959 when it became Cairns Army Airfield.
In 1942, the secretary of war established air observation for field artillery, and hence, Army Air Aviation was born. It became an official separate branch in 1983 and Fort Rucker offered Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.
When it came time to rename the bases, everyone agreed that there was only one candidate who was the epitome of Army Aviation and the Wiregrass area; that was CW4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. The son of Croatian immigrants, he volunteered as soon as he turned 18. Barely making the height requirement, Novosel joined the US Army Air Corps in 1941 and couldn’t wait to see combat. But that would have to wait until 1945 when after becoming an instructor on the B24 and the B29, he headed to the Pacific theatre. There, he flew four combat missions and while stationed in Okinawa finally learned to drive, something he did not do when he turned 18. And, as it happened, the vehicle he learned on was a US Army Jeep.
After leaving the Army, and working in civilian life, he rejoined during the Vietnam War. While attached to the 82nd Medical Detachment he served as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. On October 10, 1969, during Operation Python, Novosel completed 15 hazardous evacuations to save 29 Vietnamese soldiers under heavy fire and surrounded by the Viet Cong. Without gunships to protect him, or communications to track the lost soldiers, Novosel repeatedly circled the area, flying at dangerously low levels under fire to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. In the last extraction, enemy fire was at close range, damaging the aircraft and wounding Novosel. He lost control of the aircraft but quickly recovered and got his last wounded out of the range of enemy fire. He put his crew in for Silver Stars and was told not to expect anything more than Distinguished Flying Crosses. In all, he had flown 2,038 hours of combat on 2,543 missions and evacuated 5,589 wounded. He later found out he had been recommended for the Medal of Honor by his son, also an Army Aviator with the 82nd Medical. In June 1971, CW4 Michael J. Novosel was presented the Medal of Honor by then-President Richard Nixon.
