I held a Jewel in my fingers -
And went to sleep -
The day was warm, and winds were prosy -
I said "'Twill keep" -
I woke - and chid my honest fingers,
The Gem was gone -
And now, an Amethyst remembrance
Is all I own -
- Emily Dickinson
Tonight we remember three exceptional men: two marines who died together in Afghanistan, and a Green Beret who died in Afghanistan. Please join blue jersey mom and me below to pay tribute to them.
On Friday, April 18, the Department of Defense announced the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante, 35, of Athens, Ga.
Cpl. Kyle W. Wilks, 24, of Rogers, Ark.
Both Marines died April 15 while conducting combat operations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. They were both assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejuene, N.C.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
In a post last August on the 24th MEU Unofficial Blog, 1st Sgt. Mercardante himself provided insight into the mission of the approximately 2,400-member marine expeditionary unit (MEU) in which he and Cpl. Wilks served:
Allowing the 24th MEU to sustain itself in full combat for 15 days without resupply is the job of the Combat Logistics Battalion 24, the MEU's logistical element.
"We make sure the war fighters are ready to fight," explained First Sgt. Luke Mercardante, CLB-24 sergeant major. "The CLB [Combat Logistics Battalion] is the complete support network for the BLT [Battalion Landing Team] and the MEU." As such, they allow the commander to conduct non-combat evacuations, medical treatment and humanitarian aid operations, while also providing their own explosive ordnance technicians and security force, he added. "Knowing that we are just as important to the Global War on Terrorism as any other part of the MEU, we bring our own punch to the fight," said Mercardante.
A hallmark of the CLB’s ability was the 24th MEU’s evacuation in Beirut, Lebanon during their last deployment — the largest evacuation of American citizens from foreign shores.
The News & Observer reported that the bulk of the 24th MEU arrived in Afghanistan about a month ago, as part of what the Pentagon says will be a short-term buildup in response to increasing Taliban attacks on U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Commenting on the loss of Mercardante and Wilks, the CLB’s executive officer, Maj. Keith Owens, said: "This is the kind of blow you never expect and can never forget. We lost two great Marines, who were our brothers, and friends."
Luke J. Mercardante: "The consummate Marine"
The II Marine Expeditionary Force provided Luke Mercardante’s military history:
Mercardante joined the Marine Corps April 22, 1992, and was trained as a military policeman, joining Combat Logistics Battalion 24 on April 15, 2007. He was promoted to the rank of first sergeant on Oct. 1, 2006. His decorations include five Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, five Good Conduct Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Drill Instructor Ribbons, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Mercardante was on the staff of the VMI Naval ROTC unit from 2002 to 2005 and helped train cadets preparing to be commissioned Marine Corps officers. From InRich.com:
"He was a hard-core guy, but easy to get along with," recalled VMI Lt. Col. Stewart MacInnis, spokesman for the school.
The class of 2007 named Mercardante an Honorary Brother Rat, considered the highest honor a class can bestow. (Freshmen cadets at VMI are known as Rats.)
"First Sergeant Mercardante was chosen as an Honorary Brother Rat for our class because he was a man of honor, integrity, and always went above the expectations of his duty," said Jamaal Walton, the 2007 class president and now a graduate student at Florida State University. "Brother Rat Mercardante was truly a great Marine, a great friend, and most of all a great father."
A post on OPFOR indicates the significance of Mercardante's being a Brother Rat: "To become an honorary BR demonstrates just how much influence one man can have on a class, with its varied service options, backgrounds and career intentions. By all accounts he was the consummate Marine."
After graduating from high school, Mercardante attended the University of Georgia for two years before joining the marines in 1992. While a marine, he earned an associates degree from Campbell University and a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Maryland. He was frequently promoted during his military career and, as a drill instructor, transformed more than 1,200 civilians into marines. His full official bio is here.
Mercardante, who was deployed in Iraq in 2006, had been in Afghanistan since February. News & Observer reports that when Mercardante wasn't working, spending time with his children, Luke, 9, and Cailin, 13, was what he loved doing the most.
From jdnews.com:
"Luke always seemed to really have a love for his country," said his uncle, Vince Mercardante. told. "He was certainly somebody that I think people could have looked to as a hero, could have looked to as a role model. He was that to me."
Lt. Col. Stephen Simpson, who now works at the Pentagon, served with Mercardante at Security Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune [and said that] Mercardante was the "picture-perfect Marine." ... Simpson learned of Mercardante's death when he received an e-mail from a fellow Marine, Capt. Nick Harper, who wrote that Mercardante "is the type of man and Marine that anyone would follow until drawing their last breath."
...
"He loved those men and women, and he believed in them," Vince Mercardante said. "I believe with all my heart he would have given his life for them. And in a way, I guess he did."
Mercardante lived outside of Camp Lejeune with his girlfriend, Kimberly Hull. The two were planning to marry when he came home from Afghanistan. "He loved his family very much. That was one of the things that I loved so much about him," she said. "He was just so compassionate ... he was an incredibly loving and honorable man.... The last thing we said to each other is 'I love you,' and I'm so grateful for that."
Mercardante’s sister, Bridget Clark, quoted an email in which Mercardante wrote: "I want no person to ever feel sad or pity for me or my Marines as we endure hardship and sacrifice, as this is our calling, with the unknown outcome being that of God's master plan."
In addition to his children and his sister, Mercardante is survived by his parents, his stepmother, and three brothers. The family invited Patriot Guard to honor the life and service of Mercardante by escorting his body from the Athens airport on Sunday. The Patriot Guard was also present at the funeral home visitation today and will attend the funeral on Tuesday.
May he rest in peace.
Kyle W. Wilks: "Just an outstanding young man"
The II Marine Expeditionary Force provided Kyle Wilks's military history:
Wilks joined the Marine Corps Sept. 7, 2004, and was trained as a Military Policeman, joining Combat Logistics Battalion 24 on April 10, 2005. He was promoted to the rank ofcorporal May 1, 2007. His decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Kyle Wilks joined the marines so that he could help people and serve his country, but when his unit first left Iraq, he had to stay behind because of a health problem. He later felt guilty when he learned that the soldier who took his place was killed by a roadside bomb. Now that Wilks has died in a similar manner, his uncle Steve Wilks says, "It's just a lot to grasp."
Steve Womack, the mayor of Wilks's small town of Rogers, Arkansas, said: "These conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have produced several thousand fatalities, but the full impact of those losses cannot be truly measured or felt until it hits us close to home."
Those who knew Wilks say that people would notice him first because he was so tall (six foot two), but also because he had a big smile and could strike up a conversation with anyone. The outgoing Wilks played trombone in junior high and played football when he was a sophomore in high school. He graduated in 2002. "I think a lot of kids that age have a hard time meeting people if they are not of their own age group, and he was able to talk to just about anybody," Steve Wilks noted. Another uncle, Terry Mudd said, "He was just an outstanding young man that my daughters and grandchildren looked up to."
Rogers police sergeant Kelley Cradduck, who attended the same church as Wilks, said that one reason he joined the marines was to further his goal of becoming a police officer: "We talked a lot about how military experience would help him get a law enforcement job. He was really looking forward to that opportunity."
The only son of Randall J. Wilks and Kathy A. Wilks, Kyle is also survived by his sister, MaKayla. On her Facebook page, MaKayla wrote that she was lost without her "bubby": "i miss him soo much and love him!! i don't understand but i know God has a reason. to all military and families, share with each other your love and never take it for granted."
At the family's request, the Patriot Guard provided an escort from the airport to the funeral home today, will provide a flag line and attend the services on Wednesday, and will provide an escort to the cemetery after the services.
May he rest in peace.
Postscript
Two others, whose identities had not yet been released as of this writing, were injured in the attack that killed Mercardante and Wilks: "[Blogger] Kendall reported that one of the wounded men was not expected to survive and the other suffered severe, though non-life-threatening injuries." Let us also keep these two men in our thoughts and prayers tonight.
* * * * * * * * * *
[The following tribute is by blue jersey mom.]
Jason L. Brown
On Saturday April 19th, the Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, 29, of Magnolia, Texas, died April 17 in Sama Village, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using small arms fire and grenades. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.
His military biography indicates that Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown was born in Texas and that he enlisted in the Army on March 25th, 2003 as a Special Forces candidate. He went on to earn the coveted Green Beret in 2004.
As a member of the Special Forces, he received highly specialized training including the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, the Jumpmaster Course, the Free Fall Parachutist Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, and the Advanced Explosive Techniques Course.
Staff Sgt. Brown was a highly decorated soldier. His awards and decorations include:
the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global on War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Special Forces Tab.
Jason Brown was killed in action on April 17th. He was struck by small arms fire in the early morning while carrying out combat operations in Sama Village, Iraq. He served as a Special Forces engineer sergeant.
Staff Sergeant Brown is survived by his daughter, Alyssa Gomez, who lives in Cypress, Texas. He is also survived by his parents, Rosemary and James Brown, of Cartright, Oklahoma.
The governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear, has directed that flags at all state offices be flown on half-mast on the day of Staff Sgt. Brown's funeral. At the time of this writing, his funeral plans are incomplete.
In honor of Staff Sgt. Brown and his service to this country, here is one verse of the Ballad of the Green Berets:
Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
Those brave men of the Green Beret
* * * * * * * * * *
As of this writing, 4,039 members of the U.S. armed services have been confirmed killed in action in Iraq; 2 deaths are pending confirmation; in Afghanistan, 494 U.S. forces and 305 other coalition forces have died. (Some data from icasualties.com, such as the numbers of missing/captured and unconfirmed casualties, are temporarily unavailable; some of the following links from that site may also be temporarily unavailable.) 2007 was the deadliest year for U.S. forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 29,000 men and women have been wounded in Iraq, and at least 145 have taken their own lives while on active duty. The death toll among Iraqis is unknown, but is at least in the tens of thousands and probably in the hundreds of thousands. At least 148 journalists have been killed in Iraq during the war. The Department of Defense news releases can be found here.
If you want to do something to assist our military and their families, please visit anysoldier.com or Fisher House. If you have frequent flyer miles you would like to donate to hospitalized veterans or their families, see Fisher House's Hero Miles program. If you would like to assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here. Other ways to help can be found in this diary.
Sending a care package to a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan is easy. Read how in this great series. Brighten the day of a soldier in 2008.
And don’t forget them when they get home. Read welcomebackveterans.org to learn what you can do.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. The series, which was begun by i dunno and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, silvercedes, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, Wee Mama, twilight falling, labwitchy, moneysmith, joyful, roses, SisTwo, Avila, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, and me, roses. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them. If you would like to volunteer, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, or noweasels.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and families of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.