May the good Lord be with you
Down every road you roam
And may sunshine and happiness
Surround you when you're far from home
And may you grow to be proud
Dignified and true
And do unto others
As you'd have done to you
Be courageous and be brave
And in my heart you'll always stay
Forever young, forever young
From "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart
Tonight we remember Spc. Jason E. von Zerneck who died in Afghanistan as well as Pfc. Tavarus D. Setzler and Sgt. William P. Rudd who died in separate incidents in Iraq.
Spc. Jason E. von Zerneck
From the Department of Defense:
Spc. Jason E. von Zerneck, 33, of Charlotte, N.C., died on Oct. 2 of injuries sustained from a vehicle incident in Qara Bagh Karez, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2d Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, New York Army National Guard, Jamestown, N.Y.
The incident is under investigation.
From the New York Post:
"He was a caring father and a wonderful son, who loved his three children, and his wife," said von Zerneck's tearful father, Richard.
"We're all just heartbroken."
Von Zerneck grew up in Manhattan and attended the Bronx HS of Science and City College.
He started an Internet business and worked for a bank in North Carolina before returning to New York.
"His intent was to go to New York and enlist in the National Guard," his father said, adding that von Zerneck was "filling the need he had all his life to be a soldier."
Spc. Von Zerneck is survived by his wife and their three children. He is also survived by his parents who live in NYC.
Pfc. Tavarus D. Setzler
From the Department of Defense:
Pfc. Tavarus D. Setzler, 23, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Oct. 2 of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Majar al Kabir, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2d Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
From News 4:
"Freedom is not free, and he proved that. He paid with his life," said Robert E. Lee High School ROTC instructor Lt. Dean Williams.
...
Although Williams said Setzler was a shy and reserved student, he said the Army private came back to school after graduation to encourage other students.
"He wore his uniform proudly. He did what he was asked to do, and he did it to his best ability," Williams said.
...
"He was the kind of person you would want to be part of your team -- a part of your military unit," Williams said.
From the Killeen Daily Herald:
Setzler joined the military in November 2007 as a combat engineer and has been assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry since March 2008.
He deployed to Iraq June 2008.
Setzler's decorations and awards include the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
From the Florida Times-Union:
A Facebook page in Setzler's name said he graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 2005 and worked for Washington Mutual, a large bank with offices in Baymeadows, before joining the service.
legacy.com has a guest book for Pfc. Setzler.
Sgt. William P. Rudd
From the Department of Defense:
Sgt. William P. Rudd, 27, of Madisonville, Ky., died Oct. 5 of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire while on a combat patrol in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
From the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office:
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Oct. 6, 2008) — An Army Ranger died Oct. 5 of wounds sustained when he was hit by enemy fire during combat operations in northern Iraq while serving with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning, Ga.
rudd
Sgt. William P. Rudd, died Oct. 5 of wounds sustained when he was hit by enemy fire during combat operations in northern Iraq while serving with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning, Ga. (Photo courtesy of the 7th Ranger Regiment PAO)
Sgt. William P. Rudd, 27, was wounded during a ground-assault raid targeting associates of senior Al Qaeda leaders when enemy fighters, some armed with suicide vests, engaged the U.S. forces with small-arms fire. Rudd was in his eighth deployment in support of the War on Terror with two previous deployments to Afghanistan and five to Iraq.
A native of Madisonville, Ky., Rudd initially entered the Army on Oct. 2, 2003. After completion of One Station Unit Training and the Ranger Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning, he was assigned to Company B, 3rd Bn., in August 2004. Rudd served as a rifleman, grenadier and fireteam leader with Comp. B.
Rudd’s military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Indoctrination Program, Warrior Leaders Course, Jumpmaster Course, Master Breacher Course and the U.S. Army Ranger Course.
His awards and decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.
From The Herald-Dispatch:
"The community is filling me up with love and prayers," the soldier’s father, Bill Rudd of Madisonville, told The Messenger newspaper of Madisonville. "They support what Patrick did for our cause, so we wouldn’t have terrorists back over here."
...
"He had spent two years thinking about it, knowing that he needed a different direction in his life and wanting to defend our country."
"He didn’t join for himself," Bill Rudd said. "You might say he joined for everyone else over here."
From the Ledger-Enquirer:
A 1999 graduate of Madisonville North Hopkins High School, the future Ranger worked in a factory for a few years. His father said the job wasn't going anywhere.
"During that time, he talked about the military a few times," his father said. "We encouraged him. He said, 'I'm going to do it,' and he did. He loved what he did. He took the politics out of it and did his job. He would not comment about whether it was right or wrong. It was the bravest thing he ever did. It made a man out of a boy. It brought the whole family closer together."
...
Rudd's father said the 3rd Battalion sent two people to him Sunday, and they won't leave Madisonville until his son is laid to rest.
"They're here taking care of everything," he said. "The 3rd Battalion has my deepest honor and respect."
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What You Can Do
There are a number of wonderful organizations out there which could use your help:
* Anysoldier.com
* Operation Helmet
* Fisher House
* Books for Soldiers
* Operation Ensuring Christmas
(big thanks to timroff for the beautiful logo)
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind.; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, moneysmith, labwitchy, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, JeNoCo, mediaprof, Pager and me, a girl in MI. 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.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. We treat these diaries as a place to remember and reflect. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.