There is an unfortunately long list of casualties to honor tonight. The tributes for the men below have been done by Mediaprof, Joyful, and SisTwo.
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Sergeant Justin J. Duffy from Cozad, Nebraska
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Lance Corporal Matthew G. Reza from Austin, Texas
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Staff Sergeant Jeffrey A. Hall from Huntsville, Alabama
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Private First Class Matthew D. Ogden from Corpus Christi, Texas
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Private First Class Matthew W. Wilson from Miller, Missouri
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Sergeant Justin J. Duffy - by Mediaprof
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Justin J. Duffy, 31, of Cozad, Neb., died June 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Sgt. Duffy's father told the Quad City Times that his son was a peacemaker.
Joe said his son could get along with anyone and had a knack for easing tensions between others. He was the kind of guy who was successful at anything he tried and was quick to jump in when needed, Joe (Duffy) said.
"When there’s a job to do, he was the first one there," he said.
Bret King, in a comment on the guestbook for Sgt. Duffy at Legacy.com wrote:
you were a good friend. you never said anything bad about anyone. you had morals and were a true gentleman. you were one of the good ones. you will be missed.
Justin Joseph Duffy was born June 14, 1977. He graduated from Cozad High School in 1995 and from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in criminal justice in 2000.
Duffy was promoted to Sgt. after 1 year in the armed forces. He received a number of citations while in the military, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Sgt. Duffy is survived by his parents, including his mother, Janet Duffy of Cozad, and his grandfather, LeRoy Hood of Moline, as well as two older sisters in Grand Island, Neb., and Yuma, Ariz..
Funeral arrangements are pending. He will be buried at Rock Island National Cemetery on Arsenal Island.
Sgt. Duffy's parents are proud of their son.
"My wife and I had nothing but pride in our son," Joe Duffy said. "Jan and I supported him on his whole path through basic and on to Iraq. He made a choice, a difficult choice. He was going to make a career of the Army. He was doing what he wanted and was happy."
Rest in Peace, sergeant. You have earned it. A grateful nation salutes your sacrifice.
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Lance Corporal Matthew G. Reza - by Joyful
Lance Cpl. Matthew G. Reza, 27, of Austin, Texas, was killed May 31 as a result of a non-hostile incident in the Khandahar province of Afghanistan. This incident is now under investigation. As of June 4th, Matthew's commanding officer and family could not be reached for comment, and there is little additional information available about this fallen soldier.
LCPL Reza was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, and he had been stationed there for more than a year, said 1st Lt. Josiah Nicely, Air Station Director of Public Affairs.
"Each Marine is a vital part of our MCAS Beaufort family, and the loss of even one is felt deeply by all of the Marines and sailors here in the Lowcountry," 1LT Nicely said in a press statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time."
Deep thanks to Brenda Normandin for these two photos of LCPL Matthew Reza.
The magnificent Patriot Guard Riders were invited by the Reza family to be planeside when LCPL Matthew Reza's body arrived in Austin, Texas, on June 5 and the Riders escorted him to the Cook Walden Funeral Home. (Bless them; they did this in 95 degree heat.) Further details regarding funeral arrangements and the Riders participation will be available at the Patriot Guard forum, where messages of sympathy and support are being posted for the Reza family.
Our hearts are with the Reza family, and all who mourn and miss Matthew Reza. Please know that we stand beside you at this terrible time of loss.
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In New York State, the Governor ordered flags lowered yesterday in honor of Fort Drum soldier, Specialist Marko M. Samson [covered in this diary]. The flags will be lowered again on Monday, June 8th, in honor of three more casualties from amongst those based at Fort Drum. Killed in action in Nerkh, Afghanistan on June 1 were:
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Staff Sergeant Jeffrey A. Hall
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Private First Class Matthew D. Ogden
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Private First Class Matthew W. Wilson
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Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall - by Mediaprof
The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, N.Y.
Killed were: Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall, 28, of Huntsville, Ala.; Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden, 33, of Corpus Christi, Texas; and Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson, 19, of Miller, Mo.
Staff Sgt. Hall returned home through Dover Air Force Base. A photo of his homecoming was posted on the Huntsville Times' Al.com web site.
The Patriot Guard Riders will be escorting Staff Sgt. Hall to his final resting place.
Hall was a native of Huntsville, and graduated from high school there. In a month, he would have celebrated his second wedding anniversary with wife Allison Ramorini Hall. He leaves behind a 1-year-old daughter, Audrey Faith Hall.
Hall's wife told a local television station he was her best friend.
He's an amazing man never thought he would be married or have a family and so seeing him with Audrey amazing with me the entire time through everything. When he holds her that was his little precious little cheekers is what he called her...He loved life played with toys motorcycles cares love me and fun being able to do things over our 2 year anniversary which would be the 7th of July...known each other for four years. He's amazing...he's my best friend.
Hall's friend Brian McIntosh remembered a man who believed in his service and the military.
He really did believe in what he was doing we'd talk about that and he'd tell us how much it meant to do it for us and for our freedoms we enjoy...that first night went to basic all 3 of us in the driveway at 3 in the morning-get every last minute in we could.
Hall's father said the family would move forward knowing that their son served honorably:
I just want other families out there to know that it was a sacrifice and one he was willing to make. We believe there is a reason for it and we send our hearts go out to other fallen soldiers families...but Jeffrey would say for us to just drive on.
Rest in Peace, soldier. You have earned it. A grateful nation salutes your sacrifice. May our thanks provide some solace to your family and friends.
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Private First Class Matthew D. Ogden - by SisTwo
Matthew D. Ogden was from Texas and the oldest of three brothers. He grew up in Flour Bluff and graduated from King High School in 1994. He joined the Army in October of 2007. After completing training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Fort Drum in February 2008.
The Army infantry gunner, had joined the military hoping for a new start according to his father, Michael Ogden, in a story in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times:
"He was putting some trouble behind him," said Ogden, who said their relationship hadn’t been close recently. "In his mind the military was where he could try to settle down.
"I know Matthew thought he was doing the right thing by going to Afghanistan," said Ogden, a local auto appraiser. "I’m proud to have a son who cared to fight for all our freedom."
Ogden was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) in Fort Drum, N.Y.
Matthew Ogden was part of a convoy of soldiers hit by two roadside bombs on this past Monday. He was killed in Nerkh, Afghanistan when his Humvee rolled over an explosive device. Private Ogden was 33 years old.
According to theKRIS TV news site:
While traveling to receive Ogden's remains, his younger brother, Scott, told KRIS 6 News, "When we were kids, we always played one game, and that was 'soldier'. It's what he wanted to do."
Scott's comment was apparent on Ogden's own MySpace page, where he wrote, "Well, I am 32-years-old, and just enlisted in the Army. My best friend talked me into it. I am so ******* glad I did!!!!"
Private First Class Matthew D. Ogden was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. Private Ogden is survived by his parents and two children.
A memorial service for Ogden will be held in Corpus Christi on Monday. The Patriot Guard Riders of South Texas saw Matthew Ogden off when he left for Afghanistan and will honor him again at his funeral.
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Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson - by SisTwo
Matthew W. Wilson lived in Idaho before he came to Miller, Missouri and attended Miller High School. His mother had died and his father was ill, so Matthew was in foster care during most of his teens.
According to KY3 News:
"Parents ain't supposed to outlive their kids," said James Wilson.
They hadn't spoken since Christmas, and hadn't seen one another in more than a year, since Matthew joined the Army in February 2008. Before that, there were regular visits "almost every week" while James Wilson was in a care facility in Aurora.
Wilson, who has suffered three strokes, is now in a nursing facility in Branson, the same one where Matthew's mother stayed before passing away in 2003 after a battle with multiple sclerosis.
Matthew Wilson joined the Army in February of 2008 and went through training at Fort Benning in Georgia. In June of 2008, he was assigned to Fort Drum, New York. Wilson was an ammunition handler with the Third Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division based at Fort Drum, New York.
According to the Ozarks First News site, those who knew Private Wilson say his loyalty was one of the things they remember most about him:
Lisa was one of the people who welcomed the teen in her home.
She says, "I will miss his smile."
Private Wilson was a victim of the foster care system. He bounced from home to home in Southwest Missouri before coming to Miller in early 2006.
Private 1st Class Wilson died on June 1st in Nerkh, Afghanistan from a roadside bomb explosion. Two other U.S. soldiers died in the attack. He was 19 years old.
The military awarded Private Wilson with the National Defense Service Medal. Wilson is survived by his father, his siblings, his wife, Ashlynn, and his seven-month-old son, Matthew.
Wilson's body has been returned to the United States and is currently being held at the Dover AFB mortuary. Plans are for him to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery later this month. His father is hoping to be able to make it to the ceremony to say a final goodbye.
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About the IGTNT series:
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo and Mediaprof. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but 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 me, Sis.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the Department of Defense will usually be diaried two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.