Tonight, we have five to honor. Three were killed in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. Since 2001, there have been 1124 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4407 American troops killed in Iraq. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
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DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 11 at Forward Operating Base Bullard, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, Connellsville, Pa.
Killed were:
Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Fike, 38, of Conneautville, Pa.
Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Hoover, 29, of West Elizabeth, Pa.
"I think, under God's law, there should have been another commandment that parents should not have to bury their children," said James Fike, the father of Robert Fike to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Jim and Christine Fike were on their way to Dover Air Force Base to greet their son's casket, when he spoke to reporters and reflected on his son's life:
"Nobody wants to die," he told WPXI in Pittsburgh. "Nobody wants to lose their life. But if he had to do it, this is how he would have chosen to go. He had a great love for this country, a great respect for this country, and he always felt he was doing the right thing," he said.
Sgt. Fike was an experienced soldier: in 2002 he served in Saudi Arabia and in 2007 he served in Iraq. He served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard since 1993. He was on his third deployment, when he and Staff Sgt. Bryan Hoover were killed by a male suicide bomber, who had dressed as a woman wearing the traditional burqa. The two men were on foot patrol at the Bullard Bazaar when a bomb exploded. An embedded photographer from Pennsylvania, Dan Shakal, became friends with Fike over in Afghanistan. He spoke to the Meadeville Tribune:
“We would talk about home, family, his daughter, hunting and fishing,” said embedded photographer Dan Shakal. “He really, really missed his daughter.”
Sgt. Fike is survived by his 12 year old daughter, Mackenzie, and his parents. His daughter left the following message on his Facebook page:
“Wait Daddy, please come back ... if only for just one more minute. I need one more hug, I need to hear your voice one more time. It just isn’t fair, that I can’t see you anymore and you won’t be here to see me grow up. I know our country needed you but, I needed you more. They stole you from me Dad, but nobody can steal all the memories you made for me. You taught me how to fish, how to ride a four-wheeler, and how to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors. But most of all Dad, you were my rock. You always knew how to make things better and you could always make me smile. You were the BEST dad in the world. You weren’t supposed to leave me Dad ... I’m only 12. I love you so much and I always will.”
Sgt. Robert Fike was awarded the following medals and decorations: the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
Governor Ed Rendell ordered all flags to be at half staff in honor of Sgt. Robert Fike until sundown June 22nd. Visitation is today and Tuesday, a memorial service will be on Wednesday. Patriot Guard Riders will be escorting the family.
Rest in Peace, Sgt. Robert Fike.
Students gathered outside the Elizabeth Forward High School in a memorial to honor their beloved track and cross-country coach, Staff Sgt. Bryan Hoover.
From WXPI:
"He was such a nice, inspirational coach, and he always helped us," said Braelyn Tracy, a student who had been coached by Hoover.
"I just graduated this year, and I'm going to run cross-country next year in college. I will devote my season to him,” said student Josh Gibson.
His brother, Rick Hoover, told the Pittsburgh Live:
"He was a great guy who enjoyed life," Rick Hoover said. "It was his childhood dream to be in the military — that was all we ever played as kids. It was what he lived and died for." Rick Hoover said the unit deployed to Afghanistan in the fall.
Bryan graduated from Elizabeth High School in 2000. He excelled at sports and was a member of the wrestling team. He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Sports Management. His love for sports, leadership and kids made him well suited to be a high school coach at his alma mater.
After high school, SSgt. Hoover joined the Marines, where he served in Iraq until 2004. In 2005, he joined the Pennsylvania National Gaurd, where he did another tour of Iraq. Last fall, his unit was sent out to Afghanistan. He was killed by a suicide bomber while on foot patrol with Sgt. Robert Fike in eastern Afghanistan.
During his service he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Pennsylvania Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Air Assault Badge and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Rest in Peace, Staff Sgt. Bryan Hoover.
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
They died June 11 in Jalula, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Killed were:
Sgt. Israel P. Obryan, 24, of Newbern, Tenn., and
Spc. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, Ark.
Sgt. Israel O'Bryan grew up in a small town in western Tennessee. Newbern's population is only 2988, and; yet, he was the third soldier to die in the Iraq war. In this small town, he was affectionately known as Izzy. He was a National Honor Society student at Dyer County High School. After graduation in 2004, he attended University of Tennessee- Martin.
In February, 2006 he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Third Stryker Brigade based out of Fort Lewis. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, when he and Spc. Yauch were killed by a suicide bomber while on patrol in Iraq. Six other men were injured in the blast. Details of the explosion, from the State Gazette:
"The man, who gave his name as Abu Kowyan, said the assailant attacked from a nearby alley, ramming his car into the joint patrol as troops were getting out of their vehicles," the AP reported.
"He said he counted about seven or eight American soldiers lying on the ground shortly after the blast. The fiery explosion shattered windows in his house 20 yards (meters) away."
Sgt. O"Bryan earned the following awards and decorations: the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge.
Sgt. Izzy O'Bryan is survived by his wife, Brenna, who is also with the Army; their one year old son, Turner, and his parents and friends. Sgt. O'Bryan will be laid to rest in Wilmont, South Dakota, where his wife and son reside.
Family photos
Rest in Peace, Sgt. Israeal O'Bryan.
Spc. William Chris Yauch was laid to rest on Sunday, June 20th. He was a 2005 graduate of Batesville High School. He enlisted in the Army in 2007. This was his first deployment. He is remembered back home in Batesville by his high school principal, David Campbell, who told the Harrison Daily News:“
"He was a friendly young man, pleasant to be around — just an all-around good guy,” he said.
“The BHS family is mourning right along with the Yauch and Rhodes families, and it always brings home the severity of the war when Batesville loses one of its sons or daughters,” Campbell said. “Today we are mourning the loss of Batesville’s son.”
Senator Blanche Lincoln issued a statement expressing her condolences. Here is part of it:
My heart goes out to the family of Specialist Yauch who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation. Along with all Arkansans, I am grateful for his service and for the service and sacrifice of all of our military service members and their families. I am committed to ensuring they have the full support that they need and deserve. Our grateful nation will not forget them when their military service is complete.
Spc. Yauch earned the National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He is survived by his wife, mother and father. A beautiful video of Spc. Yauch's funeral may be viewed here. Please take a moment to view it.
Rest in Peace, Spc. William Chris Yauch.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Spc. Christian M. Adams, 26, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., died June 11 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
Spc. Adams enlisted in the Army in June, 2003. He was on his second tour of duty. His first deployment was to Iraq and in March, 2010 he was deployed to Afghanistan. Adams earned the following awards and decorations: the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and Army Service Ribbon.
Rest in Peace, Spc. Christian M. Adams.
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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, MsWings, and me, Sandy on Signal.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.