Tonight, we have three more to remember. Two were Green Berets and one was a Marine. The two Special Forces soldiers had only been in Afghanistan a few weeks. Since 2001, there have been 1216 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4413 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.
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died July 29 at Tsagay, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Killed were:
Capt. Jason E. Holbrook, 28, of Burnet, Texas, and
Staff Sgt. Kyle R. Warren, 28, of Manchester, N.H.
They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.
Captain Jason Holbrook grew up in Bertram, Texas, a small town (pop. 1122), just northwest of Austin. Holbrook graduated in 2004 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He majored in environmental science. After graduating, he was assigned to Fort Wainwright in Alaska. He was on his second deployment when he was killed in Afghanistan. His first tour was in Iraq in 2006.
The town of Bertram knew him well and was quite proud of him. From the Highlander News:
“He was a member of our church,” said Mary Allen of the First Baptist Church of Bertram. “His parents were so proud…we were all very proud.”
Allen said Holbrook would return to his hometown to visit family and friends at times during his active duty service, donning his West Point Army uniform.
“He came back several times after being overseas,” she said. “He was very striking.”
A former school teacher, Randy Chasin, remembered him:
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him,” he said. “But I remember how soft spoken and respectful he was…yes sir…no sir…the kind of boy every dad would want to claim. It didn’t surprise me when I heard he was going to West Point.”
And a family friend, Kenny Baker, remembered him:
“He was everywhere,” Baker said. “But he was the just the same…soft-spoken, common ‘ol country boy.”
The Highlander News spoke with Jason's father, who was in Delaware at Dover to pick him up and bring him home. Funeral arrangements are pending. Holbrook is survived by his wife, Heather, and his parents.
Captain Holbrook's awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
Rest in peace, Captain Jason Holbrook.
Staff Sgt. Kyle Warren grew up in Huntington Beach, California, where he enjoyed playing rugby and sports. He moved to New Hampshire to be near his mother and attend technical school. Also, he met and married his wife, Sandra, in 2008.
His step-father, Ed Linta, told the Boston.com:
“His father was in the Army, and he wanted to do his part,’’ Linta said, later adding, “He wanted the discipline and the guidance that the military can give and . . . to come back a stronger person.’’
“He was a hero to this country,’’ Warren’s stepfather, Ed Linta, said yesterday.
He was the team's medical sergeant. His step-father said he planned on becoming a physician's assistant when he returned home.
“He was very physically fit,’’ Linta said. “He worked out constantly and took good care of himself. He was very tall, very muscular.’’
And he had a way of putting people at ease, his family said. “He was very friendly, very kind,’’ Linta said. “He made it a point to spend time with everybody in his family before he deployed.’’
Congressman Paul Hodes released the following statement, from the Union Leader.com
"My thoughts and prayers are with Staff Sgt. Warren's family and friends. Sergeant Kyle Warren served our nation patriotically and with honor. The greater New Hampshire community mourns this terrible loss."
SSgt. Kyle Warren's awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist badge, Combat Infantry Badge and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, The NATO Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
Rest in Peace, Staff Sgt. Kyle Warren.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Abram L. Howard, 21, of Williamsport, Pa., died July 27 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of North Versailles, Pa.
Lance Cpl. Abram LaRue Howard grew up in north central Pennsylvania, where he loved playing sports and being outdoors. He was on the wrestling and football team. He was in the Boy Scouts . He graduated from Williamsport High School in 2007 , and enlisted with the Marines. This was his second tour of duty to Afghanistan.
Howard loved music and was a bass player in the Williamsport Orchestra. He also played guitar with his father and brother.
His obituary in the Sun Gazette.com said it best:
Abram lived for the Marines and was a third generation Marine.
Lance Cpl. Abram LaRue Howard earned the following awards and decorations included the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Abram lived for the Marines and was a third generation Marine.
Howard's family created a scholarship fund in honor of him at the Williamsport High School. The family requests this in lieu of flowers. LCPL Howard's funeral is scheduled for August 5, 2010.
Rest in Peace, Lance Corporal Abram LaRue Howard.
We Remember Them
In the rising of the sun and its going down,
We Remember Them.
In the bowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
We Remember Them.
In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring.
We Remember Them.
In the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer,
We Remember Them.
In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn.
We Remember Them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We Remember Them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
We Remember Them.
When we are lost and sick of heart,
We Remember Them.
When we have joys and special celebrations we yearn to share,
We Remember Them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are part of us.
We Remember Them.
~From the Jewish Book Of Prayer~
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, Ms Wings, 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.