War has brought us many deaths. Some days, the list of those who have died seems never-ending. We must remember that each name on that list is important. Each represents a child with loving friends and relatives, who grew up, and then died much too early.
Tonight we come together to celebrate the lives of four military men connected with others all across the length and breadth of the USA. As a nation, we mourn these men.
- Marine Sergeant Jason D. Calo
- Marine Sergeant Ronald A. Rodriguez
- Marine Lance Corporal Robert J. Newton
- Army Sergeant Brandon E. Maggart
"...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
~ John Donne
Sergeant Jason D. Calo
Jason Calo was originally from Mancelona in Antrim County, Michigan. He graduated from Mancelona High School in northern Michigan in 2005. He was described as being very athletic, playing football, baseball and wrestling.
Jason joined the US Marine Corps in 2006 and his military records list his home as Lexington, Kentucky. Calo was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Calo served in the Iraq war September 2008 to April 2009, where he worked as an artillery/mortar scout observer as a liaison between mortar teams and forward air controllers that help guide military aircraft.
Several quotes about Jason Calo can be found in an article at Michigan's Traverse City Record Eagle site from people who had just heard of his death:
"He was more than just a player," said Doug Derrer, Calo's football coach at Mancelona. "He played with a big heart. When he was in school, he wasn't very big, but he was a scrapper. He was definitely one of the leaders of the team."...
"He never gave up, kept on running, kept on pushing," Trudeau said. "That's what I remember of Jason — a true friend that would stick by your side through thick and thin, didn't matter the consequences or the payouts."...
Clark said news of Calo's death is particularly hard given the fact that combat troops already left Iraq and the federal government plans a July 2011 withdrawal date from Afghanistan
Calo became a sergeant in July 2009, and received several military honors, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. While serving in Afghanistan, he was shot and killed in combat on August 22nd. The Department of Defense report states that he died, "while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan".
Sergeant Calo leaves behind several family members, his wife, Sarah, and a 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. His funeral will be held in his hometown of Mancelona, Michigan and the Patriot Guard Riders will be attending.
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Sergeant Ronald A. Rodriguez
Ronald A. Rodriguez grew up in Northern Virginia. He was a 2002 graduate of Falls Church's JEB Stuart High School where he was an athlete, playing soccer and basketball. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps following graduation and was deployed to Iraq in 2003, returning there in 2004.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. A cannoneer in the field artillery, he was sent overseas for the third time to Afghanistan last summer and worked as a cannoneer in the field artillery.
On August 23rd, Sgt. Ronald A. Rodriguez was on a foot patrol in the Helmand province of Afghanistan when a roadside bomb exploded. The 26-year-old Lance Corporal died from injuries caused by the blast.
It was reported in his hometown newspaper, the Falls Church News-Press:
Condolences were sent to the Rodriguez family yesterday by Fairfax Supervisor Penelope Gross, who told the News-Press that it is Fairfax County policy to fly flags at half-mast in mourning in such cases.
She wrote, "The fact he died a hero provides some solace, I am sure, but the loss of your son is heartbreaking, nonetheless."
No details have been released, but it is expected that his burial will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery.
Sergeant Ronald A. Rodriguez is survived by his parents, Francisco and Maria, and three brothers who continue to reside in Falls Church.
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Lance Corporal Robert J. Newton
Lance Corporal Robert J. Newton was killed during his second overseas deployment while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. Sandy on Signal has provided the tribute to his service tonight:
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
Lance Cpl. Robert J. Newton, 21, of Creve Coeur, Ill., died Aug. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Lance Cpl. Newton was from Creve Couer, a small town outside of East Peoria, in Central Illinois. Newton graduated from East Peoria High School in 2007. After graduation, he entered the Marines and was an infantryman.
Newton received the following awards and decorations: Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment and the NATO Medal.
The Peoria Journal Star spoke with family members and friends at the home of Robert Newton. They requested their privacy at this time.
Semper Fi, Lance Cpl. Robert J. Newton.
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Sergeant Brandon E. Maggart
Brandon E. Maggart graduated from Missouri’s Kirksville High School in 2004. Many at the school remember Brandon quite well, according to the Heartland Connection site:
KTVO had the opportunity to talk with Kirksville Principal Randy Mikel, who knew Maggart during his high school years.
Mikel, who was assistant principal at the time, says he knew Maggart quite well, and wasn't surprised he chose to serve in the military.
"With Brandon I always figured he would be successful if he had a chance to get out, get a hands on experience, so when I’d heard that, and I don't pretend to know all the levels, but when I heard he had moved up the ranks rather quickly, that didn't necessarily surprise me at all, he was that type of person, I think if he found something of interest he was going to be successful," Mikel said.
Maggart enlisted in the US Army in June of 2006 and reported to Fort Bliss, Texas, for basic training. At Fort Bliss, he also went through advanced training as a crewmember in the Avenger, a defense system consisting of a Stinger missile-equipped turret mounted on a Humvee or other vehicle.
He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, which is based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Maggart was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington in November of 2006, where he lived with his wife of four years, Teresa Cooper and their three-year-old son, Blake.
Maggart was previously in Iraq from March 2007 to May 2008. The Sergeant left with his battalion for his second deployment to Iraq in January, and had a leave scheduled next month.
As an air defense artilleryman with a 500-member battalion nicknamed the Dragonslayers, Sergeant Maggart had attained the rank of E5 sergeant and was a C-RAM specialist. He had recently completed training for an assignment as a warrant officer, which would have meant a transfer to Fort Sill in Oklahoma.
On its current tour, the Dragonslayers were dispersed to more than a dozen bases around Iraq to operate the Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar system, known as C-RAM. The system integrates sensors, loudspeakers, and weaponry to detect, alert, and protect coalition forces from enemy fire.
Sergeant Brandon Edward Maggart was killed in action on August 22th. He died from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit in Basrah, Iraq. He was 24 years old.
The Sergeant’s survivors include his wife and child; and his parents, Teddy and Beth Maggart, who reside in Kirksville, Missouri. Funeral plans have not been announced, but Brandon's wife, Teresa has requested that the Patriot Guard Riders be present at the ceremony.
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Helping our troops:
If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or Fisher House. Sponsoring a deployed service member at US Troop Care Package can provide letters or care packages that make a real difference in a military person's life. To assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here. Also, you could visit:
When our veterans come back home, they need jobs. Look at the programs of Hire Heroes USA and Welcome Back Veterans to see if you can help out. The new KINship Project has also been of help to our veterans and other Kossacks In Need.
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 US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, Ministry of Truth, CalNM, Wide Awake in KY, and maggiejean. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized 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.