Master Sgt. Jared N. Van Aalst, 34, of Laconia, N.H., died Aug. 4 in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while his unit was conducting combat operations. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
http://www.defense.gov/...
The motto of the United States Army's Special Operations Command is Sine Pari ("Without Equal"). To say that Jared Van Aaalst was the ideal Special Operations soldier would be a gross understatement.
Master Sergeant Jared Van Aalst
It is the rare Army soldier that qualifies for service in the Special Operations Command.
Special Operations (SO) encompass the use of small units in direct or indirect military actions focused on strategic or operational objectives. They require units with combinations of trained specialized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed the routine capabilities of conventional military forces. SO are characterized by certain attributes that cumulatively distinguish them from conventional operations. These operations are politically sensitive missions where only the best equipped and most proficient forces must be deployed to avoid detection and possible mission failure that can result in damage to US prestige and interests.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/...
Admiral Eric Olson described the Special Operations force members in the following way:
The contributions of this force amaze me every day. While relatively small in number, their dramatic, positive impact is of the greatest magnitude. They remain the world’s most precise and lethal counterterrorism force, and the most effective special operations
trainers, advisors and combat partners.
http://www.socom.mil/...
On the day that Jared Van Aalst gave his last full measure of devotion to his country, he was in the middle of his sixth tour of duty. He was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the Afghanistan theater of operations. He earned over 40 medals during his fifteen year career, including two Bronze Stars for Valor, three Purple Hearts, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, seven Army Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars and five Good Conduct Medals. Also, in 2005, he beat 147 other soldiers to win the service-rifle individual championship in the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning. The full measure of his professional achievements can be taken here:
http://freedomremembered.com/...
Jared Van Aalst, in happier days, winning the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Benning
Jared Van Aalst was more than a soldier, though, he was tenacious competitor, a husband, and a loving father to two young girls.
In the winter of 1992-93, Van Aalst captained a Plymouth wrestling team that included sophomore Doug DiCenzo, who became an Army captain and was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2006. Now Van Aalst is gone too. Van Aalst's determination and drive were apparent as a young student-athlete, his former wrestling coach said yesterday. "Basically, he spent three years with the J.V. team. Not too many guys stay with it for that long," said Cam Sinclair. "By the time he was a senior, he had developed physically and was one of the top wrestlers (160-pound class) in the state."
[SNIP]
Two years after high school graduation, Van Aalst enlisted in the Army and later attended Ranger School, according to a biography released by the military. He went on to the Army's Sniper School and then served as a team leader, squad leader, instructor and shooter in the Army Marksmanship Unit. In 2003, he deployed on his first combat rotation to Afghanistan, and later to Iraq. As a platoon sergeant, he deployed twice to Iraq in 2005 and again to Afghanistan in 2006. He returned to Fort Benning, Ga., serving as chief instructor for C Company, 2nd Bn., 29th Infantry, for a year before being selected as a Special Operations team member in 2008.
http://www.unionleader.com/...
His effectiveness as a mentor to new recruits can be measured by this post made on a memorial site set up for him:
I'm devastated by the lost of Master Sgt. Jared N. Van Aalst. You we're one of the best Warrior Mentors. I hope to be half the Soldier you were and I will carry your words and actions with me the rest of my life. May god bless you and my prayers go out to you're family. I'm going to be the best Soldier possible and will follow you're lead and actions throughout my Army career.
I promise.
https://www.professionalsoldiers.com...
His former teachers recalled him this way:
I get misty-eyed every time I see any soldier anywhere lose their life," said former Plymouth Middle School Principal Jim Kemmerer. "It's sad. It breaks my heart." Kemmerer said Van Aalst was his student at one point. "He was absolutely good at everything, just a good, well-rounded, nicely presented young man," he said.
The flags outside the school are now at half-staff.
"He was a wonderful kid," said school nurse Karen Bourgeois. "I just remember him being a good-looking boy and popular with all the other kids." Kemmerer said he looks fondly at the yearbook where the then young teenager was voted "Most Popular." Van Aalst also wrote in the yearbook that he wanted to be part of the SWAT team when he grew up
http://www.wmur.com/...
Jared Van Aalst is survived by his wife, Katie Van Aalst, his daughters Kaylie and Ava and his parents, Neville and Nancy Van Aalst.
God Bless Jared Van Aalst. Pray for him, and for those loved ones he leaves behind.
SPECIAL FORCES PRAYER
Almighty GOD, Who art the Author of liberty and the Champion of the oppressed, hear our prayer.
We, the men of Special Forces, acknowledge our dependence upon Thee in the preservation of human freedom.
Go with us as we seek to defend the defenseless and to free the enslaved.
May we ever remember that our nation, whose motto is "In God We Trust", expects that we shall acquit ourselves with honor, that we may never bring shame upon our faith, our families, or our fellow men.
Grant us wisdom from Thy mind, courage from Thine heart, strength from Thine arm, and protection by Thine hand.
It is for Thee that we do battle, and to Thee belongs the victor's crown.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. AMEN
What is excellent,
as God lives, is permanent.
Hearts turn to dust,
hearts love remains.
Hearts love will meet the again.
- Emerson
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; 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. The series, which was begun by i dunno, is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma, Wide Awake in Kentucky, CalNM and Maggie Jean.
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.
If that's not clear, read this: http://www.dailykos.com/...