IGTNT: We Remember Them, Part 2
Tonight, we light a candle of memory against the darkness of grief and loss. We remember.
This retrospective, the second of two, is a compilation of 2010's "I Got the News Today" diaries, tributes to American service members who died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When you click on the links, you'll find their stories--the details that their teachers and friends remember, the last phone calls home to parents, their MySpace messages to loved ones. These are not numbers or abstractions. They were husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, parents, children, friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters in arms. Their lives mattered.
If you are new to the series, please click on a date and read about a few of these lives. If you have been with us this year, please know how much your presence, witnessing and condolences mean. To the team--a special THANK YOU for your constant and compassionate efforts. To the families and friends who may read this--we have not forgotten your loved one.
As in other years, we have chosen "We Remember Them," by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer, to help us reflect on these losses. Thank you for being here tonight to remember.
This is part 2 of this diary. Please also visit Part 1.
| At the rising of the sun and at its going down We remember them. |
July
1 Sgt. David A. Holmes, 34, of Tennille, Ga.; Pfc. Bryant J. Haynes, 21, of Epps, La.; Sgt. John M. Rogers, 26, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw, 31, of Exeter, Maine; Sgt. David W. Thomas, 40, of St. Petersburg, Fla.
2 Spc. Blair D. Thompson, 19, of Rome, N.Y.; Spc. Jared C. Plunk, 27, of Stillwater, Okla.; Staff Sgt. Brandon M. Silk, 25, of Orono, Maine
4 Sgt. Matthew R. Hennigan, 20, of Las Vegas, Nev.; and Cpl. Larry D. Harris, Jr., 24, of Thornton, Colo.
5 Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher D. Chapleau, 33, of LaGrange, Ky.; Spc. Morganne M. McBeth, 19, of Fredricksburg, Va.; Sgt. Johnny W. Lumpkin, 38, of Columbus, Ga.; Pfc. Ryan J. Grady, 25, of Bristow, Okla.; Capt. David A. Wisniewski, 31, of Moville, Iowa
8 Pfc. David Jeeferson, 23, Philadelphia, Penn.; Sgt. Louis R. Fastuca, 24, of West Chester, Penn.; Sgt. Jordan E. Tuttle , 22, of West Monroe, La.; Spc. Clayton D. McGarrah, 20, of Harrison, Ark.
9 Pfc. Edwin C. Wood, 18, of Omaha, Neb.; Staff Sgt. Christopher F. Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va.
10 Sgt. Andrew J. Creighton, 23, of Laurel, Del.; Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis, 22, of Powder Springs, Ga.; Spc. Keenan A. Cooper, 19, of Wahpeton, N.D.; Spc. Jerod H. Osborne, 20, of Royse City, Texas
14 Pt 1 Staff Sgt. Jesse W. Ainsworth, 24, of Dayton, Texas; Sgt. Donald R. Edgerton, 33, of Murphy, N.C.; Spc. Joseph W. Dimock II, 21, of Wildwood, Ill.; Pfc. Anthony W. Simmons, 25, of Tallahassee, Fla.
14 Pt 2 Sgt. Robert W. Crow, 42, of Kansas City, Mo.; Staff Sgt. Marc A. Arizmendez, 30, of Anaheim, Calif.; Spc. Roger Lee, 26, of Monterey, Calif.; Pfc. Michael S. Pridham, 19, of Louisville, Ky.
15 Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Antonik, 29, of Crystal Lake, Ill.; Lance Cpl. Daniel G. Raney, 21, of Pleasant View, Tenn.; Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Roads, 20, of Burney, Calif.; Spc. Carlos J. Negron, 40, of Fort Meyers, Fla.; Spc. Nathaniel D. Garvin, 20, of Radcliff, Ky.
16 Spc. Christopher J. Moon, 20, of Tucson, Ariz.; Staff Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, 32, of Austin, Texas
18 Spc. Chase Stanley, 21, of Napa, Calif.; Spc. Jesse D. Reed, 26, of Orefield, Penn.; Spc. Matthew J. Johnson, 21, of Maplewood, Minn.; Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher, 24, of Ballwin, Mo.
21 1st Lt. Christopher S. Goeke, 23, of Apple Valley, Minn.; Staff Sgt. Christopher T. Stout, 34, of Worthville, Ky.; Staff Sgt. Sheldon L. Tate, 27, of Hinesville, Ga.; Pvt. Brandon M. King, 23, of Tallahassee, Fla.
"Staff Sgt. Sheldon Tate was a true warrior and leader of paratroopers. His last actions were a testament to the leader he was, as he grabbed a young paratrooper and led him to safety," said Capt. William Hofmann, his company commander.
22 Sgt. Justin B. Allen, 23, of Coal Grove, Ohio; 1st Lt. Robert N. Bennedsen, 25, of Vashon, Wash.; Gunnery Sgt. Christopher L. Eastman, 28, of Moose Pass, Alaska; Sgt. Anibal Santiago, 37, of Belvidere, Ill.; Sgt. Jesse R. Tilton, 23, of Decatur, Ill.
23 Staff Sgt. Brian F. Piercy, 27, of Clovis, Calif.; Cpl. Paul J. Miller, 22, of Traverse City, Mich.
25 Staff Sgt. Justus S. Bartelt, 27, of Polo, Ill.; Cpl. Dave M. Santos, 21, of Rota, Marianas Islands; Sgt. 1st Class John H. Jarrell, 32, of Brunson, S.C..; Sgt. Leston M. Winters, 30, of Sour Lake, Texas; Sgt. Matthew W. Weikert, 29, of Jacksonville, Ill.
26 Pfc. James J. O’Quin, 20, of El Paso, Texas
28 Maj. James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, N.J.; Lance Cpl. Frederik E. Vazquez, 20, of Melrose Park, Ill.; Lt. Col. Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Conrad A. Mora, 24, of San Diego, Calif.; Sgt. Daniel Lim, 23, of Cypress, Calif.; Spc. Joseph A. Bauer, 27, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Pfc. Andrew L. Hand, 25, of Enterprise, Ala.
29 Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley, 30, of Wheatridge, Colo.; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, 25, of Renton, Wash.
| At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter We remember them. |
August
2 Capt. Jason E. Holbrook, 28, of Burnet, Texas; Staff Sgt. Kyle R. Warren, 28, of Manchester, N.H.; Lance Cpl. Abram L. Howard, 21, of Williamsport, Penn.
3 Lance Cpl. Shane R. Martin, 23, of Spring, Texas; Spc Michael L. Stansbery 21, of Mount Juliet, Tenn.
5 Cpl. Julio Vargas, 23, of Sylmar, Calif.; Sgt. Kyle B. Stout, 25, of Texarkana, Texas; Cpl. Joe L. Wrightsman, 23, of Jonesboro, La.
9 Master Sgt. Jared N. Van Aalst, 34, of Laconia, N.H.
11 Pfc .Paul O. Cuzzupe II, 23, of Plant City, Fla.; Cpl. Max W. Donahue, 23, of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Spc. Faith R. Hinkley, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sgt. Andrew C. Nicol, 23, of Kensington, N.H.; Pfc. Bradley D. Rappuhn, 24, of Grand Ledge, Mich.
12 Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Cornelius, 20, of Ashtabula, Ohio; Pfc. Vincent E. Gammone III, 19, of Christiana, Tenn.
17 Sgt. Jose L. Saenz III, 30, of Pleasanton, Texas; Sgt. Christopher N. Karch, 23, of Indianapolis, Ind.; Cpl. Kristopher Daniel Greer, 25, of Ashland City, Tenn.
18 Staff Sgt. Michael A. Bock, 26, of Leesburg, Fla.
SSgt. Michael Bock was a family man. He never forgot to send his wife roses for Valentine's Day, no matter where he was, and he got up in the middle of the night while deployed in Afghanistan so that he could participate remotely in his 3-year-old son's birthday party.
19 Spc. Jamal M. Rhett, 24, of Palmyra, N.J.
20 Pfc. Benjamen G. Chisholm, 24, of Fort Worth, Texas; Pvt. Charles M. High IV, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley, 24, of Nassau, N.Y.
21 Lance Cpl. Kevin E. Oratowski, 23, of Wheaton, Ill.; Sgt. 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts, 39, of Hinesville, Ga.
24 Lance Cpl. Cody S. Childers, 19, of Chesapeake, Va.
25 Spc. Christopher S. Wright, 23, of Tollesboro, Ky.; Lance Cpl Nathaniel J. A. Schultz, 19, of Safety Harbor, Fla.; Pfc. Alexis V. Maldonado, 20, of Wichita Falls, Texas
26 Sgt. Jason D. Calo, 23, of Lexington, Ky.; Sgt. Ronald A. Rodriguez, 26, of Falls Church, Va.; Lance Cpl. Robert J. Newton, 21, of Creve Coeur, Ill. ; Sgt. Brandon E. Maggart, 24, of Kirksville, Mo.
27 Sgt. Steven J. Deluzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, Conn.; Sgt. Tristan H. Southworth, 21, of West Danville, Vt.; Spc. Pedro A. Millet Meletiche, 20, of Elizabeth, N.J.; Pfc. Justin B. Shoecraft, 28, of Elkhart, Ind.
31 Petty Officer 3rd Class James M. Swink, 20, of Yucca Valley, Calif.; Master Sgt. Daniel L. Fedder, 34, of Pine City, Minn.; Gunnery Sgt. Floyd E. C. Holley, 36, of Casselberry, Fla.
| At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring We remember them. |
September
1 Capt. Ellery R. Wallace, 33, of Utah; Pfc. Bryn T. Raver, 20, of Harrison, Ark.; Pfc. Chad D. Coleman, 20, of Moreland, Ga.; Pvt. Adam J. Novak, 20, of Prairie du Sac, Wis.; Spc. James C. Robinson, 27, of Lebanon, Ohio
2 Sgt. Patrick K. Durham, 24, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Spc. Andrew J. Castro, 20, of Westlake Village, Calif.; Staff Sgt. James R. Ide V, 32, of Festus, Mo.
3 Pvt. 1st Class Chad D. Clements from Huntington, Ind.; Chaplain (Captain) Dale Goetz from White, S.D.; Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante from Cypress, Texas; Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler from Canton, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West from Conover, Wisc.
4 Sgt. Joseph A. Bovia, 24, of Kenner, La.; Lance Cpl. Cody A. Roberts, 22, of Boise, Idaho; 1st Lt. Mark A. Noziska, 24, of Papillon, Nebraska; Staff Sgt. Casey J. Grochowiak, 34, of Lompoc, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Rodgers, 20, of Griffin, Ga.
5 Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Twigg, 21, of Indiana, Penn.; Staff Sgt. Vinson B. Adkinson III, 26, of Harper, Kan.; Sgt. Raymond C. Alcaraz, 20, of Redlands, Calif.; Pfc. Matthew E. George, 22, of Grantsboro, N.C.; Spc. James A. Page, 23, of Titusville, Fla.
9 Lance Cpl. Ross S. Carver, 21 of Wilmington, N.C.; Capt. Jason T. McMahon, 35 of Mulvane, Kan.; Pvt. 1st Class Diego M. Montoya, 20 of San Antonio, Texas
10 Cpl. Philip G. E. Charte, 22, of Goffstown, N.H.
12 1st Lt. Todd W. Weaver, 26, of Hampton, Va.; Sgt. Jesse M. Balthaser, 23, of Columbus, Ohio; Sgt. Philip C. Jenkins, 26, of Decatur, Ind.; Pvt. James Fleet McClamrock, 22, of Huntersville, N.C.; Cpl. John C. Bishop, 25, of Columbus, Ind.
18 Sgt. Ryan J. Hopkins, 21, of Livermore, Calif.; Senior Airman James A. Hansen, 25, of Athens, Mich.
19 Sgt. Aaron K. Kramer, 22, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Senior Airman Daniel R. Sanchez, 23, of El Paso, Texas; Sgt. John F. Burner III, 32, of Baltimore, Md.
20 Spc. Deangelo B. Snow, 22, of Saginaw, Mich.
21 1st Lt. Eric Yates, 26, of Rineyville, Ky.; Staff Sgt. Jaime C. Newman, 27, of Richmond, Va.
22 Spc. Joshua A. Harton, 23, of Bethlehem, Penn.; Pfc. Barbara Vieyra, 22, of Mesa, Ariz.; 1st Lt. Scott J. Fleming, 24, of Marietta, Ga.; Sgt. 1st Class Ronald A. Grider, 30, Brighton, Ill.
23 Spc. Timothy L. Johnson, 24, of Randolph, N.Y.; Maj. Paul D. Carron, 33, of Mo.; Pfc. Joshua S. Ose, 19, of Hernando, Miss.
Major Paul Carron was passionate about serving his country and caring for the troops under his command. He once wrote a letter to the editor which said, "They [the pundits] should see a 22-year-old spend two hours sitting on a hard concrete floor negotiating an electricity contract or generator plan only to hit an improvised explosive device emplaced by the very people he seeks to help; a 19-year-old female medic advise a 19-year-old Iraqi mother on how to treat her child's ear infection; or men still dazed from a bomb blast that killed a friend and wounded seven others return from a mission and roll up their sleeves to give blood for the wounded, then clean the blood out of their vehicle to do a night patrol."
24 Senior Airman Michael J. Buras, 23, of Fitzgerald, Ga.; Lt. (SEAL) Brendan J. Looney, 29 of Owings, Md.; PO2 (SEAL) Adam O. Smith, 26, of Hurland, Mo.; PO3 (SEAL) Denis C. Miranda, 24 of Toms River, N.J.; Senior Chief David B. McLendon, 30, Thomasville, Ga.
25 Lt. Col. Robert F. Baldwin, 39, of Quad Cities, Ill.; Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Wagstaff, 34, of Orem, Utah; Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan, 26, of Clark County, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, 25, of Pleasant Plains, Ill.; Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., 23, of Elkhart, Ind.
27 Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Rosa, 20, of Swanton, Vt.
29 Pfc. Clinton E. Springer II, 21, of Sanford, Maine; Spc. John Carrillo Jr., 20, of Stockton, Calif.; Pfc. Gebrah P. Noonan, 26, of Watertown, Ct.; Spc. Marc C. Whisenant, 23, of Holly Hill, Fla.
30 Pfc. William B. Dawson, 20, of Tunica, Miss. ; Pfc. Jaysine P. S. Petree, 19, of Yigo, Guam; Sgt. Mark A. Simpson, 40, of Peoria, Ill.; Spc. Donald S. Morrison, 23, of Blue Ash, Ohio
| At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer We remember them. |
October
1 Lance Cpl. Ralph J. Fabbri, 20, of Gallitzin, Pa.
2 Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
3 Sgt 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, 31, of San Antonio, Texas; Sgt Justin A. Officer, 26, of Wichita, Kan.; Lance Cpl. Timothy M.Jackson, 22, Corbin, Ky.
6 Sgt. Anthony D. Matteoni, 22, of Union City, Mich.; Sgt. 1st Class Lance H. Vogeler, 29, of Frederick, Md.; Staff Sgt. Willie J. Harley Jr., 48, of Aiken, S.C.; Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr., 32, of Lexington, S.C.
7 Spc. Joseph T. Prentler, 20, of Fenwick, Mich.; Sgt. Brian J. Pedro, 27, of Rosamond, Calif.
8 Pfc. Ryane G. Clark, 22, of New London, Minn.; Pfc. Cody A. Board, 19, of McKineey, Texas; Sgt. Karl A. Campbell, 34, of Chiefland, Fla.; Senior Airman Daniel J. Johnson, 23, of Cottage Grove, Wisc.
10 Cpl. Stephen C. Sockalosky, 21 of Cordele, Ga.; Lance Cpl. Scott A. Lynch, 22 of Greenwood Lake, N.Y.
12 Hospital Corpsman Edwin Gonzalez, 22, of North Miami Beach, Fla.
14 Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks, 23, of Chicago, Ill.; Sgt. Frank R. Zaehringer III, 23, of Reno, Nev.; Spc. David A. Hess, 25, of Ruskin, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Dave J. Weigle, 29, of Philadelphia, Pa.
16 Lance Cpl. Raymon L. A. Johnson, 22, of Midland, Ga.; Cpl. Justin J. Cain, 22, of Manitowoc, Wis.; Lance Cpl. Phillip D. Vinnedge, 19, of Saint Charles, Mo.; Lance Cpl. Joseph E. Rodewald, 21, of Albany, Ore.; Pfc. Victor A. Dew, 20, of Granite Bay, Calif.
17 Pfc. Jordan M. Byrd, 19, of Grantsville, Utah; Sgt. Eric C. Newman, 30 of Waynesboro, Miss.; Lance Cpl. Irvin M. Ceniceros, 21, Clarksville, Ark.; Lance Cpl Alec E. Catherwood, 19, Byron, Ill.; Lance Cpl. Joseph C. Lopez, 26, of Rosamond, Calif.
18 Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, 24, of Oceanside, Calif.
20 Pfc. Dylan T. Reid, 24, of Springfield, Mo.; Sgt. Ian M. Tawney, 25, of Dallas, Ore.; Cpl. Jorge Villarreal Jr., 22, of San Antonio, Texas
21 Staff Sgt. Carlos A. Benitez, 24, of Carrollton, Texas; Spc. Rafael Martinez Jr., 36, of Spring Valley, Calif.; Pfc. Tramaine J. Billingsley, 20, of Portsmouth, Va.
24 Spc Gerald R. Jenkins, 19 of Circleville, Ohio; Staff Sgt Kenneth K. McAninch, 28 of Logansport, Ind.; Lance Cpl. Francisco R. Jackson, 24 of Elizabeth, N.J.; Staff Sgt Joshua J. Cullins, 28 of Simi Valley, Calif.
27 Spc. Matthew C. Powell, 20, of Slidell, La.; Staff Sgt. Aracely Gonzalez O’Malley, 31, of Brawley, Calif.; Spc. Steven L. Dupont, 20, of Lafayette, La.; Spc. Ronnie J. Pallares, 19, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Sgt. 1st Class Charles M. Sadell, 34, of Columbia, Mo.
When SSgt. Aracely Gonzalez-O'Malley was deployed to Afghanistan, she had recently given birth and could have postponed her deployment. Instead, she volunteered to go. She wanted to deploy with her husband.
28 Spc. Thomas A. Moffitt, 21, of Wichita, Kan.
29 Pfc. David R. Jones Jr., 21, of Saint Johnsville, N.Y.; Sgt. 1st Class Phillip C. Tanner, 43, of Sheridan, Wyo.
31 Sgt. Michael D. Kirspel Jr., 23, of Hopatcong, N.J.; Lance Cpl. Terry E. Honeycutt Jr., 19, of Waldorf, Md.
| At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn We remember them. |
November
1 Staff Sgt. Adam L. Dickmyer, 26, of Winston Salem, N.C.; Spc. Pedro A. Maldonado, 20, of Houston, Texas
2 Spc. Diego A. Solorzano-Valdovinos, 24, of Huntington Park, Calif.
3 Cpl. Brett W. Land, 24, of Wasco, Calif.
5 1st Lt. James R. Zimmerman, 25, of Aroostook County, Maine
7 Spc. Jonathan M. Curtis, 24, of Belmont, Mass.; Pfc. Andrew N. Meari, 21, of Plainfield, Ill.; Spc. James C. Young, 25, of Rochester, Ill.; Sgt. 1st Class Todd M. Harris, 37, of Tucson, Ariz.
8 Sgt. Michael F. Paranzino, 22, of Middletown, R.I.; Spc.Blake D. Whipple, 21, of Wiliamsville, N.Y.; Lance Cpl. Brandon W. Pearson, 21, of Arvada, Colo.; Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Broehm, 22, of Flagstaff, Ariz.
9 Pfc. Shane M. Reifert, 23, of Cottrellville, Mich.
10 Lance Cpl. Randy R. Braggs, 21, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Staff Sgt. Jordan B. Emrick, 26, of Hoyleton, Ill.
11 Sgt. Aaron B. Cruttenden, 25, of Mesa, Ariz.; Spc. Dale J. Kridlo, 33, of Hughestown, Penn.; Spc. Anthony Vargas, 27, of Reading, Penn.; Spc. Andrew L. Hutchins, 20, of New Portland, Maine; Sgt. Jason J. McCluskey, 26, of McAlester, Okla.
13 2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly, 29, of Tallahassee, Fla.
14 Lance Cpl. Dakota R. Huse, 19, of Greenwood, La.; Lance Cpl. James B. Stack, 20, of Arlington Heights, Ill.
15 Senior Airman Andrew S. Bubacz, 23, of Dalzell, S.C.; Cpl. Shawn D. Fannin, 32, of Wheelersburg, Ohio
17 Spc. David C. Lutes, 28, of Frostburg, Md.; Spc. Shannon Chihuahua, 25, of Thomasville, Ga.; Sgt. Edward H. Bolen, 25, of Chittenango, N.Y.
18 Staff Sgt. Juan L. Rivadeneira, 27, of Davie, Fla.; Cpl. Jacob R. Carver, 20, of Freeman, Mo.; Spc. Jacob C. Carroll, 20, of Clemmons, N.C.; Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape, 30, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Staff Sgt. Javier O. Ortiz-Rivera, 26, of Rochester, N.Y.
19 Spc. Shane H. Ahmed, 31, of Chesterfield, Mich.; Spc. Nathan E. Lillard, 26, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Spc. Scott T. Nagorski, 27, of Greenfield, Wisc.; Spc. Jesse A. Snow, 25, of Fairborn, Ohio; Pfc Christian M. Warriner, 19, of Mills River, N.C.
20 Staff Sgt. David P. Senft, 27, of Grass Valley, Calif.; Sgt. Justin E. Culbreth, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Pfc. Kyle M. Holder, 18, of Conroe, Texas
24 Sgt. David S. Robinson, 25, of Fort Smith, Ark.; Sgt. David J. Luff Jr., 29, of Hamilton, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Loleni W. Gandy, 36, of Pago Pago, American Samoa; Sgt. Jason T. Smith, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
27 Staff Sgt. Sean M. Flannery, 29, of Wyomissing, Pa.; Spc. William K. Middleton, 26, of Norfolk, Va.
28 Lance Cpl. Ardenjoseph A. Buenagua, 19, of San Jose, Calif.; Lt. William J. Donnely IV, 27, of Picayune, Miss.
30 Pvt. Devon J. Harris, 24, of Mesquite, TX
Cpl. Nicolas Parada-Rodriguez immigrated to the United States with his family from El Salvador in 1991. He served his adopted country in both the Navy and the Marines.
| At the beginning of the year and when it ends We remember them. |
December
2 1st Lt. Scott F. Milley, 23, of Sudbury, Mass.; Lt. Col. Gwendolyn A. Locht, 46, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
3 Sgt. 1st Class Barry E. Jarvis, 36, of Tell City, Ind.; Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Oakes, 29, of Athens, Ohio; Spc. Matthew W. Ramsey, 20, of Quartz Hill, Calif.; Pfc. Jacob A. Gassen, 21, of Beaver Dam, Wis.; Pfc. Austin G. Staggs, 19, of Senoia, Ga.; Pfc. Buddy W. McLain, 24, of Mexico, Maine
6 Cpl. Chad S. Wade, 22, of Bentonville, Ark.; Sgt. Matthew T. Abbate, 25, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Sgt. 1st Class James E. Thode, 45, of Kirtland, N.M.
8 Lance Cpl. Lucas C. Scott, 20, of Peebles, Ohio
9 Sgt. Jason D. Peto, 31, of Vancouver, Wash.; Staff Sgt. Vincent W. Ashlock, 45, of Seaside, Calif.
10 Staff Sgt. Jason A. Reeves, 32, of Odessa, TX; Sgt. Nicholas J. Aleman, 24, of Brooklyn, NY; Cpl. Derek A. Wyatt, 25, of Akron, OH; Pfc. Colton W. Rusk, 20, of Orange Grove, TX
Cpl. Derek Wyatt was absolutely devoted to his wife, Kait. Kait’s sister said, "Their love was an example of what true love and devotion is." Derek was killed the day before their son was born.
11 Lance Cpl. Michael E. Geary, 20, of Derry, N.H.
12 Sgt. James A. Ayube, II, 25, of Salem, Mass.; Spc. Kelly J. Mixon, 23, of Yulee, Fla.
13 Pfc. David D. Finch, 24, of Bath Springs, TN
16 Cpl. Sean M. Collins, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; Cpl. Willie A. McLawhorn Jr., 23, of Conway, N.C.; Spc. Patrick D. Deans, 22, of Orlando, Fla.; Spc. Kenneth E. Necochea Jr., 21, of San Diego, Calif.; Spc. Derek T. Simonetta, 21, of Redwood City, Calif.; Spc. Jorge E. Villacis, 24, of Sunrise, Fla.
17 Staff Sgt. Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, Penn.; Lance Cpl. Jose A. Hernandez, 19, of West Palm Beach, Florida
19 Spc. Sean R. Cutsforth, 22, of Radford, Virginia; Spc. Ethan L. Goncalo, 21, of Fall River, Mass.; Staff Sgt. Stacy A. Green, 34, of Alexander City, Alabama
20 Lance Cpl. Jose L. Maldonado, 21, of Mathis, Texas
22 Cpl. Sean A. Osterman, 21, of Princeton, Minn.; Cpl. Eric. M. Torbert Jr., 25, of Lancaster, Pa.
25 Lance Cpl. William H. Crouse IV, 22, of Woodruff, South Carolina
27 PFC Conrado D. Javier Jr., 19, of Marina, Calif.
| | Remember them. |
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.
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, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, true blue majority, CalNM, JaxDem, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, and ccasas. Timroff created the IGTNT logo.
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.