Please join us tonight in paying tribute to two more young men who gave their last full measure for their country, Army Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Brown and Marine Cpl. Christopher D. Bordoni. May their families remember them as the humorous and fun loving family men they were.
NOTE: Must leave. Will answer all comments in the a.m.
Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don't remember me at all.
I didn't want to write this diary. I have been on a hot streak, not having to write a diary on my assigned IGTNT diary days for about my last seven assignments. My son in law has been in Afghanistan since August, and he was home for two weeks lately. He got back on the date that I drew to write a diary. There were five casualties on the day he got back - none near his base. I can't imagine what it must be like to get that call. I weep for the families of these brave men.
Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Brown
Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Brown, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, died April 3, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained after he was attacked with an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol.
Sgt. Brown was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
http://www.defense.gov/...
His family, who lives on the South Side, was told that he died on Monday and that his death involved a grenade attack. He and his wife, Ariell, had just married in January and she was expecting their third child. The couple also have two other daughters: Charlie, who turned 8 the day before her father died, according to birth records, and Dilyn, who will turn 6 this month. His wife and children were living in Mobile, Ala. Besides his parents, he is survived by three sisters.
Word of his death circulated among his former classmates at Hamilton Township, where he graduated in 2003. Krystal Brown of Groveport, who is no relation, said she sat beside him through middle and high school. They even enlisted in the military together when they were in high school, she said. “Chris was very funny," she said. "He had a lot of personality. He was the class clown, that was for sure.” During their high-school days, he was known for bursting out in song or doing a dance. “He was an attention-getter,” Krystal Brown said. But he also took to life in the military. She enrolled in the Army Reserves to pay for college, she said, but the Army was Christopher Brown’s career. He was confident and “he liked the whole military thing,” she said.
Veronica Denner, 28, who lives outside of Atlanta, said she heard about Christopher Brown’s death through Facebook. She shares similar memories of Brown from high-school days. “He was a jokester who had a big personality,” Denner said. “He was one of those guys that you would always expect be around.”
Chris Brown returns home
http://www.dispatch.com/...
Marine Cpl. Christopher David Bordoni
Cpl. Christopher D. Bordoni, 21, of Ithaca, N.Y., died April 3 of wounds sustained Jan. 18, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
http://www.defense.gov/...
Marine Cpl. Christopher David Bordoni, born August 3, 1990 in Ithaca, NY, died April 3, 2012 as a result of injuries sustained January 18, 2012 in Kajaki, Afghanistan. Christopher passed away at the San Antonio Military Medical Center where he had been receiving medical treatment since January 22nd. Christopher was a graduate of Ithaca High School, class of 2008. He was an exceptional athlete with a passion for soccer. Christopher loved to laugh and make others laugh as well; we could always rely on him to play practical jokes. Chris had a determined mind and excelled in everything he wanted to accomplish. He pushed himself to prepare for his most important achievement; becoming a United States Marine.
Chris was an exceptional United States Marine. His MOS was 0311, Riflemen. After he was attached to the 1st Battalion 6th Marines regiment, Chris served two tours in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Receiving the Leatherneck Award for High Shooter in Boot Camp, he went on to receive four Expert Marksmanship Badges. Chris also received the Purple Heart, Marine Corps Good Conduct Metal, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. Cpl Bordoni has also been nominated to receive the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM). Christopher was dedicated and strong willed in achieving his goal of becoming the best Marine on every level.
Christopher is survived by his wife Jessica Bordoni, mother Carol Bordoni Sprague, father Timothy Bordoni, sister Jacqueline Bordoni, and brother Casey Bordoni. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents David and Phyllis Sprague of Cayuga, NY, and paternal grandparents Camillo and MaryEllen Bordoni of Ithaca NY. Chris also has many aunts, uncles, and cousins that, in addition, will forever hold Chris in their hearts.
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Memorial Information:
A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Rev. Joseph Marcoux on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church. Interment with full Marine Corps honors will follow at the Calvary Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Church on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 from 2 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Chris’ memory may be directed to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 semperfifund.org/donate. .
Please join us in prayer for Chris Brown and Chris Bordini, and those who loved them.
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, SisTwo, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings and me, SpamNunn.
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/...