I Got The News Today (IGTNT), the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Jason P. May
“Take Notice”
The USS Essex Badge
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Senior Chief Petty Officer Jason P. May, 38, died on June 29, 2015 while at sea on board the USS Essex.
SCPO May had chest pains shortly before collapsing, and efforts to revive him were not successful. Aside from his being from Chesterfield, Michigan, very little information is available about him at this time.
The USS Essex is the flagship for the Essex Amphibious Ready Group. The ARG is made up of the Essex, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore, and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage. On May 11, the ARG, with 4,500 sailors and Marines, left its home port in San Diego. On June 21, it entered the 5th Fleet area of operations, where it supports maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
SAN DIEGO, May 11, 2015 - The amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) departs San Diego for a deployment in support of the Navy's maritime strategy. Essex is the command ship for Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Navy photo by Master Chief Mass Communication Specialist Donnie W. Ryan/Released) 150511-N-SV210-228
(Click here for higher resolution image showing the crew lining the decks of the ship as it departed San Diego.)
SOUTH CHINA SEA, June 14, 2015 - An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter attached to the Blackjacks of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 lifts pallets of supplies from the flight deck of the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl (T-AO 193) during a vertical replenishment with Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Huey D. Younger Jr. (Released) 150614-N-MD297-021
(The USNS Walter S. Diehl is in the foreground, and the USS Rushmore is in the background. Click here for a higher resolution image.)
1914 IV: The Dead
~ Rupert Brooke ~
These hearts were woven of human joys and cares,
Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth.
The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs,
And sunset, and the colours of the earth.
These had seen movement, and heard music; known
Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended;
Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone;
Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended.
There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter
And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after,
Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance
And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white
Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance,
A width, a shining peace, under the night.
Sources: DOD, Navy, Wikipedia, Stars and Stripes, USS Essex, Flickr
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.
The DoD news releases are here, and all of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. These men and women all had people who they loved and who loved them.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by i dunno, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, The Fat Lady Sings, Ekaterina, Sandy on Signal, and me, Joy of Fishes.
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.