I Got The News Today (IGTNT) is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos. It is a way for our community to pay respect to those who have died while in service to our nation.
An attack on Afghanistan’s Bagram Airfield in the early morning hours of November 12th killed two members of the US Army and two contractors. The blast also wounded 16 American troops and one Polish soldier. Military personnel and others had gathered for a 5-kilometer "fun run" organized in conjunction with Veterans Day celebrations.
Among the dead were two soldiers were assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas:
- Staff Sergeant John W. Perry, aged 30, who was from California
- Private First Class Tyler R. Iubelt, aged 20, who was from Illinois
Perry and Iubelt were among about 500 1st Cavalry Division soldiers who deployed to Afghanistan in a regular rotation of troops to help train the Afghan military. Both men were married and leave behind their widows and young children.
Staff Sergeant John W. Perry
Once news of the death of John William Perry in Afghanistan started circulating, many in the community of Chico, California started mourning. The Staff Sergeant was more recently based in Texas, but spent his high school years at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico. Perry was well-liked and ran cross country races while in school. He had been living in California with his grandmother, Anita Custer, who was quoted by KRCR news:
"I'd never dreamed of, ever dreamed that anything like this would have happened," said Anita Custer, grandmother of John Perry. "But that's something you never expect."
Custer said when she heard there had been a bombing, she had a feeling that her grandson was involved.
"I knew and I just had a feeling when they put that on TV that this had happened, I just knew that he would be involved in it," she said.
John first entered the Army in 2008 and worked in maintenance support. He deployed to Afghanistan from August 2010 to July 2011, re-enlisted, and was sent to Afghanistan again in September of this year. He was a test, measurement and diagnostic equipment (TMDE) maintenance support specialist.
Awards and decorations earned by Staff Sergeant John W. Perry, include three Army Commendation Medals, one Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign starts, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Driver’s and Mechanics Badge. He also received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for the action that resulted in his death.
Perry leaves behind his wife of eight years, Julianne; 5-year-old daughter Lena; and 4-year-old son Gavin. The family lived in Nolanville, Texas, which is close to Perry’s base in Fort Hood, Texas. His father Stewart Perry and his grandmother Anita Custer are also amongst those who are grieving for the soldier.
Perry will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but no news is available about any services planned in Chico.
Private First Class Tyler R. Iubelt
Growing up in a small town in Illinois, Tyler Iubelt spent his first school years in the village of Tamaroa, whose population is less than a thousand souls. He graduated from Pinckneyville Community High School in 2015 and joined the Army a few months later. According to an article by NBC Chicago:
A pair of posts on Tamaroa Grade School’s Facebook page Monday lamented the loss and honored the life of Iubelt.
“The TGS family is deeply saddened today to learn of the loss of one of our alumni. Tyler Iubelt, TGS Class of 2011, was killed in an attack at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan while serving in the United States Army. We are so proud of him for his willingness to leave his family and community to serve our country; we mourn his loss and the loss felt by his family and friends,” one of the posts reads. “Tyler will be fondly remembered by his teachers and staff members at TGS for his quick wit and that twinkle he would get in his eyes when he flashed that grin at you! As with all our students, we loved him and wished him the best in life; he left us too soon. Godspeed Tyler. Your sacrifice will be remembered here at TGS.”
Tyler Iubelt entered the U.S. Army in November of 2015, just a few months after graduation, as a motor transport operator. He was assigned to 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade since May of 2016. They are based at Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel just this past September.
The Private’s graduation was recent and his hometown small. To help the youth of the community, counseling is being offered to younger classmates who are still in the school that he attended.
Private First Class Tyler R. Iubelt’s awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously for the action that resulted in his death.
A couple of the loved ones who are grieving the loss of Tyler Iubelt are his wife, Shelby, and his 6-month-old daughter Violet.
Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin, Illonois, is handling the funeral arrangements for Private First Class Tyler Iubelt, which are still in the planning stages.
Texas State Senator Troy Fraser offered his condolences to the families of the fallen:
“Sadly, and in the shadow of Veterans Day, we mourn the loss of two more Fort Hood soldiers, killed by an apparent suicide bomber on a U.S. air base,”
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the families ... In 1776, Thomas Paine described the threat our nation then faced as ‘the times that try men’s souls.’ That statement is no less true today, and we grieve the loss of these brave American heroes.”
Two American contractors also died in the explosion at Bagram Airfield. One Polish soldier and 16 U.S. service members were wounded. Fort Hood officials were unable to confirm whether any of the wounded soldiers were from their post. However, they did state that the injured had been airlifted out of the “combat theater” and are getting the best medical care possible.
May the casualties all rest in peace and the wounded heal swiftly.
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About the IGTNT series:
”I Got the News Today” is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died. US service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized two days or so 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. Click the #IGTNT tag to see previous diaries in the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is maintained by i dunno, Sandy on Signal, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Jax Dem, The Fat Lady Sings, Ekaterin, & Joy of Fishes. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but show our community’s respect for those who have died.
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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.