Danny and Becky Loggins were at a cookout when they got the news: Their son, Adam, had been killed in Iraq.
From the Department of Defense:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Adam E. Loggins, 27, of Athens, Ala., died April 26 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion,6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
R.I.P., Adam. More below.
The Loggins family is no stranger to service or danger: Danny Loggins is fire chief for the city of Huntsville, Ala. According to enewscourier.com, "He and Becky were attending a cookout for the Huntsville/Madison County Seniors Crime Prevention Academy at John Hunt Park in Huntsville when they received word about their son."
Hamburgers, small talk, tragedy.
Reports suggest that Adam Loggins was killed by sniper fire, but the DoD has not released details.
The News Observer offers this:
Loggins, a graduate of East Limestone High School, had been in Iraq for about two months as a member of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. His brother, Josh Loggins, is a private first class in the Army, undergoing training in Hawaii, according to The News Courier newspaper in Athens.
WAFF.com has a video of the Loggins brothers.
The family has asked for privacy, and it sounds as though their wishes are being protected; as the News Courier notes, "A Fire & Rescue car was parked Friday in front of the Loggins home on Sandy Lane and a firefighter told anyone who approached that the family was not accepting visitors."
The article goes on to talk about the efforts of the Alabama Marine Moms, of which Becky Loggins is a member. AMM member Helen Hickman told the newspaper that
"We have been in contact with the family and they’ve asked us to give them space... When they’re ready, they said they’d contact us. Immediately yesterday, we planned to make meals, clean house, hold hands — whatever the family needed us to do."
In the wake of tragedy, there is humanity. May we all remember to hold the hands of those that suffer.
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The Department of Defense has confirmed 3,336 deaths and the announcement of 10 more deaths is expected, pending notification of the next of kin, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. The DoD news releases are here.
They all had friends and loved ones. Please visit the Iraq Veterans Memorial for a moving look at how a few of their survivors remember them. It will break your heart. If you want to do something more, please visit anysoldier.com, Operation Helmet, and/or Fisher House.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here for the previous diary in this series, and here to see the series, which is maintained by i dunno, Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, and myself.