Loud knock at the door.
What for?
Is it a friend just saying hi?
Doesn’t she remember to try
And always call before she stops by?
But there it is
It’s louder still
Who is that knocking?
I feel a chill
It starts in my cheeks, and goes all around
My world starts to spin. I have to sit down
Maybe if I just stay right here
They’ll stop their knocking
And calm my fear
But in my desperate walk to a chair
I round the corner and see them there
Just barely through the panes of glass
Their uniforms crisp, moments pass
So swirling, spinning I do walk
They must see me for the knocking stops
I grab the doorknob with one last prayer
That maybe I’m wrong about why they're here
Soon as they start what they came to say
I start to scream, and fall away
For every other time there was a knock at my door
Like happened so many times before
My baby was still alive and well
No matter that he lived in hell
And I was back here safe and sound
Counting the days til he’d be around
So tell me that I dreamed this up
The van, the knocks, them all dressed up
Tell me, no, please go away
My baby died a hero today
But before you go, please tell me this
That you’ll say his name, and that you’ll miss
One extra man who walked the walk
Who smiled and laughed and loved to talk
That while you’re shopping at the mall
Or watching the red and orange leaves fall
That you’ll remember them
Strong and true
Because my baby, my hero, fought for you
(copyrighted)
June 27, 2007 Edition
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Joseph P. Kenny, 20, of Veneta, Ore., died June 23 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. His death is under investigation.
Kenny was assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
US Army LTC David Thompson,CO, 7/10th, pays his respects during the memorial service for CPT Ian Patrick Weikel, 7/10th. Taji, Baghdad Province, Iraq. (Released to Public)
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Joseph Kenny graduated from Elmira High School in Veneta, Oregon just a few years ago. Steve Lewellen, the school's dean of students, said Kenny was a member of the Tolerance and Diversity Club. He also ran cross country.
"He was very respectful," Lewellen said. "You could count on him if you wanted someone who could make a difference."
He was also described as a "jokester" who found a place for himself in the Army.
Principal Karen McKenzie burst into tears when she heard about Kenny's death. Joseph has stopped by to visit her in February.
"He came right up to me and gave me a hug," McKenzie recalled. "He was very excited about being in the military."
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Photo of Joseph
At this time, and through what is available in the press, it appears that Joseph will be missed beyond our imagination by his mother Linda Smith, numerous loved ones and fellow soldiers.
DOD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died June 20 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Photo Source
Killed together while delivering medicine to a village in Iraq were:
Maj. Sid W. Brookshire, 36, of Missouri
This is a man who has inspired many who knew him. Below are some quotes from a tribute online:
"I spent a lot of time with Sid in the desert of NTC talking about life and the Army. He was a champion of a man. The best our country has ever produced. He is what we emulate when we think Duty and what we venerate when we say Honor. He was a mountain of strength who could easily make his weight felt but more often chose intellect; the true sign of an enlightened man."
"I had the pleasure and the honor of serving with Sid at Fort Campbell and at Fort Irwin. He was a great officer and and a caring leader...but most important of all, a loving father and husband.
Thanks for your friendship Sid.....You will never be forgotten."
"Sid remains the epitome of a squared away officer in my mind, and is truly going to be missed. I was truly lucky to spend time with him in Newport, and will always remember how he faced everything he did head on."
"Sid was a people person...always willing to help..to pitch in when things got tough. He was a hero in my book."
Through what is available in the media, Sid will be desperately missed by his father Jim, stepmother, sister Lisa, his wife Karin, and daughters Hope & Faith along with many loved ones and fellow soldiers.
Staff Sgt. Darren P. Hubbell, 38, of Tifton, Ga was a Medic, and his 19 year old son Darren Jr. is in the 82nd Airborne. Darren Jr. was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in January, and will not be returning to combat.
Photo of Darren and Darren Jr
Video Tribute
Sgt. Hubbell was on his 3rd tour of duty in Iraq. His father Gary Hubbell said, "My son was in the initial invasion of Iraq and his brigade was one of the first to take over Baghdad. He liked the military. It was in his blood."
Hubbell’s father said his son was apprehensive about serving in Iraq, but stuck to the mission at hand. "I tried to talk him out of going back but he said, ‘Dad, it’s my job,’ " the elder Hubbell recalled. "He was frustrated at not being able to shoot at people who were trying to kill him."
"My money would have been on Darren in a firefight," said Sgt. Hubbell’s uncle, Kevin Hubbell, a captain with the Jacksonville Fire Department. "But an IED is a coward’s weapon."
He will be forever missed by his wife Dana, who he married in January, his son Darren Jr, a 13 year old daughter, two stepsons, his father Gary, his grandmother Marion, and his uncle Kevin, as well as countless other loved ones and fellow soldiers.
Spc. Joe G. Charfauros Jr., 33, of Rota, Mariana Islands
"The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is mourning once again as we lost another son. We're very proud of him [Charfauros] because he fought and died for peace and freedom."
Sen. Paul A. Manglona extended his condolences to the Charfauros family, saying the whole island of Rota is grieving the loss of their son. Manglona said Charfauros is well loved by the community. "He is a police officer who enlisted in the Army last year," the senator said.
"It's sad that he's now a victim of war," Joe's Uncle Norbert Mundo, a retired U.S. Army recruiter and counselor, said via telephone from Rota. "But I know that he's in good hands now. He served his country well and I'm very proud of him."
Charfauros last went home to Rota in December 2006 for his wedding with Estelita Magofna, a Saipan resident, with whom he had three children. He will also be deeply missed by his father, his uncle, countless other loved ones, the people of Rota, and the soldiers he served with.
Photo Source
Pfc. David J. Bentz III, 20, of Newfield, N.J. was known as "DJ" and also as a "free spirit."
"DJ joined the service last June with designs on becoming a paratrooper, but when he missed the cut, he joined the infantry" Geonnotti, his adoptive mother, said. "He just wanted to do this. He just wanted to make us proud."
On Saturday, Geonnotti received a letter the soldier wrote home.
In that letter, Bentz tried to assure his family he would be OK, but he knew "if something does happen it is how I wanted to go out. Fighting for a cause. Freedom of America and for the Iraq people."
DJ's father is gravely ill and the hospital doctors, at time of publication of reference article, had not allowed the family to inform him of his son's death, for fear of the effects it would have on his health.
"We just want this (Iraq war) to stop," said Geonnotti between sobs. "He was too young. This is an adult war over there."
His family had been trying to get DJ home because they knew things were taking a turn for the worse with his father.
"He was supposed to come home," Geonnotti said. "We want them all to come home."
DJ lived with his biological mom until he was 3, then lived with his adoptive mother until around age 16. That's when he met Bernadette Bentz, and most recently lived with her and his dad.
The chaplain and officer at Bernadette's door Thursday morning told her that her son was an honorable man and he died for his country. They told her she should be proud, but "proud" is an understatement.
"The only thing I can think about is his body being torn apart," Bentz said. "I knew he didn't go through any pain."
DJ leaves a large family who will endlessly miss him: His mother Lena, his father David Jr, his adoptive mother Kimberly, his stepmother "Bernie," his grandfather David Sr, his sisters Gabrielle 16 and Brianna 12, his Aunt Mary, and his favorite Uncle Robert. He also leaves countless other loved ones and the soldiers he served with.
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The Department of Defense has confirmed 3,565 deaths and the announcement of four 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.
You can read more about each service member at Honor the Fallen and Spread the Word: Iraq-Nam, which is written by our own spread the word IRAQ NAM. Please visit the Iraq Veterans Memorial for a stirring look at how a few of their survivors remember them. It will break your heart.
If you are moved by the continual losses, not to mention those who are wounded physically and mentally by serving - often again and again - please visit anysoldier.com, Operation Helmet, Fisher House and/or my personal favorite: Soldier’s Angels
They have an amazing assortment of things you can do from writing letters to the wounded, sewing blankets that go in the first response backpacks for the wounded, to adopting a soldier. Check our their website if you’d like to lend a hand!
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, American Daughter, blue jersey mom, chacounne, BeninSC, Wee Mama, Just the Facts, and me, worried dem.
If you would like to help out with IGTNT -- even once a month -- please get in touch with silvercedes, Sandy on Signal, noweasels or monkeybiz.
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Thank you so much for being here, and for honoring our fallen by remembering them.