Daddy's Little Girl
If I had my life to do over,
I'd have chosen you to be my dad
once more.
Even if it meant losing you again,
It's worth all the tears in the
world.
You were my sunshine when skies
were gray.
I loved you and honored you;
You took all my tears away.
I was happy to be with you,
Proud to be your little girl.
Sometimes we would argue,
But to me you meant the world.
Your love was always pure;
You treated me as your own.
Your time seemed all too short and
I feel so alone.
What can I take from this?
My heart is completely crushed.
But nothing loved is ever lost -
And you are loved so much.
By "Punkin"
Today we honor and reflect on the lives of two more extraordinary men who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and whose lights will shine forever in the hearts of their loved ones, especially in the hearts of 6 special children:
Master Sgt. Randy J. Gillespie and
Sgt. Eric Lill.
From the
Department of Defense:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Master Sgt. Randy J. Gillespie, 44, of Coaldale, Colo., died July 9, in Herat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered during small arms fire outside of Camp Stone. He was assigned to the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
He Touched Every One of Us With His Life
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Randy Gillespie, 44, died Monday of wounds suffered in a small-arms encounter in Afghanistan while on his 16th tour of duty, including multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He had served at Luke Air Force Base for seven years, assigned to the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron. And he was the kind of person who always stepped up so someone else wouldn’t have to.
You can see a picture of this hero here.
UPDATE: Thank you to operculum for pointing out MSgt. Gillespie's anysoldier page. It speaks for itself.
He lived near Phoenix with his wife, Lisa, three sons, Cory, 19; Chris, 17; and Ethan 10; as well as a daughter Amanda, age 6, who he and Lisa had adopted last December. She had been abused by her biological father. According to his brother Roger, MSgt. Gillespie never met Amanda’s father but wished he had, just so he could tell him how much he loved her.
"He left with kind of a heavy heart because he wanted to be with her, I know that every time she called him, she told him daddy come home," Roger said.
And while he will never come home, the Gillespies know their hero will never be far.
"He'll always be with us, we know where he is, he's in a better place."
MSgt. Gillespie served 24 years in the Air Force and was planning on retiring when he returned from Afghanistan next April. He was there teaching the Afghan National Army fuels procedures. He demonstrated such care for the Afghan forces that they called him "Brother." The commander of Luke AFB, Brig. Gen. TOM JONES expressedthe feelings of the entire base:
He was an outstanding senior NCO and friend to many people here. The deep sense of sorrow we feel here at Luke serves as a reminder of the sacrifices borne by the men and women of our Armed Forces. MSgt Gillespie will be remembered as a tremendous husband and father, patriot, warrior, and a proud American who volunteered to serve in his nation’s Air Force. He served with courage and commitment and believed in duty, honor and country. I ask that you please keep MSgt. Gillespie and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
What more can you say about a 24-year Air Force veteran who not only volunteered for the deployment, he also demanded it? According to Chief Master Sgt. Mike Smith, MSgt. Gillespie's supervisor at Luke he knew his career was winding down but he wanted to do one more thing to make a difference.
Exceptional human being that he was, he demonstrated his passion for making a difference in everything he did: by helping people out - whether it was repairing the church bus, mentoring his fellow service members or handing out candy and shoes to Afghan children, according to his family. One boy he helped may have reminded him of one of his own sons.
...he met a young Afghani boy who walked around town barefoot.
When MSgt. Gillespie offered to have his family send him a pair of shoes, the boy vehemently refused, because, he was afraid he would be killed by militants if they saw him wearing the shoes.
Determined to help in any way possible, MSgt. Gillespie instead snuck the boy chocolate bars.
"He touched every one of us with his life," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Jablonowski, who credited MSgt. Gillespie with guiding his career. "He was one who walked the walk that he talked. . . . He had your back no matter what."
MSgt. Gillespie grew up in Colorado Springs with three brothers, Rick, Ron, and Roger, relocating to Coaldale, about 80 miles east of Pueblo, when he was in seventh grade. He graduated from Cotopaxi Consolidated School and enlisted with the Air Force. MSgt. Gillespie’s family has a long tradition of military service, dating to the Civil War when ancestors served with the Union and the Confederacy.
"We’ve had family in many, many wars," [his brother] Rick Gillespie, also of Pueblo, said Wednesday. "This time it was our turn, it was our turn to pay the price. I wish I could take his place."
All their sons were close to their father, Lisa Gillespie, 43, said. The couple had just celebrated their birthdays and wedding anniversary - all fell on the same day, June 23.
"He was more than just a provider," she said, calling him a "hands on" husband and father who always made time for his family.
"He was full of love, he was full of life. The military lost a good guy, but I guess God was ready for him," said his mother, JoAnn Gillespie, who lives in Pueblo, Colorado. "He was a wonderful husband, a wonderful dad and a wonderful son." Mrs. Gillespie was so proud of her son. You can see her interviewed for a KKTV news storyhere. Please be patient during the Mazda commercial.
In addition to his wife Lisa and 4 children, he is survived by his brothers, who reside in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas; his mother, Jo Ann, of Pueblo; and his father, Edwin, of Coaldale. My deepest condolences to them for their monumental loss.
Go gently into eternal rest, MSgt. Randy Gillespie. The generosity of your spirit will live in forever in the many lives you touched.
The following sources were used for MSgt. Gillespie’s tribute: here and here.
From the Department of Defense:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Eric A. Lill, 28, of Chicago, died July 6 in Rustamiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
He Called his Grandmother Every Saturday
After initially getting rejected by the Army in October 2001, Sgt. Lill wanted to join the military so badly that he lost more than 40 pounds in just four months to make the qualifications. On his second tour of duty, he lost his life to a roadside bomb on July 6, joining a long list of casualties from Fort Carson, Colorado. He had re-enlisted to support his young son and daughter.
You can see a picture of this hero here.
"He really had his heart set and his mind set on being a soldier," his father Anthony Lill said.
He was a devoted father of his son Cody, age 6, and his daughter Mikayla, age 4, who lived with their mother (who he had recently divorced) in western Illinois. He had transferred to Fort Carson from Germany to be closer to them.
A Chicago native, Sgt. Lill graduated from St. Lawrence High School in Burbank, Ill., in 1997 and went to Marshall University in Huntington, W.V. in 1998, where he played hockey. His father said he didn't know what prompted his son to join the military, but it may have been because of his generous nature.
Sgt. Lill would call or e-mail his parents, children and grandmother at least once a week from Iraq, telling them it was boring, most likely because he didn’t want them to worry. He last spoke with his father on June 30.
Sgt. Lill was Marlene Alvarado’s oldest grandson, and best bud who made sure to call her every Saturday, even from Iraq.
"He wanted to fight for the country," Alvarado said. "He left February 12, 2002. I'm mad. I think it’s senseless innocent people are getting killed."
Sgt. Lill’s family said he was due to be discharged in January and had hoped to serve and protect at home by becoming a police officer. Lill’s parents live in Tennessee but his funeral will in Chicago.
His family plans to bury him in Chicago. In addition to his father and grandmother, Sgt. Lill is also survived by his mother, Charmaine Lill, of Lawrenceburg, a sister, Kortney Lill, of Lawrenceburg, and his maternal grandparents, John and Marlene Alvarado, of Chicago.
Go gently into eternal rest, Sgt. Eric Lill. Your devotion and determination will forever sustain those you’ve left behind.
The following sources were used for Sgt. Lill's tribute: here and here.
Please take a moment to honor the memories of Master Sgt. Randy Gillespie and Sgt. Eric Lill, as well as too many others who have passed through this world much too quickly in service to their country.
You can do that by viewing the stories and remembrances of these heroes at sites such as Iraq Veterans Memorial, Honor the Fallen and Spread the Word: Iraq-Nam
Regarding Iraq, the Department of Defense has confirmed 3,609 deaths and the announcement of 2 more deaths is expected, pending notification of the next of kin, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. 412 American troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
To support our military service members and veterans, please see AnySoldier.com and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
About the IGTNT series:
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 is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, silvercedes, MsWings, blue jersey mom, chacounne, Worried Dem, twilight falling, Wee Mama, sheddhead, moneysmith, labwitchy and me, greenies.
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.
Special thanks to twilight falling for providing much of the research for this diary.
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