I Got the News Today, August 9, 2007 edition
Tonight we are remembering:
Spc. Justin R. Blackwell, 27, of Paris, Tenn.
Pvt. Jeremy S. Bohannon, 18, of Bon Aqua, Tenn.
Sgt. Jon E. Bonnell Jr., 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa
Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger, 22, of Gainesville, Fla.
From the DoD:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger, 22, of Gainesville, Fla., died Aug. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.
The Agony of an Older Brother
Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger’s older brother Eric was the one who answered the door to the Army casualty officers this past Monday morning, at the family’s home in Gainesville. But because he wasn’t the designated next of kin they couldn’t tell him anything. Chris and Eric’s parents – Richard and Mary were away in Orlando, volunteering at a Paul Newman camp for chronically ill children. Eric Neiberger didn’t get the news for hours.
We learn this from the Gainesville Sun.
"Of course, I assumed the worst," said Eric Neiberger, 23. "But I didn't know for sure until five hours after they came here."
Spc. Neiberger graduated from Gainesville High in 2003. He had been on a 15-month deployment for the past 11 months.
After driving back to Gainesville, Richard and Mary Neiberger drove back to Orlando on Tuesday to break the news to Chris' grandmother. Friends and family members filed into the Neibergers' northwest Gainesville home with casserole dishes and condolences for Chris' three siblings. They remembered a 22-year-old who was deeply empathetic and wickedly funny, and who was truly happy serving in the Army.
And apparently quite the Renaissance man according to his older sister Ami Neiberger-Miller.
Neiberger-Miller, 36, said she was still surprised when her brother, who loved traveling, writing short stories and hanging out at Maude's Classic Cafe in Gainesville, enlisted in the Army after two years at Florida State University.
"I have a picture of him from FSU wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt with hair down to his shoulders," Neiberger-Miller said. "I thought he'd be the first Neiberger to form a branch of the Socialist party, and the Army didn't seem like a great fit with that."
But Chris Neiberger, a strong supporter of women's rights and democratic government, told his family he enlisted to protect those rights for other people.
According to his family, Spc. Neiberger wanted to make the Army a career and talked about seeking an appointment at West Point.
Again from the Gainesville Sun:
"The last time we talked, it seemed that he was really satisfied with his life," Neiberger-Miller said. "I think he was getting tired of being over there, but he felt a tremendous sense of camaraderie with his fellow soldiers, and he really felt like what he was doing over there was making a difference."
Spc. Neiberger last visited home at Christmas. During his visit he spoke to kids in his former Boy Scout troop about his experiences in Iraq.
"The way he talked about it really struck me," said Tim Rogers, Chris Neiberger's former scout master. "He told me that he felt the Iraqi people were really grateful for our help, and that what he was doing over there was important and good."
On Monday night, Rogers said, he had to tell those same scouts that Neiberger had been killed.
You can see a photo of brothers Chris, Eric and Robert Neiberger in their full Boy Scout regalia here
Chris Neiberger will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Trinity United Methodist Church. The Rev. Dan Johnson, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, said he plans to talk about Chris' sense of humor, his kindness and the generosity he showed on church mission trips to orphanages in Mexico and medical facilities in Guatemala and Honduras.
Johnson said he'll include a passage that emphasizes another key value of Chris's:
"There is no greater love than this: When a man lays down his life for his friends."
To the Neiberger family and all of Chris’ friends and brothers-in-arms, your hero has served his final mission. May he rest in peace and may you always feel his wonderful spirit within.
From the
DoD:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Jon E. Bonnell Jr., 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Aug. 7 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
"Grandma, that’s my job."
That’s what Marine Sgt. Bonnell told his grandmother, Donna Bonnell, when she asked him to describe his second tour of duty in Iraq, according to the Des Moines Register:
"He said his job was looking for bombs, and I said that’s very dangerous," Donna Bonnell said. "He said 'Grandma, that’s my job.’ I said 'Watch your back’ and he said 'We all watch everybody’s back.’"
When asked whether her grandson would think himself a hero, Donna Bonnell said it was unlikely.
"I doubt that," she said. "I imagine he thought they were all heroes."
Sgt. Bonnell – known as "JJ" – had hoped to make a career of the military.
According to the
Messenger News where you can see a photo of him, his dad Jon Sr. hopes his son is rememebered for his "hard work and bravery for our country."
‘‘I was very proud of him because I knew that was something he wanted to do,’’ his father said. ‘‘It was a scary thing for me, though.’’
‘‘He’s a hero,’’ said Matt Elsbecker, who was Bonnell’s baseball coach at Fort Dodge Senior High School. ‘‘He’ll always be a hero for what he did.’’
In addition to his grandmother and father, the Marine is survived by his mother, Denise Rork; sisters Sara Bonnell, Brandy Rork and Tasha Rork.
According to the Des Moines Register, Sgt. Bonnell took great pride in his effort to assist victims of the 2005 tsunami in southeast Asia after his first tour in Iraq. He left again on Memorial Day, and while proud, his father wasn’t happy.
"I figured he had done it one time already," Bonnell Sr. said.
Bonnell Jr. picked up where he left off, on bomb detection duty.
"He had made it through doing the one job I wouldn’t want him to do," his father said. "It scared me on the second time, but I’m a proud father knowing he was doing the job he was trained to do: Be a good Marine."
For Sgt. Bonnell’s father, mother, grandmother, sisters, friends, community and unit: Once a Marine. Always a Marine. Semper Fidelis.
From the DoD:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Aug. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire.
They were assigned to the 59th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, and Fort Carson, Colo.
Killed were:
Spc. Justin R. Blackwell, 27, of Paris, Tenn.
Pvt. Jeremy S. Bohannon, 18, of Bon Aqua, Tenn.
Two Tennessee Sons Have Served Their Final Mission
Spc. Justin Blackwell was on his third tour of duty in Iraq. At age 18, Pvt. Bohannon was just nine months into his first enlistment. They’d been in Iraq since July 7.
Spc. Blackwell’s girlfriend and mother of his almost 5-month old son Joshua, Allyson Riggen was interviewed by the Gazette of Colorado Springs:
"He believed very much in what he was doing," she said. "He couldn’t wait to go over there, because he thought he was helping people."
He enlisted in 2000. His father and three brothers also are serving or have served in the military. One of his brothers is stationed at Fort Carson with the 4th Infantry Division.
Spc. Blackwell is also the father of two daughters, 8 and 12, from previous marriages.
This is how he described himself on his MySpace page:
"I've been a soldier in the Army for 7 years. I have 2 beautiful daughters and a brand new baby boy. I also have a good girl whom I love waiting for me back at home who's raising our son. I'm a simple boy from Tennessee who likes country music and playing with my kids. I love you Abby, Mackenzie, and Josh. Daddy misses you all very much and I'll be home with you guys before you know it."
From one of Spc. Blackwell’s brothers:
JUSTIN R BLACKWELL By Vernon Blackwell Brother in Life, Brother in Arms, Brother through Blood, Brother, I'm taking you home, Brother, We'll miss you, Love you, Brother
And this hearbreaking message from Allyson Riggen was left on Spc. Blackwell’s MySpace Page:
This was our song...do you remember looking at me and saying "do I really save you?" You see Justin, you handed me everything I needed in this life to keep me going when you left me behind on this earth. You gave me a son so that I would always have a piece of you no matter where you went. I never thought I'd say these words to the effect of never seeing you again, but I miss you baby I love you so much, and I will keep the promises I made before you left. You believed in me and you can have faith that I will make you proud.
Pvt. Jeremey Bohannon, who had just enlisted in the Army last November. His friend, Alexandria Stull of Waverly, Tenn. Told the Gazette he had plans to become a preacher when he returned from Iraq. He is survived by his parents, older brother and younger sister.
This sad message was left on a forum by a military wife:
Hey everyone. I have not been on here in a very long time, but I wanted to get the word out about this to show my personal resepect to these men. My husband is currently serving his second year tour in Iraq with the Army. He lost both members of his team on Sunday.
These guys were family... as they all are. It just hits close to home when it's someone you know and work so closely with. The names are Pvt. Jeremy Bohannon, and Spc. Justin Blackwell. Please keep their families in your prayers.... They were truly magnificent soldiers. Justin just recently had a new baby girl added to his family and had plans to get married. Jeremy just turned 18 a few months ago. I know that everything happens for a reason... but it's kind of hard to grasp that understanding when something so devastating happens such as this.
Finally I leave you with the words of Pvt. Bohannon from his MySpace page:
"My heroes are the soldiers that have gone before me and died," he wrote. "And the ones that came home."
To the children of Spc. Blackwell, to Allyson Riggen, to the families of Spc. Blackwell and Pvt. Bohannon, and to their Tennessee and Fort Carson communities and families: they were heroes who had the urge to serve others, regardless of the cost. May Spc. Blackwell’s children grow up knowing their Daddy was a hero and the best kind of all because he was theirs and he loved them more than words could say.
Please take a moment to honor the memories of Spc. Justin R. Blackwell, Pvt. Jeremy S. Bohannon, Sgt. Jon E. Bonnell Jr.,Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger, 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 3,679 deaths and the announcement of 5 more deaths is expected, pending notification of the next of kin, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.422 American troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
To support our military service members and veterans, please visit AnySoldier.com and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
they will always be young
they will always be beautiful
they will be in our hearts
they have become part of our souls
we will carry them with us always
and meet in the fullness of time.
(thank you labwitchy)
About the IGTNT series:
IGTNT stands for "I Got the News Today." The phrase most likely refers to the Beatles song, and it is meant to symbolize that terrible knock on the door that any number of families got today, bringing with it the news that a loved one has died. IGTNT 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.
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.
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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