Tonight we honor four more courageous young Americans who were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pfc. Mykel F. Miller, 19, of Phoenix, Arizona.
Pfc. Miller died Sept. 6 in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona Army National Guard Phoenix.
Pfc. Miller "epitomized everything good and honorable about being an American and a citizen soldier."
With only days left before his homecoming, Mykel "Myke" Miller was looking forward to riding his new motorcycle.
But Miller, 19, of Phoenix, an Army National Guard private first class, died Thursday in Afghanistan from injuries sustained in combat.
"Myke was a good kid," said neighbor John Laulis, 45. "He wasn't one of those young guys who didn't have time for you."
While the two men had a near 30-year age gap, they shared a love for motorcycles.
"I've known him since he was 11," Laulis said. "He spent a lot of time in my garage talking about motorcycles." Laulis said Miller, who attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, sent money to his roommate this summer to purchase the new bike.
"He wanted one really bad," Laulis said.
Miller's family released a statement through the Guard saying, "Mykel was very proud to serve his country."
Source ~ The Arizona Republic
"This young man epitomized everything good and honorable about being an American and a citizen soldier," Army Maj. Gen. David P. Rataczak said in a prepared statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of Private First Class Miller."
Miller’s family has requested privacy as they mourn. Funeral arrangements have not been set.
Source ~ East Valley Tribune
Photo of Pfc. Miller with his mother and stepfather.
(Photo ~ courtesy The National Guard)
Guestbook.
Pfc. Miller is survived by his mother, stepfather, and two younger stepbrothers.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother.
Henry V: IV:iii
The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations Sept. 6 in Mosul, Iraq. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Sgt. Lee C. Wilson, 30, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Sgt. Wilson died Sept. 6 in Mosul.
Sgt. Wilson was a very private person who enjoyed cross-country skiing with his dog.
Sobs could be heard over the phone Saturday at the Wilson home in Chapel Hill. Wilson served at Fort Hood, Fort Polk, La., and Fort Knox, Ky., before he was sent to Fort Bliss.
"He died in an unjust war," said Lee Wilson, the soldier's father.
"In all honesty, I don't know if there was one incident (that I remember most about him), and if I did, I don't know if it is something that should be shared," the elder Wilson said.
"He was a very private person, so I think that is probably the best way to keep it."
Source ~ El Paso Times
Lee E. Wilson said his son, Lee C. Wilson, looked forward to a two-week beach trip when he returned to the United States after more than a year in Iraq.
Christian, as the family called the younger Wilson, won't get to take that trip.
(snip)
"We always talked about what he was going to do when he got out," the elder Wilson said late Saturday night. "He didn't want to be there."
The elder Wilson said his son, who attended Chapel Hill High School, spent a few years doing security before joining the Army.
"He always liked to be outside," Wilson said. "He'd been thinking about the Army."
Christian Wilson enlisted Jan. 3, 2001.
(snip)
He was in the middle of his fourth deployment, which started in October, his father said.
(snip)
Lee Wilson said Christian was mostly a loner who relished outdoor activities. And he loved cold weather.
"He used to take our dog and go cross-country skiing," Lee Wilson said.
Source ~ News & Observer
Sgt. Wilson is survived by his father, his mother, Penny Wilson, and his sister, Leia Wilson, all of Chapel Hill.
Sgt. Wilson was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.
Spc. Jason J. Hernandez, 21, of Streetsboro, Ohio
Spc. Hernandez died Sept. 7, his 21st birthday, in Mosul.
Spc. Hernandez married his high school sweetheart last October.
Army veteran John Hernandez stood tall outside his Streetsboro home, aging flags hanging at half staff in honor of his son, who died Friday while serving in Iraq.
(snip)
The father was working in a Pennsylvania oil field Friday morning when he learned of his son's death. Jason Hernandez had just passed his second anniversary with the Army . . . .
(snip)
John Hernandez said he encouraged his son to set goals to achieve success in life. The Army happened to become his son's destination.
"It was his choice. I didn't push him. He knew what he was getting into," he said. "And as far as I'm concerned, he's still with us, he's still an Army soldier, who paid the ultimate price."
Hernandez, a 2005 Streetsboro High School graduate, echoed much of his father's words in a video he made for the Army in February.
(snip)
"I know it's going to make me more of a man with the warrior ethos, loyalty, duty and respect," he says on the video. "It teaches you fundamentals of how to live and be responsible."
(snip)
The soldier said his decision to enlist was made easier because "people need us. Not just in our country. There are people who are being oppressed, and we are the nation that stops people from being oppressed."
He adds, "My dad supported me a lot. My mom (Uta Hernandez) supported it somewhat. She didn't want me to leave. My friends thought it was cool," he said.
Jason Hernandez was a wrestler and football player in his school years.
(snip)
His younger brother, 15-year-old sophomore Aaron Hernandez, planned to play in Streetsboro High's varsity football game Friday night against Crestwood. School officials canceled a pep rally for the team after learning of the soldier's death.
(snip)
School officials asked students to stand for a moment of silence about 10 a.m. Friday, and grief counselors were made available to students in need.
(snip)
Hernandez was "so excited to go into the military" throughout his senior year that the military "was all he talked about," (Principal Jim) Montaquila said.
He was, his friend Brett McClafferty said, the prototypical soldier.
(snip)
"I was really proud of him when he came back,'' (communications teacher Bob) Long said. ''He was looking good, all dressed up in his Army uniform. You just flashed back to the little kid who came in as a freshman, and (thought) 'Look at him now. He's out there defending our country."
Source ~ Akron Beacon Journal
(Photo from the U.S. Army)
Guestbook.
Spc. Hernandez is survived by his wife, Alisha Brecht, a Ravenna, Ohio, native; his parents, Uta and John Hernandez; a sister and a brother.
Spc. Hernandez was awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.
Spc. Thomas L. Hilbert, 20, of Venus, Texas
Spc. Hilbert died Sept. 7 in Mosul.
Sgt. Hilbert was very proud to be a cavalry scout.
Sgt. Hilbert (recently) booked two hotel rooms in Las Vegas for his family to celebrate his return and 21st birthday in January.
"We were very close," said BillieJo Alexander, Hilbert's older
sister. "He loved to have fun. He was very laid-back, and he wanted to make something of himself, something he could be proud of. He was my sidekick. I was supposed to be the one to protect him."
Theresa and Tom Hilbert said they want their son to be remembered as an American soldier and a hero who loved the military.
(snip)
"He was talking about re-enlisting," said Alexander, one of two sisters. "He was very proud to be a cavalry scout. We tried to talk him into changing his (military occupational specialty), and he said no. He was a scout, first in and last out. No matter what they say about the Marines, cavalry scouts are always the first in."
"We may not have always agreed with his decision, but it was his war and he was going to fight it," she said. "He was a hero. They all were."
Source ~ El Paso Times
(This photo of Spc. Hilbert was taken two weeks before he was killed.)
Spc. Hilbert is survived by his parents and two sisters.
Spc. Hilbert was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Family members told the El Paso Times that he will also receive a medal for good conduct and an Iraqi campaign medal and that he had been laterally appointed from specialist to corporal. Spc. Hilbert was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart posthumously.
Guestbook.
Grim News Eight more young Americans were killed in Iraq late yesterday and earlier today. Source ~ CNN
To date, 3771 members of the United States military have lost their lives in Iraq. Of these, 88 have been women. The death toll thus far for September is 29. More than 30,000 men and women have been wounded, and 118 have taken their own lives. All of the fatalities can be seen here. The Department of Defense Press Releases, from which the information at the start of each entry in this diary was drawn, can be seen here. The death toll among Iraqis is unknown, but is at least in the tens of thousands.
Other sites have stories, video, pictures and remembrances, including: Honor the Fallen and Spread the Word: Iraq-Nam, which is maintained by kossack spread the word Iraq Nam.
If you want to do something to assist our military and their families, please visit anysoldier.com or Fisher House. If you have frequent flyer miles you would like to donate to hospitalized veterans or their families, please see Fisher House’s Hero Miles program. Finally, if you would like to assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here.
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 currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, silvercedes, MsWings, greenies, American Daughter, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, Wee Mama, twilight falling, labwitchy, moneysmith, joyful, roses, SisTwo and me, noweasels. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them. If you would like to volunteer, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, silvercedes or me, noweasels.
As you read this diary, please consider that the families and friends of the courageous soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and National Guard profiled here tonight may read it, too. The IGTNT diaries are for remembrance, whatever our political feelings about the war and occupation.
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