Today, the Department of Defense announced two more casualties in Iraq: one from an IED and one classified as non-combat related casualty. Both men were from Texas. There have been 398 Texans killed in the Iraq War, and there are over 2947 injuries.
Since 2003, there have been 4185 Americans killed in Iraq. 615 Americans have died in Afghanistan. According to the Iraq Casualties Count, 160 died of self-inflicted wounds while serving in Iraq. There are over 30,702 troops injured in the war in Iraq.
Please take a moment to read and remember our nation's fallen.
DoD Announces Army Fatality
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Reuben M. Fernandez III, 22, of Abilene, Texas, died on Oct. 11 of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Majar Al Kabir, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Fernandez's mother, spoke with the Abilene television station about her courageous and kind son. She told of how he made an impact on his fellow troops, the community and his family. He was a great guy, loving and thoughtful.
Fernandez's grandfather, Ruben Fernandez, spoke to the Abilene Reporter News about his grandson:
“He just about loved everybody,” Fernandez Sr. said.
The elder Fernandez said he last saw his grandson about five months ago before he was deployed to Iraq in June.
Among the awards and decorations Fernandez received are the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
Fernandez's father was killed in an automobile wreck in 2006. My heart goes out to the Fernandez family, his unit and the people of Abilene, Texas.
DoD announces Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Geoffrey G. Johnson, 28, of Lubbock, Texas, died on Oct. 12 of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
The incident is under investigation.
Spc. Johnson is remembered for being a kind and funny man. He leaves behind a widow and four young children. His neighbor who spoke with the Lubbock paper said he was devoted to his family. She added:
"It's a real tragedy," said friend Laura Trefethen. "He was a really great guy."
Johnson left behind four young children and a wife.
"He was very devoted to his family, a really great father," Trefethen said.
Johnson graduated from Frenship High School in 1998, she said. He went on to join the Army in August 2006 as a terrain data specialist.
He deployed to Iraq in November 2007, Fort Hood officials said.
The family has not spoken to the media at this time. My deepest sympathy to his widow and children.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, moneysmith, labwitchy, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Media Prof, Pager and me, Sandy on Signal. .
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.