The IGTNT team works very hard to identify, profile, and pay tribute to every American soldier, sailor, Marine, airman, and Guardsman who falls as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. On rare occasion, however, a report from the Department of Defense comes out late and may be inadvertently missed. Such is the case for the soldier we remember today, Spc. Alexander Rosa Jr. Spc. Rosa fell in Iraq in May, 2007. We deeply regret having missed the report of his passing and are very grateful to DKos members moondance and llbear for bringing Spc. Rosa to our attention.
Although we are remembering Spc. Rosa later than we would have chosen, our respect and gratitude to him and his family are undiminished. We are especially thankful to have the opportunity to pay tribute to this fine man today. Please join us as we remember Alex Rosa Jr.
This diary was co-authored by Chacounne and twilight falling.
Spc. Alexander Rosa Jr., US Army
| | Spc. Alexander Rosa Jr., 22, of Orlando, Fla., died May 25 [2007] in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 293rd Military Police Company, Ft. Stewart, Ga. (Source: Department of Defense) |
Alex Rosa Jr. had everything to live for. He was 22, married 8 months to Melissa, the woman of his dreams, and about to become a father for the first time--to a little girl they had already named Ellie.
When Alex Rosa Jr. realized he was going to be a dad, he purchased baby books and read them into a tape recorder. He wanted his infant daughter to get used to his voice while he was stationed in Iraq.
In Army Spc. Rosa's usual clownlike manner, he brought each book to life. He described what filled the book's pages and made the appropriate noises to tell the whole story, such as a pig's oink.
Those recordings were supposed to be a temporary substitute for the real thing. Now they are his legacy. (Source: IraqNam)
Alex was a native New Yorker, raised in Brooklyn, and a lifelong, avid Mets fan. He loved people, and he loved life.
He lived for the simple things in life: making strangers smile, ice cream, face-painting with his niece, a cold Heineken and yukking it up with friends. The Boone High School graduate was also a music junkie, wearing headphones so often that he snapped a picture of his newborn sporting them too. He was allowed to return for her birth in April [2007].
And Rosa was a man of his word, even in the strangest of situations.
While stationed in Korea, a friend gave him a wooden statue to take with him. She asked him to snap pictures with it when he traveled back to the States. And he did. In the rain. In New York. Out having fun with friends.
"Everywhere he went, he had that damn statue," his aunt said, turning photograph after photograph of the slender figurine. (Source: IraqNam)
Alex and Melissa had their whole lives ahead of them and had planned a wonderful life together. Alex wanted to continue serving his fellow Americans as a member of the police department. They had their beautiful baby girl whom they would raise together. It didn't happen. On May 25, 2007, Alex was killed by an IED in Iraq. His cousin, City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, told The Villager that his death was even more traumatic to his family because, in a horrible twist of fate, Alex's own father had been killed at exactly the same age--22--leaving Alex to grow up fatherless...as little Ellie must now do:
"His father was 22 when he was gunned down in the street — a random act of violence," she said of Rosa. "He was not even 2 years old. He leaves a 2-month-old [daughter]. I just think it’s really unfair for my cousin — she lost her husband at such a young age and now she loses her son. He leaves a little baby who will never know him when [she] grows up."
Mendez said Rosa was doing his third tour in Iraq. She said at the funeral military officials presented a Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal to Rosa's family members.
Alex was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in his beloved Brooklyn on June 4, 2007, with full military honors. The wonderful Patriot Guard Riders were there to help honor him.
More than a year after Alex's death, his family and friends are still posting messages to him in his guest book. Their raw, unbearable grief and suffering are incredibly painful to witness, and in the interests of protecting their privacy, I will not repost most of their writings. But some of these are clearly intended to share Alex with the world and to let the world understand the kind of man it has lost. His mother, Jeannette Rosa, remembers him:
well alex, words cant describe what this has done to me. this is still so like a dream to me. you were a great kid as a little boy. all you wanted was food and love. you got that. plenty of it. you were so very smart, i was always impressed. you were always wise beyond your years. you were a kid who always had my back. you always knew what you wanted, all of your friends would say the same. you were and still are an inspiration to all those who happened to enter your young life. i have heard so many times that you were an angel...i thought so too! you did leave a bright light, a little angel called ellie. we will love her till no end...guarenteed! i will forever miss you my homie. we had a different relationship for a mother and son, and that is my gift. you were a special person to so many. a strong brother, a great loyal friend, a wonderful son and grandson. you are loved by all of us...you just happen to know that too. you really did spread love "THE BROOKLYN WAY!" i cant believe you are gone. i will miss you for the rest of my living years my son. i will forever miss your smile and crazy personality. you were a born leader. your strong conviction made you "ALEXANDER THE GREAT" i love you dearly. you will remain in my heart always, you are a piece if my heart. you are finally with your DAD...tell him i love him too! GODSPEED ALEX!
It took his platoon leader, Sgt. Ben Graham, until this past October to be able to write this tribute:
Alex, I believe that God takes those that are young because they are so very special...special is exactly what you are. Your loss has left a hole in my heart, and only God has made that hole bearable to live with. "You Will Never Be Forgotten" plays so true to me. I wear your name on my memorial bracelet everyday because it not only reminds me of the great soldier, dad to Ellie, husband, and man that you were...but it also reminds me of how valuable life is. In the years you lived, the years I fought in combat right there with you, you have made all of our lives so much better in so many ways. In April 2008 after returning from Iraq, I visited the cemetery where you were buried...how beautiful it was, and to see your place of rest right next to your father brought tears to my eyes. Your Aunt happened to visit there on the exact same day and time I was there, and we were able to talk for a bit about some of the memories you left us with. What a fine family you have my friend. I left you a small Mets medallion by your headstone from not only my girlfriend Carlan and I, but from all of the soldiers that will not be able to make it to Brooklyn to see your resting place. Even though you can see us live everyday, and that you are on our shoulders protecting us daily, please know that you are thought about often...and that you made a difference to all of those you came to know. I love you and miss you buddy.
To Ellie, one day when you are old enough to read, and if you are surfing the internet and happen to find this site and page live on knowing that Your Dad was a Hero and one of the greatest people I ever knew...Strong, Brave, Funny, and Thoughtful. You should live on with your head up high always knowing that you Dad was a great man and loved you more than you will ever be able to fathom.
God Bless You and Your Family!
Rest in peace, Alexander Rosa Jr. May your brave and loyal spirit soar free and be at peace forever, and may your memory be a blessing to those who love you and to all of us for whom you so willingly gave everything you had.
May Alex's family and friends, who are still suffering so much, be granted comfort, healing and peace.
According to icasualties.org, 4,229 service members have fallen in Iraq.
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; 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.
The series was begun by i dunno and is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo and mediaprof. If you would like to participate in writing these tributes, please contact monkeybiz.
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.