California has ties to the fallen we honor tonight. However, there are many connections throughout our nation to these fine members of our military.
* Army Sergeant Eduviges G. Wolf - she was from California and her parents still live there
* Marine Corporal Gregory M. W. Fleury - he was from Alaska but was based in California
* Marine Captain David Seth Mitchell - he was from Ohio (his parents are now in North Carolina) but was based in California
* Marine Captain Kyle R. VanDeGiesen - he was from Massachusetts but was based in California
* Marine Captain Eric A. Jones - he was from New York (his parents now live in Massachusetts) but was based in California
The 4 Marines were in the final weeks of deployment on October 26th when their helicopters collided. What caused the crash in the early morning darkness remains under investigation. The Army Sergeant was killed by an insurgent attack on her vehicle on October 25th.
Sergeant Eduviges G. Wolf
Eduviges Preciado was the youngest of four sisters who immigrated with her parents to Southern California from Mexico. Friends called her "Duvi."
Duvi signed up for the Army shortly after graduation from Leuzinger High School in 2003 and was trained as a logistics specialist. She was assigned to Fort Carson's 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
She met her future husband at the Army base in Fort Bragg, Colorado. She later married the Colorado native, Josh Wolf. She was promoted to Sergeant last year and was deployed to Afghanistan in June of this year.
She was an automated logistical specialist who worked to keep the brigade supplied with everything needed to live in the harsh environment of Afghanistan. Her husband is a member of the 4th Infantry Division’s 704th Brigade Support Battalion, based in Fort Carson, Colorado, also. While Josh and Duvi Wolf were serving in Afghanistan, the grandparents, Mike and Sheila Wolf were caring for their two children.
The 704th Brigade Support Battalion of Fort Carson, assumed responsibility of support operations for Task Force Mountain Warrior on June 29th in a transfer of authority ceremony at Forward Operating Base Fenty. They relieved the 201st Brigade Support Battalion of Fort Hood, Texas. Task Force Blacksmith will run support operations through the duration of their 12-month deployment.
Sergeant Eduviges Wolf was in the Kunar province, Afghanistan on October 25th. Insurgents damaged her vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade. She died from her wounds. The Sergeant was 24 years old. California's blog Crimes & Courts quotes someone who knew Wolf quite well:
So whenever we start feeling tired or upset about the little things and want to take a shortcut we should remember Duvi and what she stood for, valued and loved. She was a shining example of the good in this world.
She made all of us who were lucky enough to know her proud. She will forever be in our hearts and her legacy will be carried forward through her daughters Isabel and Valerie.
Wolf's awards include the Army Commendation Medal, 3 Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and an Army Service Ribbon.
Sergeant Eduviges G. Wolf is survived by her husband, Josh, and by their daughters, 1-year-old Valerie, and 3-year-old Isabel. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Corporal Gregory M. W. Fleury
Gregory Fleury was from Anchorage, Alaska. He went to Service High School in Anchorage and was in the orchestra and the Navy JROTC. He graduated in 2005 and enlisted as a Marine shortly after graduation.
Fleury was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169), Marine Aircraft Group 39 from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing which is based at Camp Pendleton, California with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
HMLA-169 served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm 1990-91 and participated in Operation Sea Angel (Bangladesh Flood Relief). HMLA-169 has also been deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Corporal Gregory M. W. Fleury served as a helicopter crew chief on the UH-1 helicopter. His squadron was deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2009. It was part of the 17,000-troop increase of the US forces in Afghanistan which was begun earlier this year.
This photo from Military Photos.net taken in April of 2008 shows Fleury at work last year:
"Providing close air support over Karmah, Iraq, Lance Cpl. Gregory Fleury keeps a watchful eye on the activities below, looking for anything out of the ordinary or suspicious. The UH-1N helicopter or Huey has been flying since the Vietnam era, but with modifications and upgrades, remains a valuable asset to the Marine Corps."
(Photographer: Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hare: 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Fwd) Public Affairs)
In the early morning hours of October 26th, Fluery’s UH-1 and an AH-1 Cobra collided during flight over the southern province of Helmand, Afghanistan. Corporal Fleury was 23 years old at the time of the collision. He died from his injuries.
The News Tribune reported:
"It was hard to accept," said his grandfather, Albert Fleury, who lives in Anchorage. "We hoped against all hope that it wasn't true."
The 23-year-old Service High School graduate already had served two tours of duty in Iraq as a gunner and mechanic aboard combat helicopters before being shipped to Afghanistan, his family said.
"Because of this flare-up in Afghanistan, he accepted that," his grandfather said. "We had to respect his willingness to serve and complete this mission. Some people would have tried to demand that they be let out, that they've already served. But he accepted the extra challenge and responsibility, which is typical of him."
Also killed in the crash were the pilot of the Huey and two co-pilots aboard the Cobra, according to the Department of Defense. All were based out of Camp Pendleton with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is at the end of its deployment. Some members of the unit are already back in California.
Fleury was awarded several military awards, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Fleury's remains will probably arrive in Anchorage on Monday. Alaska’s Governor Sean Parnell ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff today in Fleury's honor.
Plans are being made to have him buried at Fort Richardson’s national cemetery next weekend.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Captain David Seth Mitchell
A native of Loveland, Ohio, David Mitchell was known by his middle name. Seth was a 1997 graduate of Loveland High School. Mitchell was active in football and track and was president of his graduating class. He attended classes at Virginia Tech, and then joined the Marine Corps in 2001.
Mitchell was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California. He was an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter pilot. He had served two tours in Iraq and had been awarded two air medals for flying combat missions.
According to a story in the Cincinnati Enquirer News, Mitchell was voted "Mr. Personality" his senior year and will be missed:
Julie Powers, who teaches math and spent four years working with Mitchell as an adviser to student council, said Mitchell planned on being a pilot from a young age.
"I don’t know exactly what turned him onto that as a young boy," Powers said, "but before he reached grade nine, one thing was on his radar screen, no pun intended."
She said he exemplified the strong leadership demonstrated by the 180-member Class of 1997.
"He was someone who put 110 percent into everything he did, and he did everything," Powers said.
30-year-old Captain David Mitchell died when two helicopters crashed over Afghanistan's Helmand province. The two Marine helicopters - a UH-1 and an AH-1 Cobra - collided in flight before sunrise. Four Marines were killed and two others were wounded. The military said the crash was not the result of hostile gunfire.
The other Marines killed in the collision were Cpl. Gregory M.W. Fleury from Alaska, Capt. Eric A. Jones from New York, and Capt. Kyle R. Van De Giesen from Massachusetts. The three were assigned to the same unit as Mitchell, although he was the only one from HMLA-367.
During his time in the Marines, he received 10 medals and commendations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Captain David Seth Mitchell is survived by his parents and a sibling. There was a vigil in Mitchell's honor at Loveland High School at dusk Tuesday. Funeral arrangements have not been announced, but are expected to be at Arlington.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Captain Kyle R. VanDeGiesen
Kyle VanDeGiesen was the starting quarterback for the Massachusetts North Attleboro football team. He led his team to a state title, finished his studies a semester early, and joined the Marine Corps. He returned in the spring of 1998 to walk with his class at North Attleboro High School.
Van De Giesen went on to St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he became a varsity quarterback, but later quit football to concentrate on his studies. He graduated from St. Anselm College in 2002.
Captain Kyle R. VanDeGiesen had fulfilled his dream of becoming a pilot. While in Afghanistan, the Marine piloted Super Cobra helicopters. He was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.
He had married his wife, Megan, and the two had a little girl. Their second child, a boy, is due very soon. Van De Giesen's death in the crash of two Marine helicopters came just a week before he was set to end his tour, in time for the birth of his second child.
According to Sun Chronicle News site:
"He was a great kid," said Sandy Vandette, a friend. "Our sons played football together. Kyle was the quarterback and Mark was the wide receiver. Kyle was always determined, focused and well liked.
"He always knew he wanted to fly helicopters. It's so sad because he was such a wonderful kid. You hear on the news about people getting killed overseas, and you pray for them, but you never expect it to hit home here in North Attleboro. It's really hard." Town Administrator Mark Fisher volunteered as a trainer with the North Attleboro High School football team when Van De Giesen was the team's quarterback
The 29-year-old is survived by his pregnant wife, Megan and their 18-month-old daughter, Avery. He also leaves his parents Ruth Ann VanDeGiesen and Calvin VanDeGiesen of Franklin; two brothers, Ryan and Christian; and his sister Caitlin.
Funeral arrangements are being planned and should be announced this week.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Captain Eric A. Jones
Eric Jones grew up in Pound Ridge, New York. He graduated from Bedford’s Fox Lane High School in 1999. Jones joined the Marines after graduating in 2004 from Northeastern University, where he was a member of the lacrosse team.
Jones was commissioned in the Marines in August 2004 and promoted to captain in October 2008. He also served two tours in Iraq. He was a Huey helicopter pilot.
He was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.
Captain Eric A. Jones was one of four Marines killed when two US helicopters collided in flight. Jones and the three other Marines were in the Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Jones was a pilot or co-pilot on the revamped, Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey chopper that crashed. The collision appears to have been an accident, but is still being investigated.
Also killed were Capt. David S. Mitchell from Loveland, Ohio; Capt. Kyle R. Van De Glesen from North Attleboro, Mass. and Cpl. Gregory M.W. Fleury from Anchorage, Alaska.
According to the LoHud.com site:
"Eric just loved life," his mother said. "He had a lot of friends, and he was a happy guy. He just made people laugh, and he was very caring."
After high school, he attended Northeastern University, where he continued playing lacrosse, and then began taking private flying lessons. Ever since he was young, Jones had a fascination with flying, which was further stoked when he was 12 and got to go up on a plane with a friend.
"He always wanted to fly, and he wanted to go in the military," his mother said, adding that he chose to fly helicopters because he wanted to be closer to ground troops and provide them air support. "That was his calling."
Modugno said she last saw Jones at a get-together for friends in Pound Ridge a little over a year ago. She remembered hearing about some of his experiences overseas.
"It was really impressive to hear about everything he was doing after high school," she said. "He was an attack helicopter pilot. He was really taking a chance being in that position. You just have to be so proud of him for what he was doing."
During his tenure with the Marines, Captain Jones had been awarded air medals, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service medal and National Defense Service Medal.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but are expected to be held in Massachusetts. Jones' parents said the strength of family and friends has guided them as they plan the funeral of their only son. The support system set up by the Marine Corps has also helped them grieve, they said.
******************************************************************
Helping our troops:
If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or Fisher House. Sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com can provide letters or care packages that make a real difference in a military person's life. To assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here. Also, you could visit:
When our veterans come back home, they need jobs. Look at the programs of Hire Heroes USA and Welcome Back Veterans to see if you can help out. The new KINship Project has also been of help to our veterans and other Kossacks In Need.
About the IGTNT series:
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, and Ministry of Truth. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diaried two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner
|
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.