Two US Marine Corps Corporals were killed during a combat mission in the Helmand province of Afghanistan:
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Corporal Michael W. Ouellette
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Corporal Anthony L. Williams
While the IGTNT diaries honor fallen US citizens, our online community often makes mention of others in our world family who have suffered injuries or deaths due to war. Therefore, in solidarity with our neighbors to the north, tonight we will also honor four Canadians who lost their lives recently in Afghanistan's Kandahar province:
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Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli
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Corporal Tyler Crooks
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Trooper Jack Bouthillier
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Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes
Note: the title was changed since the author did not know that the original one (IGTNT - Americans) might be considered to be excluding the Canadians. It was intended to include all who live in North America, but fell short of that.
The deaths took place in neighboring provinces in the southern part of Afghanistan. The Canadians were killed in incidents on March 20th in the Kandahar province. The US Marines were killed in an incident on March 22nd in the Helmand province.
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Corporal Anthony L. Williams
Anthony Williams grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Oxford High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately after graduating in 2006. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Williams was trained as a combat engineer and deployed to Afghanistan in February after serving in Iraq from August 2007 to February 2008.
Corporal Anthony L. Williams died March 22nd, in an IED explosion, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was 21 years old.
According to the Philidelphia Inquirer:
"I had conversations about his intention to join the Marines in his senior year," said David C. Madden, principal of Oxford High School and a former Marine. "He had basic questions - what was boot camp like?"
"What stuck for me was that it [the Marines] seemed to be a passion for him," said Madden, 39, of Oxford. "He knew this is what he wanted to do. Nothing he ever said stays in my mind; it was what he did. I see kids say they will join the Marines and don't do it. He said he was going to join, and he did it. He followed through with his plan."
Madden said he has had conversations with students about the Marines. "I tell kids it was very good for me," he said. "It helped pay for college and my first house. When you join the Marines now, you know you're going overseas, so it's pretty noble for kids to do that nowadays."
Madden said Williams was a "hardworking small-town guy who carried himself in a dignified, mature manner. . . . I find it difficult to accept the fact that he's gone. It's a tough thing."
Williams' military awards included the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
Michael is survived by his parents, Leonard and Donna (Bedard) Ouellette; a sister, Stephanie Ouellette, a brother, Alan Ouellette, and a paternal grandmother, Dora Ouellette. The funeral is planned for this weekend in Oxford, Pennsylvania and the Patriot Guard Riders will be attending.
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Corporal Michael W. Ouellette
Ouellette hailed from Manchester, New Hampshire. In 1999, Ouellette graduated from Memorial High School. The flag in front of the school was at half-staff once news came out that an alumnus had died in the war. New Hampshire Governor, John Lynch, has directed that flags in the state be lowered to half-staff on Monday, March 30, to honor Corporal Ouellette
Ouellette studied landscape-horticulture at the Manchester School of Technology. In June of 2005, he joined the Marine Corps and was trained as an infantryman. He was deployed to Iraq from March 2006 until September 2006 and again from July 2007 to January 2007.
He had just been deployed to Afghanistan this past October. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Corporal Michael W. Ouellette died March 22nd, in an IED explosion, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was 28 years old.
According to an article in the Union Leader:
Nick Moutsioulis, now a Memorial High School teacher who graduated with Ouellette in 1999, recalled when Ouellette helped fix a flat tire on Moutsioulis' car a few years before that -- even though they didn't know each other all that well.
That memory stuck with Moutsioulis, who said Ouellette gave him a hand even when he didn't have to do so.
"I remember his smile. He was a kind-hearted person. He was a kind-hearted kid. Everywhere you'd go, you'd see him smiling," Moutsioulis said.
Ouellette's awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
The Patriot Guard Riders will be attending funeral services for Corporal Michael W. Ouellette in New Hampshire this weekend.
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On March 20th, four Canadian soldiers were killed and eight more were injured in two separate improvised explosive device (IED) explosions in Kandahar province of Afghanistan.
At approximately 6:45 a.m., Kandahar time, two Canadian soldiers were killed and five others were injured when an IED detonated near a dismounted patrol in Zhari District, west of Kandahar City.
Approximately 2 hours later, two more Canadian soldiers were killed and three others were injured when their vehicle struck an IED in Shah Wali Khot district, northeast of Kandahar city.
The soldiers who were injured in the two blasts were evacuated by helicopter to the Role 3 Multi-National Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield. They are all reported to be in good condition.
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Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli
In the first IED incident, Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli was killed. He was from November Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. Master Corporal Vernelli was a member of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
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Corporal Tyler Crooks
Corporal Tyler Crooks was also killed in the first explosion.He was from November Company, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. Corporal Tyler Crooks was a member of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
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Trooper Jack Bouthillier
In the second IED attack, Trooper Jack Bouthillier was killed. He was from the Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. Trooper Bouthillier was a member of The Royal Canadian Dragoons based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
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Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes
Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes was also killed in the second IED attack. He was from the Reconnaissance Squadron, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group. Trooper Hayes was a member of The Royal Canadian Dragoons based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
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The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, issued the following statement on the National Defence and the Canadian Forces site, about the deaths:
"It is with utmost sorrow that I extend my condolences, and those of all Canadians, to the friends, families, and colleagues of Master Corporal Scott Francis Vernelli, Corporal Tyler Crooks, Trooper Jack Bouthillier, and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes, who were killed today in two separate IED attacks in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of grief.
These brave soldiers were participating in a joint operation in Kandahar province during the time of the incidents.
My sympathies also go to the eight other brave soldiers who were injured in the same attacks. We are thinking of you and your families during this difficult time. Our condolences also go to the family of the Afghan interpreter who lost his life in one of the incidents.
These dedicated soldiers were doing their part to ensure that Afghanistan will one day achieve and maintain peace and stability. Their loss was not in vain and Canada and the Canadian Forces are committed to this UN-sanctioned, NATO-led mission.
The Canadian Forces family and Canadians everywhere will remain forever grateful for their sacrifice.
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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 troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which 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. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but 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 me, Sis.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the 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
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