"Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands when all else has fallen."
May the families of both the strong men we honour today feel that love that still stands.
For tonight's diary, Chacounne paid tribute to Specialist Sykes, and the ever wonderful noweasels paid tribute to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richardson.
Specialist Shawn Dante Sykes
A son, grandson and brother who was the anchor of his family and an experienced chief, has lost his life in Iraq when a propane tank exploded in his face and arm. Specialist Shawn Dante Sykes was, according to his mother, everything she could have wanted in a son.
From Portsmouth, Virginia, Spc. Sykes died May 7th at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany as a result of the propane tank explosion on May 5th, at Combat Outpost Crazy Horse, Iraq. He was assigned to the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in Fort Hood, Texas.
Specialist Sykes took responsibility for his family, as the eldest of five siblings and the only boy, telling his two youngest sisters, 7 and 10 years old, that if they did well in school, he would start giving them an allowance. Sykes dreamed of buying a house in Florida where he and his sisters, his mother, and his grandmother could all live together as a family. During his two-week leave from Iraq, his second deployment, in April, the family reveled in simple pleasures, like eating out at restaurants and going bowling. To make sure the family was provided for, Spc. Sykes gave his mother $200 for groceries, $200 to go shopping for herself, bought the family a freezer, and gave gifts to his sisters.
He had helped his mom through a divorce and advised her on education. Truly, this was a young man who felt the weight of responsibility.
When his mom, Marion Cotton, called him after the explosion, Spc.Sykes reassured that he would be fine. He told her to tell, "tell everybody I love them." To Mrs. Cotton he sounded strong. The blow came hard when he died two days later.
To understand who this young man was, look no further than his Myspace page, where he lists his heros: MY MOMMA and Grandma, and where he lists as his occupation: Chef to tha Heart.
As Specialist Sykes also says on his Myspace page:
THA HEART OF A MAN IS NOT SHOWED BY THA THINGS HE SAY ITS SHOWED BY THA THINGS HE DO!
My apologies to the loved ones of Spc. Sykes. The delay in paying tribute to this fine man was a computer glitch which was entirely my fault.
In humble gratitude for his service and yours,
Heather
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky L. Richardson Jr., 33, of Franklin, Missouri
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richardson died June 10 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.
He was the son of a Marine, a husband and a father. He was killed while dismantling bombs in Afghanistan, and he will be buried in the small Missouri town where he grew up.
People living in Sullivan say its been many many years since anyone from the town was killed in battle. Now they must plan a funeral. Rick Richardson Jr. entered the United States Marine Corps in April 1996. He was an explosive ordance disposal technician. He graduated Sullivan high school in 1994.
(snip)
There's no doubt about the roots of his patriotism. A memorial outside city hall honors the fallen from World War II, the Korean War, Viet Nam war and the Persian Gulf War. Now they will celebrate the life and the unwavering courage of Rick Richardson. Jr. The city's Mayor J.T. Hardy speaks for his Administration.
"It's a close knit community where people know each other. People have served in the Marines just as Rick did. The Navy, the Army the Airforce, we all go away, we all serve, we all come back to make our community better, and we're going to miss him. And I just hope that everyone keeps his family in their prayers."
Source ~ KTVI- TV
Heartbreaking video.
Ricky Richardson was a proud Marine.
Family members said on Thursday that Richardson loved his Marines, his wife, son and family and friends back home. Richardson, a 1994 graduate of Sullivan High School, married a Sullivan girl, Jennifer Payne, in 1997 and to that union a son was born, Cole, who is 8 years old.
Richardson was a loving father and husband, but most of all he was a Marine through and through, having reached the rank of CWO2 before giving his life in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He had served in Okinawa, as well as Iraq, Africa and Pakistan.
Richardson was assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. On Thursday, Sullivan Mayor J.T. Hardy ordered all U.S. flags inside the city limits to be flown at half staff.
Source ~ Sullivan Journal.
Sullivan, Missouri is in mourning for their hometown hero.
Sullivan, which sits in both Crawford and Franklin counties, is about 65 miles southwest of St. Louis. The town of around 6,000 has an active VFW post and strong ties to the armed forces, said Mayor J.T. Hardy.
"Our town is a close-knit town," said Hardy, who was in the Navy. "We have a lot of people who join the military."
Richardson was a graduate of Sullivan High and played on the football team, Hardy said.
"We are going to do what we can to pay as much respect to him as we can, both as an individual and a soldier," Hardy said.
Source ~ St. Louis Post Dispatch
Ricky Richardson graduated from Sullivan High School in 1994. This is a photo from his high school yearbook.
Richardson, a graduate of Sullivan High School, joined the Marines two years after graduating in 1996. His specialty was disposing of explosives. During his time in the service, Richardson was deployed eight different times all over the world, and was recently promoted, according to his family.
(snip)
"He was doing what he loved," said family member Theresa Hulsey. "Even when he died he was doing what he loved. Even when he wasn't on tour, when he was home, he was always saying, 'I need to get back over there. There's a lot I could be doing.'"
Source ~ KSDK
Slideshow.
Video.
From the comments to the post at the Sullivan Journal:
I served with Ricky at Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort SC, his dedication to the Marine Corps and his family was recognized by all that knew him. He and I used to joke with each other daily. We even exchanged emails when our favorite football teams didn't do so well. I was devastated to hear of this tragic loss of such a great American, Marine, husband and father. I know he loved his family. My heartfelt sympathies to Jenny, Cole and all of his loved ones. God Bless him and his family.
Source ~ Sullivan Journal.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richardson joined the Marine Corps in 1996. He served as a machine gunner before becoming an explosive ordnance disposal technician, eventually reaching the rank of gunnery sergeant. He was appointed as a warrant officer in 2007 and had deployed to Afghanistan as an EOD officer in February, his sixth combat tour, officials said.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richardson’s personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richardson is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their eight-year-old son, Cole. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Thank you, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky Richardson, Jr. Godspeed. Your mission is done.
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.
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, and JeNoCo.