Tonight, we light a candle of memory against the darkness of grief and loss. We remember.
This retrospective, the second of two, is a compilation of 2009's "I Got the News Today" diaries, tributes to American service members who died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When you click on the links, you'll find their stories--the details that their teachers and friends remember, the last phone calls home to parents, their MySpace messages to loved ones. These are not numbers or abstractions. They were husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, parents, children, friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters in arms. Their lives mattered.
If you are new to the series, please click on a date and read about a few of these lives. If you have been with us this year, please know how much your presence, witnessing and condolences mean. To the team--a special thank you for your constant and compassionate efforts. To the families and friends who may read this--we have not forgotten your loved one.
As in other years, we have chosen "We Remember Them," by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer, to help us reflect on these losses. Thank you for being here tonight to remember.
This is part 2 of this diary. Please also visit Part 1.
| | At the rising of the sun and at its going down We remember them. |
July
1 Pfc. Peter K. Cross, 20, of Saginaw, Texas; Pfc. Steven T. Drees, 19, of Peshtigo, Wis.
2 Sgt. Terry J. Lynch, 22, of Shepherd, Mont.; Staff Sgt. Timothy A. David, 28, of Gladwin, Mich.
5 Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, 39, of Wilmington, N.C.; Sgt. Roger L. Adams Jr., 36, of Jacksonville, N.C.; Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30, of Newport, N.C.; Spc. Robert L. Bittiker, 39, of Jacksonville, N.C.
8 Pfc. Justin A. Casillas, 19, of Dunnigan, Calif. ; Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn, 20, of Aberdeen, Wash.; Lance Cpl. Charles S. Sharp, 20, of Adairsville, Ga.
9 Petty Officer Second Class Tony Michael Randolph, 22, of Henryetta, OK
10 2nd Lt. Derwin I. Williams, 41, of Glenwood, Ill.; Sgt. Brock H. Chavers, 25, of Bulloch, Ga.; Spc. Chester W. Hosford, 35, of Hastings, Minn.; Spc. Issac L. Johnson, 24, of Columbus, Ga.
11 Spc. Christopher M. Talbert, 24, of Galesburg, Illinois; Pfc. Nicolas H. J. Gideon, 20, of Murrieta, California; Capt. Mark A. Garner, 30, of Elkin, North Carolina; Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Darren Ethan Tate, 21, of Canyon, Texas
13 Spc. Joshua R. Farris, 22, of La Grange, Texas
15 Cpl. Matthew R. Lembke, 22, of Tualatin, Ore.
Corporal Matthew Lembke was badly injured in Afghanistan, but survived long enough to be transfered to Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland. His family was able to be with him and say their goodbyes thanks to exceptional efforts of his buddies and the medics in the field.
16 Lance Cpl. Pedro A. Barbozaflores, 27, of Glendale, Calif.; Master Sgt. Jerome D. Hatfield, 36, of Axton, Va.; Staff Sgt. Eric J. Lindstrom, 27, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; Chief Warrant Officer Rodney A. Jarvis, 34, of Akron, Ohio
20 Spc. Daniel P. Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Minn.; Spc. James D. Wertish, 20, of Olivia, Minn.; Spc. Carlos E. Wilcox IV, 27, of Cottage Grove, Minn.
21 Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minnesota; Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Sgt. 1st Class Jason J. Fabrizi, 29, of Seffner, Fla.; Sgt. Michael C. Roy, 25, of North Fort Myers, Fla.; Pfc. Lucas M. Bregg, 19, of Wright City, Mo.; Spc. Gregory J. Missman, 36, of Batavia, Ohio; Lance Cpl. Roger G. Hager, 20, of Gibsonville, N.C.; Master Sgt. John E. Hayes, 36, of Middleburg, Fla.
22 Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas; Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp, 21, of Rosemount, Minn.; Army Reserve Lt. Col. Raymond Trejo Rivas
24 Sgt. Gregory Owens Jr., 24, of Garland, Texas; Spc. Anthony M. Lightfoot, 20, of Riverdale, Ga. ; Spc. Andrew J. Roughton, 21, of Houston, Texas; Pfc. Dennis J. Pratt, 34, of Duncan, Okla.
27 Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Lance Cpl. Jeremy S. Lasher, 27, of Oneida, N.Y.; Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos, 21, of Yarmouth Port, Mass.
30 Spc. Justin D. Coleman, 21, of Spring Hill, Fla.; Pfc. Donald W. Vincent, 26, of Gainesville, Fla.; Spc. Herberth A. Berrios-Campos, 21, of Bealeton, Va.
| | At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter We remember them. |
August
3 Lance Cpl. Gregory A. Posey, 22, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Lance Cpl. Jonathan F. Stroud, 20, of Cashion, Okla.; Chief Warrant Officer Douglas M. Vose III, 38, of Concrete, Wash.; Pvt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, Ill.
5 Staff Sgt. Johnny Roosevelt Polk, 39, of Gulfport, Miss.; Spc. Alexander J. Miller, 21, of Clermont, Fla.; Cpl. Jonathan M. Walls, 27, of West Lawn, Pa.
6 Capt. Ronald G. Luce Jr., 27, of Fayetteville, N.C.; Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Granado, 42, of Fairfax, Va.; and Sgt. 1st Class Severin W. Summers III, 43, of Bentonia, Miss.
7 Pvt. Patrick S. Fitzgibbon, 19, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Pfc. Richard K. Jones, 21, of Roxboro, N.C.; and Pvt. Keiffer P. Wilhelm, 19, of Plymouth, Ohio
8 Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia, 21, of Tyndall, Fla.
10 Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine, 22, of Farmingdale, N.Y.; Lance Cpl. Travis T. Babine, 20, of San Antonio, Texas; Cpl. Christian A. Guzman Rivera, 21, of Homestead, Fla.; and Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins, 24, of Paris, Texas
12 Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Burrow, 23, of Naples, Fla.; Lance Cpl. Patrick W. Schimmel, 21, of Winfield, Mo.; Lance Cpl. Javier Olvera, 20, of Palmdale, Calif.; Sgt. Jerry R. Evans Jr., 23, of Eufaula, Ala.; Spc. Matthew K.S. Swanson, 20, of Lake Forest, Calif.; and Staff Sgt. Tara J. Smith, 33, of Nashville, N.C.
14 Lance Cpl. Bruce E. Ferrell, Jr., 21, of Perdido, Ala
17 Capt. John Tinsley of Tallahassee, Fla. and Spc. Richard A. Walters Jr. of Cleveland, Ohio
19 Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, 21, of New Portland, Maine and Cpl. Nicholas R. Roush, 22, of Middleville, Mich.
20 Sgt. William J. Cahir, 40, of Washington D.C.
Sgt. William Cahir enlisted in the Marines after 9-11, he was 32 at the time. He served two tours of duty in Iraq, and was on his third in Afghanistan when he was shot and killed. He was 40 years old. Besides being a Marine, Bill Cahir was a journalist and an aide under Senator Ted Kennedy. Just days before Ted Kennedy passed away in August, the Senator wrote a condolence note to Rene Brown Cahir. Bill Cahir was a candidate for Congress in PA-05 Democratic primary. He was endorsed by the well-respected Vote Vets group. He lost the Democratic primary to Mark McCracken. In the spring of 2009, Cahir received orders to go to Afghanistan, he was close to getting out for the last time, when he was killed in the Helmand Province. On December 8th, Rene gave birth to twin girls--Caroline and Elizabeth. Sgt. Cahir touched many lives, he will always be remembered and honored.
21 Sgt. 1st Class William B. Woods Jr., 31, of Chesapeake, Va.; Lance Cpl. Leopold F. Damas, 26, of Floral Park, N.Y.; and Gunnery Sgt. Adam F. Benjamin, 34, of Garfield Heights, Ohio
22 Staff Sgt. Clayton P. Bowen, 29, of San Antonio, Texas; Pfc. Morris L. Walker, 23, of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Spc. Matthew D. Hastings, 23, of Claremore, Okla.; and Pfc. William Z. Vanosdol, 23, of Pinson, Ala.
25 1st Sgt. Jose S.N. Crisostomo, 59, of Inarajan, Guam; Spc. Justin R. Pellerin, 21, of Boscawen, N.H.; Pfc. Brian M. Wolverton, 21, of Oak Park, Calif.
26 Sgt. Matthew L. Ingram, 25, of Pearl, Miss.; Spc. Troy O. Tom, 21, of Shiprock, N.M.; and Pfc. Jonathan C. Yanney, 20, of Litchfield, Minn.
27 2nd Lt. Joseph D. Fortin, 22, of St. Johnsbury, Vt. and Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Lobosco, 29, of Somerville, N.J.
29 Spc. Paul E. Dumont, Jr., 23, of Williamsburg, Va.; Cpl. Darby T. Morin, 25, of Victoria, Canada; Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan, 20, of San Clemente, Calif.; Capt. John L. Hallett III, 30, of Concord, Calif.; Capt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30, of Mesa, Ariz.; Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer, 38, of Trenton, Missouri; and Pfc. Dennis M. Williams, 24, of Federal Way, Wash.
30 Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss, 27, of Murray, Utah and Pfc. Matthew E. Wildes, 18, of Hammond, La.
| | At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring We remember them. |
September
2 Staff Sgt. Jason S. Dahlke, 29, of Orlando, Fla; Spc. Abraham S. Wheeler III, 22, of Columbia, S.C; and Pfc. Eric W. Hario, 19, of Monroe, Mich.
3 Lance Cpl. David R. Hall, 31, of Elyria, Ohio
4 Pfc. Jordan M. Brochu, 20, of Cumberland, Maine, Spc. Jonathan D. Welch, 19, of Yorba Linda, Calif., and Spc. Tyler R. Walshe, 21, of Shasta Calif.
7 Staff Sgt. Todd W. Selge, 25, of Burnsville, Minn.; Spc. Jordan M. Shay, 22, of Salisbury, Mass.; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin P. Castiglione, 21, of Howell, Mich.
9 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34, of Dallas, Texas; Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27, of Orlando, Fla.; and Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Baltazar Jr., 19, of San Antonio, Texas
10 Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25, of Snyder, Texas; Sgt. Earl D. Werner, 38, of Mondovi, Wis.; and Pvt. Taylor D. Marks, 19, of Monmouth, Ore.
11 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, of Monroe, Georgia and Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, Texas
12 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25, of Virginia Beach, Va.; Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, Ga.; Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith, 31, of Marion, Ohio; Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31, of Columbus, Ga.; Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, of Riverbank, Calif.; Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons, 20, of Fernley, Nev.; and Pfc. Zachary T. Myers, 21, of Delaware, Ohio
16 Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury, 30, of Bridgeport, W. Va.; Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester N.Y.; Sgt. Tyler A. Juden, 23, of Winfield, Kan.; Spc. Daniel L. Cox, 23, of Parsons, Kan.; and Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, Ill.
17 Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25, of Melrose, Fla. and Sgt. Youvert Loney, 28, of Pohnpei, Micronesia
19 1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26, of Moore, Okla.; Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24, of Carlisle, Pa.; Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C.; and Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22, of River Falls, Ala.
20 Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, Md.; Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree City, Ga.; and Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas
21 Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y.
24 Sgt. David J. Davis, 32, of Mount Airy, Md.; Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, Ohio; Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas, Texas; and Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr., 20, of Denham Springs, La.
26 Pfc. William L. Meredith, 26, of Virginia Beach, Va.
Lee Meredith was extremely proud to serve his country, and he did it with incredible dignity and courage. He served for just over a year in the Army before his death, but he had already earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. That tells you all you need to know about the type of soldier Lee Meredith was.
29 Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, 24, of Yonkers, N.Y.; Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds, 23, of Columbus, Ohio; Sgt. Edward B. Smith, 30, of Homestead, Fla.; and Spc. Joseph V. White, 21, of Bellevue, Wash.
| | At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer We remember them. |
October
1 Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, of Benton, Ky.
2 Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24, of Frederick, Md. and Spc. Ross E. Vogel, III, 27, of Red Lion, Pa.
3 Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, of Markham, Ill.; Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26, of Bethany, Okla.; and Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31, of Milledgeville, Ga.
5 Sgt. Ryan C. Adams, 26 of Rhinelander, Wisc. and Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr., 22 of Murfreesboro, Tenn.
7 Capt. Benjamin A. Sklaver, 32, of Medford, Mass.; Pfc. Alan H. Newton Jr., 26, of Asheboro, N.C.; Staff Sgt. Thomas D. Rabjohn, 39, of Litchfield Park, Ariz.; and Spc. Paul E. Andersen, 49, of Dowagiac, Mich.
8 Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Maj. Tad T. Hervas, 48, of Grand Rapids, Minn.
10 Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 of Savannah, Ga.; Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Arizona; Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, Ca.; Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine; Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, of Villas, N.J.; Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Mich.; Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, Va.; and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, of Reno, Nevada
11 Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
13 Sgt. Roberto D. Sanchez, 24 of Satellite Beach, Fla. and Pfc. Brandon A. Owens, 21, of Memphis, Tenn.
14 Spc. George W. Cauley, 24, of Walker, Minn.
15 Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor, 27, of Bovey, Minn. and Lance Cpl. Alfonso Ochoa Jr., 20, of Armona, Calif.
19 Sgt. Christopher M. Rudzinski, 28, of Rantoul, Ill.
Sgt. Rudzinski was a native of Rantoul, IL. Christopher came from a military family; his father served in Vietnam, and his brother is also a member of the Army. He was killed by an IED while serving in Afghanistan. He had already served two tours in Iraq and a tour of duty in Kosovo. He left behind a wife and a one-year-old son.
22 Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison, Jr., 34, of Blairsville, Pa.; Spc. Jesus O. Flores, Jr., 28, of La Mirada, Calif.; Spc. Daniel C. Lawson, 33, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, 19, of Lancaster, Pa.; and Spc. Michael A. Dahl Jr., 23, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
23 Lance Cpl. David R. Baker, 22, of Painesville, Ohio and Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, 26, of Mission, Texas
24 Specialist Kyle A. Coumas, 22, of Lockeford, Ca.
25 Staff Sgt. Chris N. Staats, 32, of Fredericksburg, Texas; Spc. Anthony G. Green, 28, of Matthews, N.C.; and Pfc. Daniel J. Rivera, 22, of Rochester, N.Y.
28 Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 25, of Tampa, Fla. and Pfc. Kimble A. Han, 30, of Lehi, Utah
29 Sgt. Eduviges G. Wolf, 24, of Hawthorne, Calif.; Cpl. Gregory M.W. Fleury, 23, of Anchorage, Alaska; Capt. Eric A. Jones, 29, of Westchester, N.Y.;
30 Maj. David L. Audo, 35, of Saint Joseph, Ill. and Pfc. Devin J. Michel, 19, of Stockton, Ill.; Capt. David S. Mitchell, 30, of Loveland, Ohio; and Capt. Kyle R. Van De Giesen, 29, of North Attleboro, Mass.
31 Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, N.Y.; Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind.; and Sgt. Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, Texas
31 Sgt. Issac B. Jackson, 27, of Plattsburg, Mo.; Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, 24, of Broussard, La.; Spc. Jared D. Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, Ill.; and Pfc. Christopher Ian Walz, 25, of Vancouver, Wa.
| | At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn We remember them. |
November
1 Spc. Joseph L. Gallegos, 39, of Questa, N.M. and Spc. Robert K. Charlton, 22, of Malden, Mo.
From diarist CalNM, who knew Spc. Gallegos:
The war came home to the small village of Questa, New Mexico, when we got the dreaded news that hometown Hero Joey Gallegos died in Iraq where he was deployed with the New Mexico National Guard. Joey was assigned as a light-wheel vehicle mechanic with the 720th 2-6, but his actual duty in Iraq was to provide Convoy Security as a machine-gunner, manning the turret. Earlier he served in the US Army. Our community depended on Joey as a Forest Service wildland firefighter, Engine 7 member, and EMT first responder with the Questa Volunteer Fire Department, where he was training to become a paramedic. He will be missed.
In 2007 Joey Gallegos was honored with a US Marshall escort into Washington, DC, where he received one of the highest awards in the Forest Service, the Chief's Honor Award, for Emergency Response. He had pulled a man from a burning vehicle seconds before it exploded. Joey suffered burns and scars on his hands and face, risking his own life to save a stranger in need.
Spc. Gallegos was a caring friend a big brother to everybody, he will always be honored and remembered.
2 Pfc. Brian R. Bates, Jr., 20, of Gretna, La.; Frank R. Walker, 66, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, 24, of Terrell, Texas; Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez, 23, of Reno, Nev.; Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery, 36, of Savannah, Ga.; and Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, 40, of Spokane, Wash.
4 Pfc. Lukas C. Hopper, 20, of Merced, Calif.; Spc. Adrian L. Avila, 19, of Opelika, Ala.; and Spc. Christopher M. Cooper, 28, of Oceanside, Calif.
5 Sgt. Cesar B. Ruiz, 26, of San Antonio, Texas and Spc. Jonathon M. Sylvestre, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
8 Spc. Julian L. Berisford, 25, of Benwood, Wv. and Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador, 29, of Albany, New York
11 Spc. Tony Carrasco Jr., 25, of Berino, N.M.; Spc. Aaron S. Aamot, 22, of Custer, Wash.; and Spc. Gary L. Gooch Jr., 22, of Ocala, Fla.
11 Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. She was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.; Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va.; Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, of San Diego, Ca.; Capt. Russell Seager, 41, of Racine, Wis.; Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, of Plymouth, Ind.; Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis.; Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, of Tillman, Okla.; Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn.; Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19, of West Jordan, Utah; Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22, of Bolinbrook, Ill.; Spc. Kham Xiong, 23, of St. Paul, Minn.; Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago, Ill.; and Chief Warrant Officer Michael Cahill (Ret.), 62, of Cameron, Texas
12 Sgt. Charles I. Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, Md.; Chief Warrant Officer Mathew C. Heffelfinger, 29, of Kimberly, Idaho; and Chief Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott III, 24, of Jacksonville, Fla.
14 Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson, 21, of Anaheim, Calif.
19 Spc. Christopher J. Coffland, 43, of Baltimore, Md.; Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner, 22, of Hico, Texas; and Staff Sgt. Stephen L. Murphy, 36, of Jaffery, N.H.
22 Sgt. Benjamin W. Sherman, 21, of Plymouth, Mass.; Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo.; and U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian M. Patton, 37, of Freeport, Illinois and Nanticoke, Pennsylvania
24 Spc. Joseph M. Lewis, 26, of Terrell, Texas
25 Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand, 20, of Kansas City, Mo.; Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver, 36, of Marysville, Wash.; and Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier, 25, of Saint Joseph, Mich.
26 Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga.; Sgt. James M. Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas; and Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
| | At the beginning of the year and when it ends We remember them. |
December
5 Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla.
7 Sgt. Brandon T. Islip, 23, of Richmond, Va.; Pfc. Michael A. Rogers, 23, of White Sulphur Springs, Montana; and Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Oregon
10 Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., 28, of Chrisman, Ill.
11 Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, 26, of Lake Oswego, Ore.
17 Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn.; Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga.; and Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles, Calif.
Xhacob Latorre joined the Marines "Because I like challenges, I like adventures and I want to defend my country." He fought hard for his country, and he fought hard for his life for four months after being critically wounded in Afghanistan by an IED that cost him both his legs and ultimately, his life. His aunt summed it up best: "He loved with passion his country and is a proud Marine. An amazing and awesome family man. I am honored and blessed to have him as my nephew he is not just my hero his also my angel."
20 Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., 35, of Florence, Ky.
25 Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck, 23, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
26 Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago, Ill. and Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, Pa.
29 Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, Ca. and Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, N.Y.
| | Remember them. |
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.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, twilight falling, joyful, roses, Chacounne, JeNoCo, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, and True Blue Majority. Timroff created the IGTNT logo.
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.