The Last Full Measure of Devotion
A grateful nation bows its head in sorrow
And in thanks for guaranteeing our tomorrow
The last full measure of devotion
That's what they gave to the cause
The last full measure of devotion
And though they cannot hear our applause
We honor them forever and keep alive their story
Pay tribute to their lives and give them all the glory
The last full measure of devotion
Beyond the call of duty were their deeds
The last full measure of devotion
They gave themselves to serve the greater need
And for those who did survive
And came back home alive
They join in praise of comrades who were slain
And highly resolved, most highly resolved
That these dead shall not have died in vain
In Loving Memory:
U.S. Army Private Devon J. Harris, 24 of Mesquite, Texas
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I Got The News Today (IGTNT)
This is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos. It's purpose is to provide members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
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Since 2001 we have suffered the loss of 1411 Americans in Afghanistan.
Since 2003 we have suffered the loss of 4429 Americans in Iraq.
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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.
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Pvt Devon J. Harris
Devon died in the Wardak province of Afghanistan on November 27th when he sustained wounds from a rocket-propelled grenade used when insurgents attacked his unit.
Pvt Harris was a combat engineer assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, at Ft. Polk, Louisiana.
Harris graduated from Skyline High School in Dallas and attended Southwestern Christian College in Terrell before joining the Army in August 2009. He was deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010.
His parents said military service was a way for him to pay for the rest of his college education which would help him reach his ultimate goal of becoming a history teacher.
Sorainya Harris must now face Christmas this year without her youngest son, Devon Harris.
"He wanted to make something of himself," she said. "He wanted to be a history teacher and thought that was the best way for him to go."
Devon was a good boy. He was kind. He'd give you the shirt off is back. He would do anything for anybody. He was that type of person.
Devon's brother Christopher Harris said:
I think the job he did, he enjoyed it. Like I said, that was what he always talked about.
He joined the military only last year. But, for years, Harris had served others by volunteering at his church and his school, Skyline High School in Dallas.
Family members said he was a deep, thoughtful man who played the violin for years.
Ashley Harris, Devon's twin sister said:
He was like my best friend, always watched out for me. I trusted him with anything.
Pvt Harris' awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
The Patriot Guard Riders have Devon on their Pending Mission List.
Harris is survived by his mother and father and siblings.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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Army Pvt. Devon J. Harris honored in dignified transfer Nov. 28
(U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)
~ Source
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About the IGTNT series:
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"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, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, and me, JaxDem. 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 diarized 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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POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41
and
Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23
Never forgotten - please keep good thoughts and prayers for these two men.
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Retroactive Stop Loss Benefits submission deadline extended to December 3rd. Details available here.
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Helping Our Troops
There would be no finer way to honor the fallen than to contribute to programs that assist our active duty military. Here are a few suggestions:
Any Soldier - provides "contacts" for you to send greetings, care packages, etc. to any Soldier, Airman, Marine, Sailor or Coast Guardman.
Books for Soldiers - purchases and ships books to our troops deployed in war zones.
Fisher House - Provides a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitilization for an illness, disease or injury.
Guardian Angels for Soldiers' Pets - establishing a network of foster families providing a loving and healthy home environment for the pet(s)of deployed military personnel until they can be reunited with their owner.
Netroots For The Troops - raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones, and to provide assistance to military families in the United States.
Veterans Green Jobs - Our recently returned veterans need jobs and VGJ is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in natural resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas.
Welcome Back Veterans - created to inspire Americans to give back to our returning veterans and their families and assist in particular with PTSD.
Wounded Warrior Project - To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.