Tonight, we honor a young Marine from Ohio. He was just one month away from coming home when he was killed in the Helmand Province.
Since 2001, there have been 1419 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4429 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 11 killed in Operation New Dawn. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
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.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
Lance Cpl. Lucas C. Scott, 20, of Peebles, Ohio, died Dec. 3 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
In the early summer, Lance Cpl. Scott arrived in Afghanistan to serve his first 7 month tour with the Marines. During his short time, he saw plenty of combat. He was featured in a documentary about their squad in the Helmand Province for KVAL.com by Cali Bagby. The video is below and it provides a glimpse of what the Marines face on a daily basis.
Just a few days before Luke was killed, he was seriously injured in an attack. He lost consciousness and suffered a concussion from a head injury. He rested for a couple of days, then went back out with his unit, and was killed during combat operations. He had only a little more than a month of his tour remaining before he would have been home.
Luke was a popular and outgoing young man. He graduated from Peebles High School in southern Ohio in 2009. He played soccer, track and cross country. His track coach, Linda Zinser, told the Hillsboro Times Gazette:
"He was well liked by everybody," Scott's track coach, Linda Zinser said. "His brother really looked up to him. He always had a quick smile and a good sense of humor.
"For his last year of school, all he wanted to do was be a Marine. He was a good kid, and he wanted to defend our nation. I think sometimes we don't realize the cost of freedom until we lose someone in our own hometown."
Funeral arrangements are pending. Patriot Guard Riders have confirmed they will escort the family. Students at Peebles High School made yellow ribbons for to hang on all of the trees alongside the route to the cemetery.
Lance Cpl. Luke Scott is survived by his parents, two sisters and one brother, plus many friends and relatives.
Semper Fi, Lance Cpl. Scott. You were a true patriot. Thank you for your service.
In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McRae, MD, (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. 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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, racheltracks, csas, and me, Sandy on Signal.
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.