Two more young Army sergeants have been killed in separate explosions during combat operations in Afghanistan - a soldier with the Massachusetts National Guard, and a soldier from Fort Carson, Colorado, reports the US Department of Defense:
Sgt. Robert J. Barrett, 20, of Fall River, Massachusetts
Sgt. Michael K. Ingram Jr., 23, of Monroe, Michigan
Since 2001, there have been 1050 American troops killed in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4393 American troops killed in Iraq. The (IGTNT) "I Got The News Today" title is a reminder that each casualty has family and friends who received the heart-wrenching news that their loved one will not be coming home. Please take a moment below to remember them and their sacrifice.
Sgt. Robert J. Barrett, a native of Fall River with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, died April 19 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when a suicide bomber attacked his unit. Apparently, the attacker stole an Afghan Army uniform and infiltrated a group of Afghans that Barrett and eight other U.S. soldiers were training to be police officers.
The Massachusetts Army National Guard Sergeant was one of about 40 guardsmen from the area who deployed to Afghanistan in January for a year-long tour. The 20 year-old guardsman was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, Fall River, Massachusetts.
Southcoast Today reports that Robert Barrett graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River in 2007. His neighbors, a former teacher, and sister remembered him as a conscientious young man who loved his family, including a two year-old daughter.
From a young age, Barrett had a penchant for service and volunteerism. While at Durfee HS, Barrett served as his Junior ROTC unit's executive officer. He was the second in command of the unit's 100 to 115 students during the 2006-07 school year. Barrett's older sister had also been in the ROTC unit and he wanted to follow her into the military. His father is also a veteran.
Sgt. Barrett was a member of Massachusetts National Honor Guard’s volunteer regiment, and served at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. And,
A year ago, Sgt. Barrett was part of the military honor guard that received the body of Army Sgt. Kyle J. Harrington at Green Airport in Warwick, R.I, after he died in Iraq. Barrett was also a pallbearer at Harrington's funeral, and had remained friend's with the fallen soldier's widow and family.
Elizabeth Harrington said a mutual friend introduced her to Barrett, following her brother's funeral. She said Barrett told her how difficult it was to see the pained look on the face of one of Harrington's young children when soldiers fired a military salute.
Barrett, she said, was thinking of his own daughter, now 2 years old.
Elizabeth said the family has a photo of Barrett folding the U.S. flag at her brother's services.
Sgt. Barrett would have been 21 years old next month.
Sgt. Robert Barrett leaves behind hometown friends and fellow guardsmen, and many family including his young daughter.
Sgt. Robert J. Barrett will be missed. REST IN PEACE.
Additional story sources Boston Globe and two from Boston Herald.
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Sgt. Michael K. Ingram Jr., 23, of Monroe, Michigan, died April 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when he stepped on an improvised explosive device during a patrol, according to a KKTV story. Ingram was an Infantry Platoon Sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Michael Ingram was born in southwest Detroit and raised there until he was 10. He attended Monroe High School, graduating in 2005, reports the Detroit Free Press.
Friends, family, and teachers remembered Ingram, Junior's "playful spirit and warm heart," and his love of Elvis, Michael Jackson, and the Detroit Tigers. He especially loved Kid Rock and American Badd Ass. He was helpful, and wanted to serve others in the community. His history teacher said that Ingram spoke out against hate groups and intolerance and was saddened by the inhumanity of Hitler and the Holocaust when he studied WWII.
Michael Ingram, Jr joined the U.S. Army in February 2006 and joined his current unit in March 2006. He was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, where he had family nearby in Grand Junction, Colorado, including his mother and stepfather, and a brother and sister. (video clip nbc11 news).
This was Sgt. Ingram's first deployment. Finally nearing the end of his year-long tour in Afghanistan, his unit was set to come home in late May and early June.
Ingram had a chance to come home three weeks ago for surgery after pulling a muscle, his stepmother, Julie Ingram said. But he declined, instead choosing to wait until his Afghanistan tour of duty was to end June 5.
"He said, 'I'm not leaving my boys. I'll have it when I get back,' " she said, as emotion choked her voice.
"The last thing he said on his Facebook on Tuesday was 'C'mon boys -- we're almost home.'"
The deep-thinking young man who fulfilled his boyhood dream of servinng in the Army is being honored as a hero by his country. Sgt. Ingram received many decorations and honors during his service, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal, reports Colorado Connection (photo source).
Sgt. Michael K. Ingram, Jr. leaves behind family and friends including his father and stepmother, mother and stepfather, a sister, and two brothers.
Sgt. Michael Ingram Jr. will be missed. REST IN PEACE.
Additional source Colorado Springs Gazette.
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Helping our troops: If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or Fisher House. Sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com can provide letters or care packages that make a real difference in a military person's life. To assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available at guardian angels for soldierspet.
When our veterans come back home, they need jobs. Look at the programs of Veterans Green Jobs and Welcome Back Veterans. Encourage a Vet, and see if you can help out.
About the IGTNT series: I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each of the fallen has loved ones left behind. All of the casualties can be found at icasualties, and the DoD news releases at defense gov/releases. Published photos of the returning fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page. 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. Since 2001, there have been 1050 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4393 American troops killed in Iraq.
(photos by CalNM; Thanks to Timroff for our IGTNT logo.)
Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries in the series which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma, Sandy on Signal, Wide Awake in Kentucky, and me, CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
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.