Ko Olina Lagoon
Please join us tonight in paying tribute to Pfc. Raymond Pacleb of Honolulu, Hawaii, who gave his last full measure of devotion for his country on March 29 in Baghdad. Pfc. Pacleb died from injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, Wahiawa, Hawaii.
[Bed time. Will answer all comments in the a.m. Bless you for joining us in tribute tonight.]
http://www.defense.gov/...
Ray Pacleb was a Military Police Company Unit Supply Specialist. Only Ray Pacleb knows why, but he left a job at the Ko Olina Beach Club on the paradise island of Oahu, to serve his country in a desert, far away. May God welcome him on this Easter Sunday.
"The passing of Private First Class Pacleb is heartbreaking. We know his tragic passing is a very solemn and sobering event for his entire family. The members of the Hawaii National Guard grieve along with his family during this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, State Adjutant General. "He exemplified the brave and patriotic citizen-soldiers serving America in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We have assigned a support team to assist his family and will continue to provide help and comfort in any way we possibly can." The family of Pfc. Pacleb was notified Monday night at 5:45 pm. They have released the following statement: "Raymond will be missed very much and the Pacleb family knows that he is in a better place. We are very proud of son's service to his country and look up to him as a hero. We respectfully ask for a period of private mourning, and ask that the media please honor this request. If and when we are ready, we will go through the Hawaii National Guard and coordinate a media conference. Thank you."
Pfc. Pacleb was a 1996 graduate of Pearl City High School. Prior to deploying, he worked at the Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club. Pfc. Pacleb joined the military to better himself and make a change in his life. His family said that they will always remember him as an independent, generous and loving man.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Pacleb family during this most difficult of times. We strongly believe that Pfc. Pacleb was a valuable member to our Hawaii Army National Guard Ohana and we will continue to support his loved ones in any way we can," stated Colonel Arthur J. Logan, Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard.
http://www.hawaiireporter.com/...
I regret that I was not able to tell more of Ray Pacleb's story but, apparently, he was a private man from a private family. That being said, I know it is a Filipino tradition to say a rosary for the departed. We can start, here:
What is excellent,
as God lives, is permanent.
Hearts turn to dust,
hearts love remains.
Hearts love will meet the again.
- Emerson
God Bless Ray Pacleb, and those loved ones he leaves behind.
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. The series, which was begun by i dunno, is maintained by Sandy on Signal, 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 and CalNM.
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.
If that's not clear, read this: http://www.dailykos.com/...