As we are eloquently reminded in this wonderful diary, Memorial Day is the USA's time for remembrance of war casualties, and a time for communities and individuals to reflect upon those losses and the enormous cost of war.
Each year, my small Village of Questa in northern New Mexico, hosts a "Veteran's Healing Field of Honor," made up of one thousand American flags. The stunning outdoor memorial is meant to acknowledge all veterans who have served in the armed forces, and to make sure that every sacrifice is recognized.
On this Memorial Day, we dedicate two more flags
to the healing field of honor, and mourn the loss
of two more young people to war:
Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez, 26, of Miami, Florida
Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht, 24, of College Station, Texas
Please take a moment below to remember them.
This year at Questa's 6th annual Healing Field, during the moment of silence to remember the fallen, we sadly but proudly honored one of our own, my friend Sgt. Joey Gallegos.
Joey died last fall while he was deployed to Iraq with the New Mexico National Guard. The Village dedicated a "Fallen Soldier" statue to him to be installed at the Memorial Park.
But we miss Joey and think of him every day, not just today on Memorial Day.
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Since 2001, there have been 1086 American troops killed in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4400 American troops killed in Iraq. The IGTNT (I Got The New Today) title is a reminder that nearly everyday, somebody gets the news that a friend or family member will not be coming home from war.
On Memorial Day when we remember the fallen from past wars and honor those who served, we must not forget those killed and injured in the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the American families and communities deeply impacted by war.
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Tonight we remember a soldier and a marine who died far from home while serving at war. Both of them joined the military out of an intense desire to serve and defend their country.
The Department of Defense announced the death of a Fort Stewart, Georgia soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez, 26, died May 21 in Ash Shura, Iraq, when he was shot by enemy fire while conducting dismount operations. An Army "tanker" with Delta Company, Gonzales was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
Amilcar Gonzalez was born in Miami, Florida. Out of a feeling of service to his country, he joined the Army on Sept. 17, 2001, shortly after the World Trade Center terror attacks. He arrived at Fort Stewart in April 2002, and had since deployed to Iraq four times.
I could not locate a photograph of Staff Sgt Gonzales, but I found out his nickname at Delta Company was "Gonzo."
Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Bryancountynews reports that 1-64 Armor Commander Lt. Col. Ross Coffman wrote this message from Iraq on the battalion’s Facebook page:
"I write you tonight with heavy heart due to the passing of Staff Sgt. Amilcar Gonzalez. He was a leader, warrior, soldier and friend to the entire Desert Rogue Family. .... Please keep Staff Sgt. Gonzalez’s family and the Desert Rogues in your thoughts and prayers. .... He will be missed by all of us."
(story source)
Staff Sgt. Gonzalez leaves behind family, friends, and his Desert Rogue troops.
Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez is missed. REST IN PEACE.
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We Remember Them
In the rising of the sun and its going down,
We Remember Them.
In the bowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
We Remember Them.
In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring.
We Remember Them.
In the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer,
We Remember Them.
In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn.
We Remember Them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We Remember Them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
We Remember Them.
When we are lost and sick of heart,
We Remember Them.
When we have joys and special celebrations we yearn to share,
We Remember Them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are part of us.
We Remember Them.
~From the Jewish Book Of Prayer~
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The Department of Defense announced the death of a Camp Pendleton, California, Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht, 24, died May 27 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Leicht was assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Jacob Leicht was born in California and lived in Minnesota, Kentucky and Pennsylvania before his family moved to Kerrville, Texas. Jacob had wanted to be in the military from a young age and he joined the Marines in 2007 after home-schooling graduation.
"Jacob was born on the Fourth of July in a Navy hospital, and all he ever talked about growing up was either being a fighter pilot or being a soldier," his older brother Jonathan said.
Marine Cpl. Jacob Leicht had worked to get back into shape for his second tour of combat duty after nearly losing his leg in 2007 when he was severely injured during his first tour of duty in Iraq.
"Nearly lost a leg, and after two and a half years of intense rehab following 18 different surgeries on the leg, he was cleared for active duty. He was scared to death they were going to say, 'No, you can't rejoin your unit.' So every spare hour of his time was spent trying to get back into shape," Jonathan said.
During that time, Jacob got married in a traditional Jewish ceremony in Kerrville. Jonathan officiated the ceremony. That was the last time the brothers ever saw each other.
"He said he always wanted to die for his country and be remembered," said Jesse Leicht, his younger brother. "He didn't want to die having a heart attack or just being an old man. He wanted to die for something."
"After going through all that he went through, it was his strongest desire and greatest goal to get back with his unit and serve his country again," his brother said.
(photo and story source)
Among those that Cpl. Leicht leaves behind are his wife and parents, and five siblings.
Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht is missed. REST IN PEACE.
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Photos Uploaded with ImageShack.us
(Other Photos by CalNM; Thanks to Timroff for our faithful lighted candle IGTNT logo;
and Thanks to llbear for our beautiful forget-me-nots IGTNT logo.)
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 casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died at war.
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 US Department of Defense news releases are found at defense gov/releases. Icasualties lists the names of those killed, and shows the number of wounded. Published AP photos of the returning war fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page.
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.