Good evening, dear ones. Please join me and the IGTNT team tonight as we honor three soldiers who lost their lives on foreign soil:
Sgt. Steve M. Theobald, 53, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, died June 4 near Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a military vehicle roll-over; and
Sgt. Derek L. Shanfield, 22, of Hastings, Pennsylvania, and Sgt. Zachary J. Walters, 24, of Palm Coast, Florida, both died on June 8 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Our beautiful forget-me-nots were a gift to the IGTNT team from dear llbear.
Will you dear Kossacks kindly take a moment to send a warm thought or prayer to the hundreds of thousands of forgotten or unnoticed souls who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the insanity of war? This is not their diary but still, we all feel and grieve the pain of a broken human spirit.
Blessings and Light to all who share our world.
Staff Sargent Tim Chambers stood at full attention - for four hours and in 90 degree heat - to honor America's fallen as well as her POWs. This video was filmed on Memorial Day 2010 during the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Procession from Virginia to the Vietman Memorial in Washington DC. My thanks to YouTube user hdcanvas for this video.
God Bless you for your dedication, SSt. Chambers. Bless you.
Sgt. Steve M. Theobald
The IGTNT diaries not only give our community a sacred space to mourn and honor America's fallen soldiers, we also hope to let you know who you are honoring by sharing what we can find about their lives. An IGTNT team member will research Google and various blogs to find news stories quoting friends and family of the fallen soldier. But page after page of Google-searching "Sgt. Steve M. Theobald" gave me nothing beyond the official Department of Defense news release stating only that Sgt. Theobald was assigned to the 287th Transportation Company out of Livingston, Alabama.
Its possible Sgt. Theobald's family has remained out of the spotlight during this terrible time. Its also possible that, like me, Sgt. Theobald has no spouse or blood kin. Regardless, I believe that Sgt. Theobald quietly touched many lives. It may have been the young soldier he gently guided through a tough period of adjustment. It may have been the warm smile he gave to a cashier in the PX that made her day. It may have been the stray dog he took a moment to pat while out on patrol, giving that furry friend a bit of kindness it would have otherwise never known.
Euripides observed, "The good and the wise lead quiet lives." I like to think that Sgt. Theobald was both.
The magnificent Patriot Guard Riders have Sgt. Theobald on their Watch List, where the Riders are leaving messages of love and support. An on-line Guest Book is also available to express one's condolences.
Godspeed, Sgt. Theobald. The DailyKos community celebrates your life, and grieves your passing. Our hearts are with all who knew and loved you.
Sgt. Derek L. Shanfield
Derek L. Shanfield (left), his older brother, Sydney David Lee Shanfield (center), and his twin brother, Devin L. Shanfield, all chose to serve their country with the Marine Corps. Photo credit: the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Marine Sgt. Sydney David Lee Shanfield clearly adored his younger brother. "He was truly amazing," Sgt. Shanfield remembered. "He rose up through the ranks very high in a very short time. He was basically a picture of perfection when it comes to being a Marine."
All three Shanfield brothers enlisted in the Marine Corps (they also have two sisters). Sydney joined the Corps in 2001, and twins Devin and Derek followed in 2006 after graduating from Cambria Heights High School.
"I felt very compelled to take part in everything going on in our country, and both of my brothers were very proud to follow and do their part as well," said Sgt. Shanfield. "Derek believed in it wholeheartedly, believed in taking care of his Marines. He believed in everything he was doing."
Derek's mother, Pamela Shanfield, remembers her son as an athlete who enjoyed enjoyed running cross country and swimming. "He was a good person. He made people laugh. He was just the kind of person who would make jokes or do something foolish. He had a lot of friends."
Mrs. Shanfield last spoke with her son while he was in Bangor, Maine, en route to his assignment in Afghanistan. "He was a squad leader. He deployed to Afghanistan earlier than the rest of his unit," Mrs. Shanfield said. "He left May 21 and was just over there for two weeks. Devin was set to deploy later." Derek was treated warmly by a devoted group of women from a small coastal Maine village who drive weekly to the Bangor airport to see the soldiers off or to greet them upon their return. "He said the Freeport Flag Ladies took a bunch of pictures and put them on their website!"
Sgt. Derek Shanfield was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Shanfield had been promoted to the rank of Sargent on April 2, 2010.
The magnificent Patriot Guard Riders have confirmed a Mission for Sgt. Shanfield, and they will escort him on his final journey (details to follow on their website).
Sgt. Derek Shanfield's transfer case is respectfully loaded into a mortuary vehicle at Dover Air Force Base on June 10, 2010. AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Sgt. Shanfield told his mother, "He said not to worry, 'I'll be fine. I'll be coming home just as good as new.' I told him, 'Keep your head down and come on home.'" Sgt. Derek Shanfield arrived at Dover Air Force Base on June 10, 2010.
Our hearts are with all who knew and loved Sgt. Derek Shanfield. Please know that we stand beside you at this terrible time of loss.
Sgt. Zachary J. Walters
Photo Credit: Victoria Falcon/Action News 47
Last week Sgt. Zachary Walters received the answer that would have sustained him through the remaining seven months of his tour: YES. He had received the blessing from his future father-in-law, Mr. Thomas Zoblisien, to propose marriage to Mr. Zoblisien's daughter, Victoria Falcon.
Tragically, Sgt. Walters was not able to receive that precious second YES from Victoria. He died after stepping on a roadside bomb three weeks into his tour of duty.
Zachary Walters joined the Marines the day after he graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 2005. Zachary passed up college scholarships and various job offers, choosing instead to serve his country.
Zachary's grandmother, Bobbie Walters, told reporters, "He just knew he wanted to be in the service. He felt like he was doing what he thought was right. He loved the Marines, and the Marines loved him."
Following his enlistment, Sgt. Walters went to boot camp in North Carolina before his first overseas deployment in 2008 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mrs. Walters said that Sgt. Walters was assigned to the American Embassy near Somalia from August 2008 to March 2009. This was his his first tour of duty in Afghanistan; however, Zachary had been leading a life on constant travel since birth. He was born in Saudi Arabia before moving in Texas, Mississippi, and Indiana. Zachary arrived in Palm Coast, Florida for his high school years.
Zachary joined the Junior ROTC where program's instructor, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Wainscott, said young Zachary shined.
"Right from the start that's what he wanted to do," Master Sgt. Wainscott said. "He always took seriously wearing the uniform, whereas many other students don't. ...He was just a good solid kid that did well."
Victoria Falcon said her sweetheart liked "to surf on Daytona Beach, climb mountains out of state, and read about aviation." He also "had a sarcastic sense of humor and a passion for fast cars," including his dark blue 2008 Mustang and a black 1987 Mustang.
Sgt. Walters was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Walters was promoted to the rank of sergeant on August 1, 2008.
http://www.cfnews13.com/...
As hard as his final homecoming is for his loved ones, Mrs. Walters knows that Zachary is at peace. "When he left in May, I told him, 'Zach, I'm worried about you,'" she remembered. "He said, 'Nana, please don't worry about me. ...If it's my time to go, I know where I'm going to spend eternity.'"
Our hearts are with all who knew and loved Sgt. Zachary Walters. Please know that we stand beside you at this terrible time of loss.
Our beautiful IGTNT logo was a gift from dear Timroff.
I can't think of a better way to honor the fallen than to contribute to the well-being of their fellow soldiers still on active duty.
The following fine organizations could sure use your support and your donations: AnySoldier.com, Books for Soldiers, Fisher House, the Military Pets Foster Project, Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets, Operation Baghdad Pups, Operation Enduring Christmas, an organization that sends holiday presents to the children of our fallen troops, and Helping Udders, an organization that sends cooling vests to the Military Working Dogs stationed with their handlers in Iraq.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here to see other IGTNT diaries, a series which was begun by i dunno and which is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, noweasels, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, and Wide Awake in Kentucky.
These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community's respect for and remembrance of them. Fallen soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and National Guard whose names have been released by the Department of Defense will usually be diaried two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each fallen service member more fully, but still in a timely manner
As you read this diary, please consider that the families and friends of those profiled here also may read it and that many members of our community have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or have loved ones currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I hope that the comments tonight will demonstrate our respect for the sacrifices of our fallen military and our compassion for their families, whatever our personal feelings about the war and occupation happen to be. (Comment credit and my thanks to dear noweasels.)
PEACE AND BLESSINGS.