On the battlefields of Belgium during World War I, poppies grew wild amid the death and destruction. In 1915, before the US entered the fighting, a doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, was in those fields with the Canadian forces. The Allies were outmanned 2 to 1. Canadians played a vital role in preventing the German army from going through the town of Ypres to capture Paris and the coast.
During an intense battle, a young man from McCrae's home was killed. In his grief, McCrae wrote, "In Flanders Fields." The simple, heartfelt lines struck a cord in people throughout the world.
Selling replicas of the original Flanders' poppy started immediately after the Armistice. A veteran of a foreign war, my dad always got us poppies to wear every May. The phrase, "In Flanders Fields the poppies blow," reminds me of him.
Tonight we gather to mourn 5 more US troops who saw the sunset glow on a battlefield far from home:
- Sergeant Justin B. Allen
- 1st Lieutenant Robert N. Bennedsen
- Gunnery Sergeant Christopher L. Eastman
- Sergeant Anibal Santiago
- Sergeant Jesse R. Tilton
Army Sergeant Justin B. Allen
Sergeant Justin B. Allen was from Coal Grove, Ohio. He was the youngest of the family – much younger – his two siblings were 20 years older. The football player and track star enlisted in the Army after graduating from Dawson-Bryant High School in 2005. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
Allen was sent on his fourth tour of duty overseas just two months ago. He planned to go to college to study sports medicine someday. He had other plans too. Justin and his fiancé, who is also in the military, had a wedding planned for November of this year.
Only three weeks shy of his 24th birthday, on July 18th, he was in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan. He died when he was shot during a firefight with insurgents during combat operations in Zhari, Afghanistan. According to the WSAZ News site:
"Sadness, very sad. I don't show my emotions outwardly not like she does. I just have this tension or whatever it is building up in my chest. My heart's heavy but I try to be tough," said Allen’s father.
For a proud father it’s not easy. Outside the Allen house in Coal Grove, Ohio, there is wreath that speaks volumes. The yellow ribbon that wraps the tree -- broken, the hope -- gone.
The Allen family is mourning the loss of their son Justin, the pictures in their home show not only a soldier but a son and a brother. Full of life. but this weekend Sgt. Justin Allen, an army ranger, was killed in Afghanistan.
"Every time he had a chance he'd call. He tried not to call every day because he knew if he called everyday, a day he didn't call that I'd be scared," said Bonnie Allen, Justin’s mother.
Funeral arrangements for Sergeant Justin Allen are still pending, however, he will be buried in Lawrence County, Ohio.
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Army 1st Lieutenant Robert N. Bennedsen
Robert N. Bennedsen was from Vashon, Washington and graduated from Vashon High School in 2004. He enrolled in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) while taking courses at Seattle University, where he graduated in 2008. He majored in business and graduated top of his class as a Distinguished Military Graduate.
In 2008, Bennedsen helped run the summer ROTC program at Fort Lewis. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. 1st Lieutenant Bennedsen was sent to Afghanistan last month.
He was stationed in Qalat and was helping to transport supplies to remote outposts. An ambulance in his convoy drove over a roadside bomb and exploded. When he jumped out of his vehicle, to see if he could help those in the ambulance, a roadside bomb exploded and he was killed. 1st Lieutenant Robert N. Bennedsen died July 18th at Qalat, Afghanistan, from his injuries. He was 25 years old. According to the Seattle Time News site:
Vashon Island soldier 1st Lt. Robert Bennedsen may have been trying to help his colleagues when he was killed by a roadside bomb Sunday in Afghanistan.
The U.S. Army has yet to release details about the 25-year-old's death, but the officer's aunt, Bonnie Bennedsen, said that's her understanding — and it doesn't surprise her because her nephew was a fine man who always tried to do the right thing...
More than anything, he loved action.
"Robert lived everything to the max," said Bonnie Bennedsen.
Robert is survived by his parents, Scott and Tracy Bennedsen, and a sister, Jamie.
A memorial service for 1st Lieutenant Robert Bennedsen will take place on Sunday, August 1st at the Vashon Island High School football stadium.
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Marine Gunnery Sergeant Christopher L. Eastman
Christopher L. Eastman was from Moose Pass, Alaska and graduated from Seward High School in 2000. He was living in Murrieta, California, with his wife, Gaby Eastman, who is seven months pregnant, and daughter, Joy.
Gunnery Sergeant Eastman was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Corps, which is based at Camp Pendleton in California. He was an explosives ordnance disposal technician who deployed to Afghanistan late last winter.
Gunnery Sergeant Christopher L. Eastman died July 18th while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was 28 years old. A Marine Corps spokesman told the Anchorage Daily News that insurgents may have detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) while Eastman was working at a bomb site in Now Zad, Afghanistan.
According to The Village News site:
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement regarding the death of Gunnery Sgt. Eastman.
"The death of Gunnery Sergeant Christopher Eastman is a devastating loss for our country. He was a brave and selfless Marine who gave his all while serving our great nation in uniform, and we will be forever grateful for his sacrifice. On behalf of all Californians, Maria and I extend our thoughts and prayers to Christopher’s family, friends and fellow Marines."
In honor of Gunnery Sgt. Eastman, State Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff
The remains of Gunnery Sergeant Christopher L. Eastman were returned July 20th to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Details of funeral arrangements have not been announced. Alaska Governor Sean Parnell has ordered that Alaska state flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Gunnery Sergeant Christopher L. Eastman
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Army Sergeant Anibal Santiago
Anibal Santiago was from Belvidere, Illinois. Santiago served as a police officer in Chicago before enlisting with the Navy as a Sailor in October of 2001. He joined the Army in October of 2007.
Santiago completed military courses in the Army including Combatives Level One, the Combat Life Savers Course, the Sniper Course, the Airborne Course, the Ranger Indoctrination Program and the US Army Ranger Course. After completing the One Station Unit Training, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and served as a sniper and sniper team leader. The Army Ranger was based at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Sergeant Santiago was on his third deployment overseas. Previously, he had been in Iraq and once before in Afghanistan. According to Ledger-Enquirer.com:
"I wish the American public had an opportunity to know Sgt. Santiago," said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, commander with the 75th Ranger Regiment, in a release. "He embodied the Ranger ethos — an American patriot, incredibly lethal sniper and was always at his best when conditions were the worst. He is a hero to our nation, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and his family."...
"Sgt. Santiago was a rock of a man that everyone — his fellow Rangers and his family — relied on in the toughest of times," said Col. Dan Walrath, commander with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. "He was an incredible servant to the nation as a policeman, Navy Sailor and Army Ranger. We are eternally grateful for what he gave us all in life."
The Sergeant was badly injured on July 17th, when he fell from a high altitude over the mountains in Khowst Province, Afghanistan. Santiago died July 18th in Bagram, Afghanistan, of his injuries. He was 37 years old.
Sergeant Anibal Santiago’s awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He also was awarded the the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, The South West Asia Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star and the Army Service Ribbon. Santiago was recommended posthumously for the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Anibal Santiago is survived by his wife, Mandy, his son, Hannibal Felix, and his parents, Anibal and Maria Santiago of Belvidere, Illinois.
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Army Sergeant Jesse R. Tilton
Jesse R. Tilton was from Decatur, Illinois. Tilton joined the Army on April 7, 2006, and attended basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Tilton went on to attend Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he was trained as a medic.
In October of 2006, Tilton was assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan with the unit from January 2007 to April 2008. Tilton stayed with the unit to deploy to Afghanistan again in August 2009. According to the Fayetteville Observer, Tilton died while doing his duty as a medic :
Tilton was mortally wounded while treating a fellow paratrooper as the rest of the unit repelled a complex attack by insurgents on the Afghan National Civil Order Police Headquarters in Kandahar, according to a news release from the 82nd Airborne Division.
"Sgt. Tilton's selfless service and dedication to his brothers on the battlefield are a true testimony to the paratrooper he was. He was severely wounded treating one of his fellow brothers," said 1st Lt. Jeffrey Conord, the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Medic Platoon's leader. "I can't think of a greater sacrifice for one's nation and friend."
Sergeant Tilton's unit was in Kandahar City on July 13th when it was attacked by insurgents using rifle, rocket-propelled grenade, and small-arms fire. Sergeant Tilton was badly injured in the firefight and transported to Germany for medical care. Sergeant Jesse R. Tilton died July 16th at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, which is in Landstuhl, Germany. He was 23 years old.
Tilton's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Medic Badge.
He is survived by his mother, Julie Magana. A memorial in Tilton's honor will be held in Afghanistan.
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While the IGTNT team generally covers only US casualties, we also mourn a neighbor to the north, who lost his life in Afghanistan recently. Canadian soldier, Sapper Brian Collier, may you rest in peace.
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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 US Troop Care Package 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 here. Also, you could visit:
When our veterans come back home, they need jobs. Look at the programs of Hire Heroes USA and Welcome Back Veterans to see if you can help out. The new KINship Project has also been of help to our veterans and other Kossacks In Need.
About the IGTNT series:
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, Ministry of Truth, CalNM, and Wide Awake in KY. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US 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 person more fully, but still in a timely manner
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.