It is a tradition to wish people a "Happy Birthday" and maybe sing them a cheery song on the anniversary of their birth. Children often call their parents to contact them when they can't be present at a birthday celebration. That's what happened to one father of a Marine stationed in Afghanistan. He was called on his birthday by his son, only to find out that later on that same day, his son was killed.
The same incident took the life of another Marine, just days before that young man's birthday.
The two Marines that we remember tonight are:
- Lance Corporal Kevin M. Cornelius
- Private First Class Vincent E. Gammone III
Lance Corporal Kevin M. Cornelius
Kevin Cornelius graduated from Lakeside High School in Ashtabula, Ohio. While in high school, Cornelius joined the wrestling team and was on the football team. He was the son of a captain with the Ashtabula Police Department.
Kevin Cornelius was serving as a radio operator and rifleman assigned to 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, which is based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. On his Facebook page, Cornelius had one of his favorite quotations:
The brave may not live forever, but the cowards do not live at all.
On Aug. 7th in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, Cornelius' unit had completed a mission. Kevin called home afterward and told his family that everything had gone well. Shortly after the call, the Marine helped to recapture a heavily-armed enemy combatant who had escaped from the Afghan National Police and retreated into a building. Cornelius was mortally wounded during the fight, and despite the efforts of his buddies on the scene, he died from his wounds. He was 20 years old. Also killed in the incident was 19-year-old Private First Class Vincent E. Gammone III of Christiana, Tennesse.
According to the Star Beacon News site:
Cornelius’ step-brother, Bob Fortune, said representatives from the Marine Corps arrived at his mother’s front door at 9:30 p.m. Saturday to break the news.
"This is just unbelievable," Fortune said. "We are so sad but so proud at the same time. I just wish he were here so I could show him how much I respect him. There isn’t enough I can say about him and his sacrifice."
Kevin Cornelius died on his father Gerald Cornelius’ birthday, his step mother, Marlene Cornelius, said.
Cornelius' brother, US Army Second Lt. Eric Cornelius, who is stationed in Alabama, is on his way home to be with his family. Survivors also include his parents Gerald and Marlene Cornelius, and Valerie and Bob Silleck, all of Ashtabula.
The remains of Lance Corporal Kevin M. Cornelius arrived the night of the 9th at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Funeral arrangements were being handled by Ducro Funeral Services and Crematory in Ashtabula, Ohio.
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Private First Class Vincent E. Gammone III
Vincent E. Gammone III was born in New York, but moved to Tennessee when he was 2 years old and lived in Rutherford County. He graduated from Eagleville High School, Tennessee, in 2008. He played trombone in the high school band and was in ROTC. Eagleville has flown its flag at half-staff since news of his death reached the school.
Gammone was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, which is based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Private First Class Vincent E. Gammone III died August 7th while aiding in recapturing a heavily-armed enemy combatant in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was 19 years old, but would have turned 20 on the 10th. Also killed in the same incident was 20-year-old Lance Corporal Kevin Cornelius from Ashtabula, Ohio.
An article at the DNJ news site states:
Gammone would have celebrated his 20th birthday Tuesday, according to his fiancee, Jessica West. West and Gammone's mother, Lorraine Gammone; and grandmother, Ellie Gammone; were notified of Gammone's death Saturday. Gammone's mother and grandmother were expected to arrive back in Tennessee Tuesday from Dover, Del., where they received the Marine's remains.
"We were told that Vincent was one of the first to go to the aid of another Marine who had been wounded by the escaped prisoner, who was able to arm himself during his attempted escape," West said. "We found out he was shot in the collarbone."
Neighbors throughout Rutherford County, Tennessee have placed flags on mailboxes and houses and in yards, in remembrance of a community hero. A Facebook page has been created to honor the Marine and has well over a hundred friends.
Among the survivors are Gammone's fiancee, Jessica West; his parents Vincent and Lorraine Gammone; and grandmother, Ellie Gammone.
The remains of Private First Class Vincent E. Gammone III arrived the night of the 9th at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The funeral will be held in Tennessee on the 16th. The Patriot Guard Riders will provide an escort and honors.
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Helping our troops:
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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 diarized 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.