Since 2001, there have been 1273 American troops killed in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4416 American troops killed in Iraq. The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) title is a reminder that nearly everyday, somebody gets the news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
Tonight we learn about a Marine and four 173rd Airborne soldiers killed at war in Afghanistan.
Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Twigg, 21, of Indiana, Pennsylvania
Staff Sgt. Vinson B. Adkinson III, 26, of Harper, Kansas
Sgt. Raymond C. Alcaraz, 20, of Redlands, California
Pfc. Matthew E. George, 22, of Grantsboro, North Carolina
Spc. James A. Page, 23, of Titusville, Florida
Please take a moment below to remember them.
The Department of Defense confirmed the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:
Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Twigg, 21,
of Indiana, Pennsylvania
Lance Cpl. Twigg was killed in action by gunfire on September 2 during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Josh Twigg attended Penns Manor High School in Pennsylvania where he played defensive line and offensive tackle for the Comets football team. Twigg was an honors student, and took several of the school's vocational-agriculture and technical classes.
A former teacher said that Josh 'planned on joining the Marines long before he graduated in 2007. "He was one of the kids you enjoyed coming to school to be with." The usually jovial Twigg could come into a room and lift everyone's spirits.'
The family asked for privacy while they mourn, and wished only to release a statement. Amongst other things, it said:
"Josh was proud to serve his country as a Marine, having served previously in Iraq two years ago, and volunteering to be deployed to Afghanistan.
"Josh's family asks for your prayers as they grieve the loss of this fine young man who was loved by his parents, longtime girlfriend, brothers, sister, nieces and nephew, as well as his extended family and community of friends who knew and loved him."
Among those that Lance Cpl. Twigg leaves behind are his parents, girlfriend, sister, brothers and other family and friends.
Lance Cpl. Joshua Twigg is missed. REST IN PEACE
sources: Indiana Gazette
+ * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * +
The Department of Defense confirmed the deaths of four 173rd Airborne soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died August 31 in Logar province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Vinson Adkinson III, Sgt. Raymond Alcaraz,
Pfc. Matthew George, and Pfc. James Page
Three other soldiers were injured in the explosion. The soldiers were assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Bamberg, Germany, and Vicenza, Italy.
The members of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team are known as "Sky Soldiers." Since 2000, the brigade has served three tours of the Middle East. The 173rd participated in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003, and had tours in Afghanistan in 2005–2006 and 2007–2008. The brigade returned from duty in eastern Afghanistan in July 2008, and deployed again in 2010.
wikipedia
* * * *
Staff Sgt. Vinson B. Adkinson III, 26,
of Harper, Kansas
Staff Sgt. Adkinson was one of four 173rd Airborne soldiers killed by a roadside bomb blast August 31 in Logar province, Afghanistan.
Vinson Adkinson, III, was known as "Trinity" to family and friends. He was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, and grew up in Empire. He moved to Harper, Kansas, his junior year of high school.
Trinity Adkinson graduated in 2003 and enlisted in the Army, where he worked as a driver and mechanic.
Dedicated to serving his country and his men, Staff Sgt. Adkinson had previously served three tours of Iraq. He was deployed on his second tour of Afghanistan when he died.
The Army posthumously awarded Staff Sgt. Adkinson the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals, and other decorations.
Among those Staff Sgt. Adkinson leaves behind are his father, sister, and brother.
Staff Sgt. Vinson Adkinson III is missed. REST IN PEACE
source: KSN3
+ + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * *
Sgt. Raymond C. Alcaraz, 20,
of Redlands, California
Sgt. "Doc" Alcaraz, a Platoon Medic, died August 31 in Afghanistan along with three other 173rd Airborne soldiers when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb.
Raymond Alcaraz grew up in Redlands, California, and attended local schools. His family still lives in Redlands.
Sgt. Alcaraz enlisted in the Army in the summer of 2007, and was nearing the end of his three year commitment in the military. He was looking forward to his upcoming discharge from the service.
In that time Sgt. Alcaraz served two previous tours in Afghanistan, and was on his third tour as a Platoon Medic when he died with his men in Logar province.
The Army posthumously awarded Sgt. Alvaraz the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star medal, and many other decorations.
Among those that Sgt. Alcaraz leaves behind are his mother and stepfather, his brother, and his father.
Sgt. Raymond Alcaraz is missed. REST IN PEACE
source: Redlands Daily Facts, FR
+ + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * *
Pfc. Matthew E. George, 22,
of Grantsboro, North Carolina
Pfc. George died in the August 31 IED attack along with fellow Sky Soldiers Adkinson, Alcaraz, and Page.
Mathew George was raised in Pamlico County, North Carolina. Unfortunately I could not find any other information on this young soldier who gave everything while serving our country at war.
The Army posthumously awarded Pfc. George the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star medal, and many other decorations.
Pfc. Matthew George leaves behind loved ones and his fellow Sky Soldiers.
Pfc. Matthew George is missed. REST IN PEACE
source: FR, Pamlico Today
+ * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * + * * * * +
Spc. James A. Page, 23,
of Titusville, Florida
Spc. Page worked as a vehicle driver and died with the three other soldiers in the August 31 IED explosion in Logar province, Afghanistan.
James Page graduated from high school in Bronson, Florida, and moved to Titusville where he worked several jobs.
Then about two years ago, his former girlfriend contacted him to let him know they had a baby together.
The surprising and good news changed his life, and James Page enlisted in the Army to support his son, Jarod.
Page's sister said,
"He really wasn’t doing much with his life yet. His main goal had always been that when he had kids that he was going to be a good father.
He couldn’t take care of his son financially at that time, so he went into the Army.
On his Facebook page, James Page wrote:
"I love serving my country, but don’t see myself making it a career just yet. All I want to do right now is get home safely and see my beautiful little boy Jarod."
His fellow Airborne soldiers also applauded Page's dedication to his job.
"Spc. Page worked hard every day. He always wanted to go on missions. I'm going to miss him," said Pfc. Devon Groom, who served in Page's squad.
The Army promoted Page from the rank of Private to the rank of Specialist posthumously. Spc. Page's military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal, and other awards.
Among those that Spc. Page leaves behind are his 3 year old son Jarod, his mother and his sister.
Spc. James Page is missed. REST IN PEACE
sources: WTSP News 10, Florida Today
+ + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * * + + + * * *
Photos Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
and Thanks to llbear for our beautiful forget-me-nots IGTNT logo.
(Other Photos by CalNM)
+ * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * + * * * +
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, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, JaxDem, kestrel9000, 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.