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Fallen Soldier Battle Cross
This image is known as the Fallen Soldier Battle Cross or the Battlefield Cross and sometimes simply Helmet Rifle Boots. Made up of the soldier’s rifle with bayonet attached and stuck into the ground with dog tags hanging, helmet on top and the boots of the fallen soldier beneath. The tradition began during the American Civil War as a means of identifying the bodies on the battlefield. Today it is used to show respect for the fallen and as a means to allow fellow troop members to mourn as attending a funeral or memorial service is not always possible for soldiers still in the fight.
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Honoring and Remembering:
Staff Sergeant Omar Aceves
Corporal Jarrid L. King
Specialist Benjamin G. Moore
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I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is among the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
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The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 12, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.
Killed were:
Sgt. Omar Aceves, 30, of El Paso, Texas.
Spc. Jarrid L. King, 20, of Erie, Pa.
Pfc. Benjamin G. Moore, 23, of Robbinsville, N.J.
They were assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
~ Source ~ All three men were awarded posthumous promotions
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Since 2003, we have suffered the loss of 4435 American lives in Iraq. Since 2001, we have suffered the loss of 1459 American lives in Afghanistan.
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GovernorAndrew M. Cuomo has directed that flags on State government buildings be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, January 18 in honor of three Fort Drum soldiers who died in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan on January 12.
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Staff Sergeant Omar Aceves, 30 of El Paso, Texas
Omar Aceves graduated from Ysleta High School in 1999 and then spent four years in the military. After that, he spent time out of the service until he decided to make it a career and enlisted again in 2005.
He was then assigned to Fort Hood, before he was deployed to Iraq during 2006-2008.
After he returned from Iraq, he was stationed at Fort Drum, until he was deployed to Afghanistan last May.
Aceves was married to Leticia Aceves for six years. He had four children and two stepsons, the youngest 1 year old.
Patricia Enriquez, Aceves' older sister, was one of the first members of the family to be notified. Aceves, one of five children, had two brothers and two sisters.
"The military did come over to pay their condolences," Enriquez said. "We were all in denial and kept thinking we were going to get a phone call saying they made a mistake."
Enriquez said the rest of the family was still coming to terms with the death.
"Omar is a hero. He died fighting for our country and made us proud," she said as an official statement from the family. "Please keep us and all soldiers in your prayers. The war is not over."
When Aceves visited El Paso, he cherished time with the family and had an appetite for homemade Mexican food. Enriquez said he requested Mexican candy in his last package.
"The thing I remember the most about him is his big heart and great sense of humor," Enriquez said. "He had a great big smile that would just light up our lives."
Aceves' children range in age from one year to eight years. His sister says he last saw his children in August, when he got a break in rotation. He was supposed to come home after his tour in April.
Aceves' awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, two Army Commendation Medals, 6 Army Achievement Medals, 3 Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge and the Marksman Qualification Badge.
Staff Sergeant Omar Aceves is survived by his wife, 6 children, his mother and father, and two brothers and two sisters.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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Corporal Jarrid L. King, 20 of Erie, Pennsylvania
Jarrid King was a graduate of Harborcreek High School.
King joined the U.S. Army in March 2009 and after completing training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, came to Fort Drum, NY in August 2009.
One of Jarrid's friends, Jeff Meade said:
Jarrid was a great young man and very popular. He was always polite and had a smile on his face.
Meade said he knew King for 15 years and that King aspired to be a career military man.
Harbor Creek Athletic Director Andy Krahe said this:
He was very mature for his age. He was always, 'Yes, sir, no, sir.' He was one of the politest kids walking the halls. He was always pleasant and smiling, and he seemed to know what he wanted to do in the classroom and athletically.
King participated in Harbor Creek High School's wrestling program while in seventh, eighth and ninth grades.
Harbor Creek's wrestling head coach at that time was Mark Sallot, who currently serves as a volunteer wrestling coach at the school.
Sallot remembers immediately slapping a nickname on King when he began coaching him. I used to call him 'Subway,' when that Jared (Fogle) guy was doing all those commercials for Subway. Every time I'd see him at practice, I'd say, 'Boy, there's Jared, and he's lost a lot of weight.' He thought that was funny.
King competed in the 119-pound weight class as a freshman -- the last year he wrestled.
Harbor Creek High School American History teacher and varsity baseball coach, Tim McQueeney instructed King during his sophomore year.
He was one of the most polite, well-mannered students I've ever been associated with. We certainly view Jarrid as an American hero. We appreciate what he and other military personnel around the world do for America.
When King returned home on leave in spring, he attended a few Harbor Creek baseball games to watch his two brothers play.
King's brother Jason is a senior, and his brother Johnathon is a sophomore. Both brothers pitch and play infield.
King's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.
Corporal Jarrid L. King is survived by his mother and father and two brothers.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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Specialist Benjamin G. Moore, 23 of Robbinsville, New Jersey
Ben Moore graduated from Bordentown Regional High School in 2006. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in April 2009 and after completing training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, came to Fort Drum in September 2009.
The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks convinced the then 14-year-old Ben Moore to think about military service. Then at age 16, the devout New York Giants fan started working toward becoming a volunteer firefighter with the Hope Hose Humane Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in Bordentown.
Vince "Bud" Torpey Jr., described by Ben's father, Patrick Moore as Benjamin’s "mentor," and is president, and a certified Emergency Medical Technician at the Fire Company said this:
On that day (Sept. 11, 2001), he decided he needed to do something. He needed to get involved. He spent most of his time helping people and always giving of himself.
He was a force of exuberance, laughter and kindness like no other. He was there to help anyone at anytime.
Brian Maugeri Jr., a close friend from Bordentown City said he recognized Moore was a special breed when they attended fire safety classes together.
The kid always had a fiery passion for what he got involved in. He wanted to go through fire school even though he was two years away to legally fight fire. Everyday he got on that truck he gave it all he had. But I think he needed another outlet. He was feeling a roadblock and that’s when the military came in.
Brian posted this video tribute in honor and remembrance of his friend Ben Moore.
Chief Pete Sedor of Hope Hose Humane Company No. 1 said this of Ben:
Ben’s going to be missed. He was the life of the firehouse.
You always read the hero stories about firefighters, so Sedor was asked if Ben Moore had ever saved a life.
No. He saved a lot of — how do I put this?— he saved a lot of depression.
Whenever Ben was around, everybody was laughing and smiling. It’s true. Never a dull moment when Ben was around. He made you smile. You could come in madder than a hornet. When you left there, you were laughing.
He was a real people person: Knew how to get under your skin and make you laugh and change you around. He was a good guy. Nothing could get him down.
Ben's father, Patrick says:
He loved what he was doing... I was so proud of him because it was natural for him to serve his community and his country.
He was a wonderful person, but not just because he was ours. What he did and what the young men and women are doing over there is to protect what we can all do over here. And that’s all he ever wanted.
Moore's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.
Specialist Benjamin G. Moore is survived by his mother, Amy; his father, Patrick and a brother, Patrick.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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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, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, racheltracks, and me, JaxDem. 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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POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41
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Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23
Never forgotten - please keep good thoughts and prayers for these two men.
On December 8th new photos were published of Pfc Bowe R. Bergdahl in captivity. The article and images can be seen here.
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Helping Our Troops
There would be no finer way to honor the fallen than to contribute to programs that assist our active duty military. Here are a few suggestions:
Evan Ashcraft Foundation - This foundation was established to assist soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan to adjust to civilian life. In particular this foundation's emphasis is on PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
Fisher House - Provides a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitilization for an illness, disease or injury.
Netroots For The Troops - raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones, and to provide assistance to military families in the United States.
Veterans Green Jobs - Our recently returned veterans need jobs and VGJ is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in natural resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas.
Welcome Back Veterans - created to inspire Americans to give back to our returning veterans and their families and assist in particular with PTSD.
Wounded Warrior Project - To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.
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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.