Since 2001, there have been 1395 U.S. troops killed while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4436 U.S. troops killed while serving in Iraq. The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) series is a reminder that nearly every day, somebody gets the heartbreaking news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
Tonight we remember a young father and decorated soldier
who died while serving far from home:
Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Venetz Jr., 30,
of Wading River, New York
Please take a moment below to remember him,
and all those who have lost their lives in these wars.
Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Venetz Jr., 30,
of Wading River, New York
Sgt. 1st Class Venetz died January 28th in a non-combat related incident at Bagram Airfield, in Parwan province, Afghanistan. The cause of his death is still under investigation.
Sgt. Ventez had been injured in combat in Afghanistan last September, when he was shot in the leg. After that, he suffered a head injury in a roadside bomb explosion.
Sgt. Venetz was a highly decorated Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Anthony Venetz, Jr. grew up in Long Island, New York where he played soccer and graduated from Shoreham-Wading River High School in 1999. His Wading River neighborhood is home to a lot of military families, some with children serving at war. His friend is currently home between tours in Iraq. Two years ago, his childhood friend on Long Pond Road, Sgt. Jonathon Keller, was killed in combat in Afghanistan.
"Our hearts go out to the Venetz family," Sgt. Keller’s father, Marty Keller, said this week after learning of Sgt. Venetz’s death. "Our children grew up as neighbors and friends; we feel and understand their sorrow and extend our deepest sympathies along with our prayers."
Anthony enlisted in the Army in February, 2001, in Prince William County, Virginia, as an infantryman. His first assignment was to a scout platoon with the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. While he was with the 22nd Infantry Regiment, he deployed to Cuba and served two tours in Iraq.
In 2007, Venetz volunteered to become a Special Forces Soldier. He graduated from training in 2009, and moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he lived with his wife and two children.
Mickey Hammer also lives on Long Pond Road, where the two soldiers grew up. He counted Sgt. Venetz and Sgt. Keller not only as friends but as colleagues. He is on active duty in the Army, though he is currently home after serving three tours in Iraq.
"They were real good guys who both served their countries," he said. "They were patriots. Some people will say they died for nothing. They died serving their country. That’s something."
Shoreham-Wading River teacher Bob Vlahakis' son Jimmy also served in the Middle East after graduating from West Point.
"This is a sad day for us to hear this news," Mr. Vlahakis said. "As parents of a child who served overseas, we understand how emotional it is to wake up every day with a loved one in harm’s way. Our prayers are with his immediate family, his extended family and all the young men serving our country.
"Our fond memories of Anthony as a young boy growing up, and as a young man in uniform, will never be forgotten."
Sgt. Venetz’ awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, one with valor; two Purple Heart Awards; four Army Commendation Medals, with two for valor; and many, many others.
Among those Sgt. 1st Class Venetz Jr. leaves behind are his wife and two young children, his troops, and family and friends on Long Island and in North Carolina.
Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Venetz Jr. is missed. May He Rest In Peace.
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Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo.
(Other Photos by CalNM)
Helping our troops:
If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com.
Fisher House provides housing for families of injured troops and veterans who are recovering in hospitals, and Guardian angels for soldierspet assists the animal companions of our deployed military.
When our veterans come back home, they can find support at Welcome Back Veterans.
Our recently returned veterans need jobs, and Veterans Green Jobs is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in forest and resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas. Encourage a Veteran, and see if you can help out.
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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, ccasas, JaxDem, 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 memorial 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.