Since 2001, 1399 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4438 U.S. troops have died 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 4 more lives lost at war:
Airman 1st Class Corey C. Owens, 26, of San Antonio, Texas
Airman 1st Class Christoffer P. Johnson, 20, of Clarksville, Tennessee
Sgt. Matthew J. Deyoung, 26, of Talent, Oregon
Spc. Jonathan A. Pilgeram, 22, of Great Falls, Montana
Please take a moment below to remember them,
and all those who have lost their lives in these wars.
Airman 1st Class Corey C. Owens, 26, of San Antonio, Texas
Airman 1st Class Owens died February 17 due to a non-combat related incident at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Owens was an installation patrolman assigned to the 47th Security Forces Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
Corey Owens was originally from Del Rio, Texas. Some of his family lives in the San Antonio are, and others live in Illinois. They are mourning Corey there, and in the Del Rio community, as well as at Laughlin Air Force base.
Airman Owens joined the Air Force in 2008. This was his second deployment to Iraq.
Spc. Owens deployed to Iraq with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing this past December on a six-month tour. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing is the most forward-deployed Air Force wing, which has different units stationed at a number of air bases in Iraq.
His commander said, Airman 1st Class Corey Owens was the perfect Air Force cop, as Security Forces troops call themselves.
“The level of his ability to lead at his rank and short time in the military far surpassed many of his peers,” Maj. Ian Dinesen, commander of the 47th Security Forces Squadron said. “He just had a natural knack as a leader. Definitely a rare quality.”
"The Laughlin community is devastated by the loss of Corey (Airman Owens)," said Col. Michael Frankel, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. "He stepped up to serve his nation in a time of war and deployed when he was asked. There is nothing more honorable for an Airman."
Airman 1st Class Owens leaves behind family and friends, and his fellow Airmen at Laughlin AFB.
Airman 1st Class Corey Owens is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
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Airman 1st Class Christoffer P. Johnson, 20, of Clarksville, Tennessee
Airman 1st Class Johnson died on February 17 due to a non-combat incident in Qatar, while he was on deployment to Iraq. Airman 1st Class Johnson was assigned to the 423rd Security Forces Squadron, Royal Air Force Alconbury, England, a non-flying facility under control of the US Air Force.
Christopher Johnson was a graduate of Clarksville High School. Airman 1st Class Christoffer Johnson was starting out his career as an "Air Force cop" when he died in a car accident while in Qatar. Air Force Security Forces members protect bases, aircraft, and people.
The 423rd Security Forces Squadron is stationed at RAF Alconbury, an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. Opened in 1938, RAF Alconbury, is one of two World War II-era Eighth Air Force bases in England that are still actively in use and controlled by the United States Air Force.
Unfortunately, I could find no personal information on this young Airman who gave everything in service to our country. If more becomes available, I will update here.
Airman 1st Class Johnson leaves behind family and friends, at home and abroad.
Airman 1st Class Christoffer P. Johnson is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
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Sgt. Matthew J. DeYoung, 26, of Talent, Oregon
Sgt. DeYoung was killed in action February 18 during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. DeYoung was an assistant team leader assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Matthew DeYoung was from Talent, Oregon, a small town between Medford and Ashland. He has a wife and young daughter. His aunt and sister posted the family photos found here on his facebook page.
Matthew DeYoung joined the Marine Corps in November 2004. He excelled at being a Marine and leader, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant June 1, 2008.
Sgt. DeYoung deployed to Iraq with the Marines from January 2006 to August 2006 and again from October 2007 to May 2008. Most recently, he deployed to Afghanistan in November 2010.
Sgt. DeYoung's awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Among those Sgt. DeYoung leaves behind are his wife and daughter, and his Marine reconn unit.
Sgt. Matthew J. DeYoung is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
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Spc. Jonathan A. Pilgeram, 22, of Great Falls, Montana
Spc. Jon Pilgeram was killed in action on February 17 in Konar province, Afghanistan, after being mortally wounded by small arms fire. Spc. Pilgeram was an Infantryman assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Jon Pilgeram grew up on a family working ranch in Great Falls, Montana, where his parents still live. His friends and former teachers remember the 2007 Centerville High School graduate as a hard-working country boy.
"He was a hard-working kid," said his former Centerville High principal, Mat McHale. "He worked real hard for his grades."
McHale said that whether Pilgeram was on the family ranch, in school or in the military, his work ethic was apparent and served him well.
"Jon was a farmer/rancher. I can remember him coming to school when he was in third, fourth grade. He had spent the morning working with the cows, and sometimes he had a little cow manure on his boot," he said, chuckling.
Jon joined the Army in November 2008, went through his training, and arrived at Fort Campbell in January 2010. When he was home on leave from Afghanistan last summer, he spent time with his old high school principal, telling combat stories.
Spc. Pilgeram many awards and decorations include: Afghanistan Campaign Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge; Army Commendation and Army Service Ribbon, and others.
Among those Spc. Pilgeram leaves behind are his father and mother, and his friends from Centervile.
Spc. Jonathan A. Pilgeram is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
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Photos Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
Other Photos by CalNM and linked Sources
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 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.