I Got The News Today (IGTNT) is among the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos and 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.
Honoring and Remembering:
1st Lt Daren M. Hidalgo
Sgt Robert C. Sisson, Jr.
Lance Cpl Andrew P. Carpenter
Since 2003 we have suffered the loss of 4439 American lives and a total of 4757 Coalition Forces in Iraq.
Since 2001 we have suffered the loss of 1483 American lives and a total of 2341 Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.
Only Time
~ Enya
Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows?
Only time...
And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose?
Only time...
Who can say why your heart sighs,
As your love flies?
Only time...
And who can say why your heart cries,
When your love dies
Only time...
Who can say when the roads meet,
That love might be,
In your heart.
And who can say when the day sleeps,
If the night keeps all your heart?
Night keeps all your heart...
Who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose?
Only time...
And who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows?
Only time...
Who knows?
Only time...
Who knows?
Only time...
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1st Lt. Daren M. Hidalgo, 24, of Waukesha, Wisconsin
1st Lt. Hidalgo was assigned to G Company, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Rose Barracks, Germany. He was killed on February 20th while conducting combat operations near Mama Kiriz, Afghanistan, according to the 2nd Cavalry Association.
Daren was a 2005 Dallastown Area High School graduate and a standout on the wrestling team.
Dave Gable served as Daren Hidalgo's wrestling coach in 10th through 12th grade in high school.
He said Daren Hidalgo was an outstanding wrestler - a district qualifier who was only a match or two away from a state championship.
"He was the type of person that everybody loved," Gable said. "He had a magnetic personality, a big smile, and was generally happy about everything that was going on."
From an archived story in the York Sunday News published on Feburary 20, 2005 :
Daren Hidalgo stood at the podium with the District 3 Class AAA Section IV wrestling gold medal hanging around his neck, thinking things couldn't get any better Saturday evening. When came an announcement over the PA system, and Hidalgo's night improved even more.
Earlier that day, a U.S. priority mail envelope had arrived at the Hidalgo residence, officially announcing Hidalgo's acceptance into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Hidalgo's parents hid the letter, waiting to surprise him - and the rest of the crowd at South Western High School - until after he won his match.
After high school, Daren Hidalgo received a U.S. Military Academy appointment to West Point. His father and older brother, Miles Hidalgo, also attended West Point. Hidalgo graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2009. He completed Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne, Ranger, Army Combatives and Stryker Leader Course at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
Phil Bayliss, his best friend, said:
"He was so proud to be in the military. "It was a bit of a family tradition, but it was a value he held closely. He was one of the friendliest, most courageous, bravest guys I've ever met."
In the Dallastown High School lobby, a display honoring Daren Hidalgo has been set up with members of the JROTC standing honor guard. The school has planned a memorial service for Daren on Sunday. (Source)(Source)
The Patriot Guard Riders have 1st Lt Hidalgo on their Confirmed Mission's List.
1st Lt. Hidalgo is survived by his family, parents Jorge and Andrea, as well as Jared, Jenny, Miles, Caroline, Carmen, Mike, Wade, Lexie and Carson.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr., 29, of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr., died Monday, Februrary 21st the Defense Department said in a news release. He was serving in Kandahar with the post’s 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The Army has not released details on how Sisson died, apart from saying the death wasn’t related to combat. Officials at Fort Carson said the death is under investigation.
The family reported that military officers told them that Sisson had experienced stomach cramps the night before he died. The next morning it was discovered he'd died in his sleep.
Robert "Bobby" Sisson was a 2000 graduate of Center High School, where he was an infielder on the school baseball team.
Bobby joined the Army in 2004 and trained as an infantryman. He was deployed to Iraq from March 2008 to March 2009, and was deployed to Afghanistan on July 15, 2010.
When home on leave Bobby Sisson always scheduled a fishing trip with his father. And, like clockwork, he always managed to one-up his old man.
Michelle Zajac, longtime girlfriend of Bobby's father said:
“Bobby would always have more fish,” “Always no matter who he went fishing with. That was just Bobby.”
“It is a loss to all of us. He’s going to be missed by a lot of people.”
Raymond Sisson of Aliquippa, Bobby's paternal grandfather said:
"He was an extraordinary soldier in so many ways," Sisson said. "They looked to my grandson for leadership. He was a brave and fearless soldier. I know this for a fact because of the many commendations and ribbons and leadership awards he won. He was just a super, super soldier."
He served a yearlong tour in Iraq that ended in 2009 before heading to Afghanistan with the 3,800-soldier brigade last summer.
Sgt Sisson earned the following awards:
Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (2), Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge
Sgt Robert C. Sisson, Jr. is on the Patriot Guard Riders Confirmed Mission List.
Sgt Sisson is survived by his wife, Brittany Sisson; his father, Robert Sisson Sr.; his mother, Mary Ann Storch; a sister Christina Baker; grandmother Aledy Sisson and grandmother Dolores Lucente.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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Lance Cpl. Andrew P. Carpenter, 27, of Columbia, Tennessee
Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter, a member of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, was shot in the neck on February 14th while on patrol in southern Afghanistan. The bullet severed his spinal cord. His heart stopped and it took officials 43 minutes to revive him. Medical officials later declared the 27-year-old brain dead.
Carpenter died Feb. 19, the Defense Department confirmed Tuesday.
"Andy" had been hospitalized at Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany since the 14th. His parents Kevin and Cindy Carpenter flew out to be at his bedside.
Before Andy was taken off life support, his parents shared a final moment with their son.
“We got to tell him we love him. We got to see him. And even though he wasn’t there, we got to hold him.”
“We told him we loved him and were very proud of him, and that his wife and son are very proud of him,” Kevin Carpenter said as his voice began to crack.
The Marine’s father said officials tried their best to keep his son alive and entertained the idea of flying him back to the U.S. to let Crissie see him, but officials believed he would have died inflight.
“He was seriously degrading every day. It came time to think of Andy and let Andy go. It was very admirable that she wanted to be with him, but it was safer to put it in the hands of God.”
Andrew Carpenter is a 2002 graduate of Columbia Central High School. He joined the Marines in 2007 and was serving his second deployment in Afghanistan.
He married Crissie Ponder in 2010. Crissie is pregnant and expecting to give birth to a baby boy, who will be named Landon, in less than two weeks.
Lance Cpl Carpenter's awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
Lance Cpl Carpenter is on the Patriot Guard Riders Confirmed Mission List.
Andrew is survived by his wife, Crissie (Ponder) Carpenter; his father Kevin Carpenter; his mother Cindy Carpenter and his sister Kate Kutzleb.
His Guest Book at Heritage Funeral Home can be viewed here.
~ 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, Ms Wings, 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
and
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.
Homes For Our Troops - Build special adapted homes for severely injured veterans at no cost to the veterans they serve.
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.