Note: the overwhelming majority of this diary was prepared by Sandy On Signal. She was called away with family matters and was unable to post tonight.
As I have something of a personal connection to this particular edition,I'm deeply honored that she would ask me to stand in for her.
Tonight, we honor a Marine and a Soldier.
Since 2001, there have been 1495 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4439 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 17 killed in Operation New Dawn. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
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.
DoD Announces Marine Casualty
Cpl. Ian M. Muller, 22, of Danville, Vt., died March 11 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
He lived life to the fullest.
Cpl. Ian Muller was brought home to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, yesterday on March 17th., the family, Marines, and Patriot Guard Riders turned out to honor him.
Corporal Muller is the fourth Vermonter to be killed in Afghanistan and the second from the Danville area. 22 Vermonters, including five from the Northeast Kingdom, have been killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion.
A Marine honor guard bears the casket of Cpl. Ian Muller into the Sayles Funeral Home in St. Johnsbury, VT, yesterday afternoon, at the conclusion of a procession that began in Burlington and traveled through the state Capitol of Montpelier before passing through Danville and arriving in St. J. The State Legislature was called into recess as the motorcade passed through Montpelier.
A color guard of Patriot Guard Riders attends.
Photos:kestrel9000
PHOTO CREDIT AND THANKS : to my friend Todd Wellington of the Caledonian-Record.
-kestrel9000
The motorcade passes through Cpl.Muller's hometown of Danville en route to St. J.
PHOTO CREDIT: Taylor Reed, Caledonian-Record
Ian Muller's father, Clif, told the Burlington Free-Press his son joined the Marines because they were the best. He did everything in life to the tens.
“He saw them as the toughest, smallest and most elite,” Ryan Muller said. “He approached things with gusto.”
He also added he was a"smart and strong young individual."
Ian was raised in Danville, Vermont. He excelled in athletics and loved the extreme sports the best. Everything from skiing, snowboarding, soccer to bodybuilding. He had the mentality of a strong champion.
“Ian was a good fit for the Marines, and they were a good fit for him. I can’t imagine him as anything else,” said his oldest brother, Ryan Muller.
He said his son joined the Marines about four years ago. He joined the Marines after not finding suitable work near home. He loved the thrill of adventure and the Marines were a perfect fit for him.
Ian Muller is survived by his parents, Clifford and Suzanne, five brothers and one sister. The funeral will be Saturday at the Union Baptist Church in Waterford. His remains will be brought to the Union Baptist Church in Waterford at 4 p.m. Friday for a public wake.
Committal will follow the funeral at the Danville Green Cemetery.
Semper Fi, Cpl. Ian Muller.
DoD Announces Army Casualty
Sgt. 1st Class Daehan Park, 36, of Watertown, Conn. died March 12, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Sgt. 1st Class Park was raised in Watertown, Connecticut, where he was known as Michael Schneider, but after he graduated high school he changed it to Park in keeping with his Korean heritage. Park graduated from Watertown High School in 1992, his spanish teacher, Joanne Chenkus, remembered him well. She spoke to the
WTNH.Com:
"Anytime you have this tragedy, especially when it's someone in the military, it just brings it home. And they are always a child in my eyes, because I see them as a high school student," says Chenkus.
"I just remember his face very vividly. He has that slender look. I remember a little mischief too," says spanish teacher, Joanne Chenkus.
Park leaves behind a wife and two children, who live in Washington D.C.. Governor Dannel Malloy of Connecticut issued the following statement:
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement today after learning that another Connecticut soldier has been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
Sergeant First Class Daehan Park, whose parents live in Connecticut, was killed on Saturday when his vehicle hit an IED in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
“Sergeant First Class Park’s family, particularly his father and stepmother, his wife and children, as well as his friends, are in Cathy’s and my thoughts and prayers,” said Governor Malloy. “This is a devastating time for those who knew and loved Sgt. 1st Class Park, and for the people with whom he served, as well. He is a hero who died serving his country and he will be honored and remembered as such. We are reminded of the toll war exacts on this country and military families, and how important it is to thank our soldiers for the work they are doing. We pray for their safe return.”
Sgt. 1st Class Park, 36, enlisted in Watertown, Conn., served in the Army Special Forces and leaves behind a wife and two daughters in their Washington state hometown.
The Governor has ordered Connecticut and U.S. flags lowered to half staff. They will be raised again at sunset the day of Sgt. 1st Class Park’s interment, details of which are forthcoming.
Sgt. 1st Class Park's awards include:
The Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), the Army Good Conduct Medal (4th award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award) Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3rd award), Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Parachutist's Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McRae, MD, (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. 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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, racheltracks, csas, and me, Sandy on Signal.
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.