Since 2001, 1447 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4446 U.S. troops have lost their lives 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 three soldiers who died far from home while serving in wartime:
Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins, 26, of New Orleans, Louisiana
Sgt. Christian A. S. Garcia, 30, of Goodyear, Arizona
Spc. Gary L. Nelson III, 20, of Woodstock, Georgia
Please take a moment below to remember them,
and all those who have lost their lives in these wars.
On April 2, the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Hood, near Killeen, Texas came under rocket and mortar attack at their base at Contingency Operating Site Kalsu in Iskandariya, Iraq. COS Kaslu is located about 20 miles south of Baghdad in Babil province, between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. The base frequently receives rocket fire, and this time, two Sergeants from the Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, lost their lives. Killed in the attack were:
Staff Sgt. Quadi Hudgins and Sgt. Christian Garcia.
Both men were decorated soldiers with the Regimental Support Squadron (RSS), a logistical support unit nicknamed "Muleskinner" after the original teamsters who used wagon trains to conduct logistical operations for the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen. Maintenance Troop is called "Blacksmith." In 2009, Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment was awarded a prestigious Army Award for Maintenance Excellence.
Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins, 26, of New Orleans, Louisiana
Staff Sgt. Hudgins was a radio and communications equipment repairman with Maintenance Troop. Staff Sgt. Hudgins was on his second tour in Iraq.
Quadi Hudgins was also an All-ARMY Golden Gloves boxer and aspiring Olympian.
Quadi Hudgins grew up on the tough streets of New Orleans, where he learned to fight, and began training as a boxer. He attended Sarah T. Reed High School in eastern New Orleans in the class of 2003. His family and friends looked up to the disciplined athlete with the promising future in boxing, a sport Quadi loved.
This time last year, Quadi was competing in the All Army Boxing Championships, where he won a silver medal. He was also married, and had a young daughter.
Quadi Hudgins enlisted in the Army in June 2003. Hudgins spent a tour overseas in South Korea, and deployed to Iraq from October 2005 to September 2006.
Sgt. Hudgins came to Ft Hood with the Muleskinners in June 2010, and deployed to Iraq again last fall.
His father and mother in Florida remembered their son,
"Him in the ring, loved boxing, had a passion for boxing..."
"Pretty much followed in my footsteps," his father said.
"He did a lot of following in his footsteps," added Quadi's mother.
Not only did Sgt. Hudgins follow his father into the boxing ring...but into the Army as well. Members of the Hudgins family have served in World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam...
But now the youngest of that legacy...will not be coming home from Iraq.
"He's the first member of the family that didn't make it."
Staff Sgt. Hudgins' many awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Meritorious Unit Commendation, two Army Good Conduct Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and many others.
Staff Sgt. Hudgins leaves behind are his wife and young daughter, and his father and mother and other family and friends.
Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins is missed. May He Rest In Peace
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Sgt. Christian A. S. Garcia, 30, of Goodyear, Arizona
Sgt. Garcia worked as a quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer.
This was Sgt. Garcia's third deployment to Iraq.
Christian Garcia joined the military in June 1999, and served tours of duty in Kosovo and South Korea. Sgt. Garcia deployed to Iraq from December 2004 to December 2005 and from November 2007 to January 2009.
Sgt. Garcia had been working with Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron at Fort Hood since August 2010.
Sgt. Christian Garcia's awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, and Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign stars, among many others.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Sgt. Garcia," said Goodyear Mayor Georgia Lord.
"It's important to be mindful of the sacrifices of the men and women who serve our country in armed forces. On behalf of the city and all of our residents, we offer our condolences on the sad loss of one of our own. Flags were lowered to half-staff today in honor of Sgt. Garcia."
Among those Sgt. Christian Garcia leaves behind are his family and friends.
Sgt. Christian A. S. Garcia is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
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Spc. Gary L. Nelson III, 20, of Woodstock, Georgia
Spc. Nelson III died April 5 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. Spc. Nelson was on his first deployment.
He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Spc. Nelson's death is still under investigation, according to a Fort Stewart spokesman.
Unfortunately, I could find no other information on this young soldier who died during his deployment to Iraq. I will update here if I learn more about him.
Among those Spc. Gary L. Nelson III leaves behind are family and friends at home and in his unit.
Spc. Gary L. Nelson III 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 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.