“Taps” is sounded nightly by the U S military to indicate that it is “lights out”. It is played on bugle or trumpet during flag ceremonies and at the conclusion of most military funerals. The tune in its present form was arranged by Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield.
When "Taps" is sounded at a funeral, it is customary for serving members of the military or veterans to salute. The corresponding gesture for civilians is to place the right hand over the heart.
Taps
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light....Dims the sight
And a star....Gems the sky....Gleaming bright
From afar....Drawing night
Falls the night.
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All is well...Safely rest:
Staff Sergeant Jason A. Rogers
Staff Sergeant Jeremy D. Smith
Seaman Benjamin D. Rast
I Got The News Today (IGTNT) which began in April of 2004, making it one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, 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.
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Since 2003 we have suffered the loss of 4446 American lives and a total of 4764 Coalition Forces in Iraq.
Since 2001 we have suffered the loss of 1531 American lives and a total of 2402 Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.
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SSgt Jason A. Rogers, 28 of Brandon, Mississippi
Staff Sgt. Jason A. Rogers, 28, of Brandon, Miss., died April 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. ~ DoD News Release
Jason Rogers graduated in 2000 from Brandon High School. The Rankin County School District issued this statement about Jason:
Sgt. Rogers was a highly decorated Marine and a young man of strong character and commitment to his country. We are proud that he is a graduate of BHS but we are even prouder of the service he gave to his country.
Brandon Mayor Tim Coulter said Rogers’ loss is one that is felt all throughout the community.
We are saddened by the death of one of our hometown heroes, Jason Rogers, a brave man of character. He will be missed by our city and our hearts and prayers are with his family at this time.
Jason enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after high school. His friend, First Sgt. Seth Miller, said the fallen soldier was a decorated veteran who had been to Iraq three times and was on his second tour in Afghanistan, where he was killed.
He is the epitome of a Marine's Marine. This is his fifth combat deployment. Staff Sgt. Rodgers is a warrior.
Brandon Winfield, Jason's childhood friend said:
The loss of Jason Rogers is going to make this world an emptier and lonelier and colder place. I could write a War and Peace-sized story of the kind of person he was. Some people have it - the room just seemed to be dizzier and brighter with him in it.
Another friend, Derrick Brownlee said Jason was a happy, laid-back, charismatic practical joker and had reached a point in his life where he finally had it all together.
Brownlee has been in the Army, and Winfield in the Air Force. Both had tried on several occasions to talk Rogers into hanging up his dog tag.
"He said he wanted to stay in and retire a Marine," Brownlee said. "He said, 'I wouldn't want to not go, my guys over there are depending on me.'"
SSgt Jason A Rogers is survived by his wife, Angie; his mother, Jenny Smith; step-father, Eddie Smith; and his father, Tracy Rogers.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
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~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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SSgt. Jeremy D. Smith, 26 of Arlington, Texas
Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith, 26, of Arlington, Texas, died April 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Houston, Texas.
The incident is under investigation. ~ DoD News Release
Jeremy Smith was a 2003 graduate of Martin High School in Arlington and enlisted in the Marines in June of that same year.
Teachers there said he was passionate about his patriotism and following the Sept. 11 attacks he made the decision to join the military right out of school.
Susan Kingen, a MHS counselor fought back tears as she described Smith, saying he was driven, compassionate and someone she knew would succeed.
I tried to talk him into ROTC first and go in as an officer. I just couldn’t talk him out of it. He was going to serve his country. He was just dedicated to doing that.
SSgt. Smith’s father said his son joined the reserves after his regular service so he would be able to serve his country while getting a college education.
He was studying criminal justice at UTA and was about a year away from graduating. But he ultimately wanted to return to the Marines as an officer.
SSgt Jeremy Smith had completed three previous tours in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan.
SSgt Smith's awards and medals, include: two Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
A spokesman for the family said Smith’s body would return to North Texas likely on Monday or Tuesday. Upon arrival to DFW, the Marine will be honored with a water cannon salute.
Funeral arrangements are planned for Friday. Smith will received a purple heart at graveside services at Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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SN Benjamin D. Rast, 23 of Miles, Michigan
Seaman Benjamin D. Rast, 23, of Niles, Mich., died April 6 while conducting a dismounted patrol northeast of Patrol Base Alcatraz, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Rast was assigned as a hospitalman to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Rast was stationed at Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment, San Diego, California ~ DoD News Release
Benjamin "Ben" Rast was a 2006 Brandywine High School graduate where he was a standout football and baseball player.
Benjamin's high school baseball coach, David Sidenbender said:
He had a real good attitude. I hever had any problem with him.
He had quite a bit of adversity during his senior year. His mother died that year, and he injured his knee during football season. He couldn't catch during baseball season, but he did a good job for us as a hitter. He never complained.
Shortly after his mother’s death, Ben's half-brother was murdered in Louisiana by a robber. Rast had no other siblings.
Ben Rast attended Lake Michigan College, where he majored in law enforcement and was a member of the college's National Honor Society.
SN Rast enlisted in the Navy on April 1, 2009. He was stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego's Directorate for Nursing Services before being attached as a hospitalman to The Lone Star Battalion.
Seaman Rast is the 43rd Navy corpsman to be killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He was a remarkable sailor who was respected by his peers and co-workers for his integrity and strong work ethic, and was frequently complimented by his patients, said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Pietro Martone.
Ben's father, Robert Rast, said the Navy told him his son was killed by a Hellfire missile, a weapon fired by U.S. aircraft. He said he fears his son's death might have been caused by friendly fire.
Seaman Benjamin D. Rast's awards included National Defense Service Medal, Pistol Markmanship Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Benjamin's father said the family would like to hold the visitation and memorial service at the Brandywine auditorium to accommodate the large number of visitors expected to come from around the country. A service has yet to be scheduled.
~ 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, maggiejean, racheltracks, Kestrel9000 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.
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.