DoD Announces Army Casualties
Tonight, we gather to remember the lives and honor the service of four soldiers who gave the last full measure of devotion while wearing our country's uniform:
Staff Sgt. Kristofferson B. Lorenzo, 33, of Chula Vista, California
Pfc. William S. Blevins, 21, of Sardinia, Ohio
Pvt. Andrew M. Krippner, 20, Garland, Texas
Pvt. Thomas C. Allers, 23, of Plainwell, Michigan
All four were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
These brothers in arms from the same unit died side by side in the same IED blast on May 23 in Kumar province, Afghanistan.
Please go below the fold and take a moment to pay tribute to them and participate in our virtual memorial service.
The IGTNT team asks you to 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.
Sources: sign on san diego, airforce mortuary affairs operations, San Diego TV-6, Hawaii Reporter, Bakersfield News, LA Times—California War Dead, San Diego CA on msnbc.com, FB tribute page
"The brightest spot in the hellpack"
Kristofferson Lorenzo was on his third deployment. He was serving his second tour in Afghanistan and had previously served in Iraq. At 33, he was the oldest of the group of four. He is remembered as a jokester who entertained his family and friends with funny stories and knew how to make people laugh.
Fellow soldier Wyatt Arndt said on the Facebook tribute page: "So many of the guys looked up to you, always motivated, always smiling. You were most definitely the brightest spot in the hellpack. And it will never be the same without you."
Kris Lorenzo was a proud Filipino-American who recently took a trip to the Philippines with his family. He loved traditional home cooking, especially burritos and tamales, and his friend Joseph's chicken and tahong. He once asked his sister to try to send chicharrón in a care package to him in Afghanistan. He was also a fan of boxing, especially Manny Pacquiao fights.
Lorenzo’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (5 oak leaf clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Airborne Badge, Driver's Badge and the Purple Heart.
Lorenzo is survived by his wife Leah and two young sons, and is remembered as a loving husband and a devoted father. Nicole Woods said, “There was always a special look of love when he watched those boys of his.” The Facebook page is full of pictures of a smiling Kris Lorenzo with his wife and children, including pictures from their Philippines trip.
Another friend, Justin Farris, posted “Kris and I were at Ft. Bragg together and would hang out all the time. I received a text informing me what happened. I thought it was a dream. I know that Kris is still smiling down on us as he always had a smile on his face. You will be greatly missed! R.I.P. my friend!!! I also want to give my condolences to his wife and children. You are in my prayers.”
Sources: Fallen Heroes Afghanistan, timesgazette.com
"No one can forget his wonderful smiling face"
William "Seth" Blevins is remembered by family, friends and classmates as a well-mannered young man who was never shy about helping someone in need. He was very involved in his local community as a youth, participating in a number of activities like 4-H and the Brown County Fair. Blevins was passionate about sports; a talented athlete, he ran track for Eastern High School and also competed in basketball and soccer. His numerous academic and extracurricular activities qualified him for National Honor Society. Blevins worked for a time at his father's construction company, and made a lot of friends there as well. He was also a committed Christian who enjoyed attending church. "I am a Christian and proud of it, nothing will change that!" he wrote on his MySpace profile.
Blevins graduated from EHS in 2008. He also studied criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati for a time. He was accepted at Ohio University in Athens, where he applied for the ROTC program, and joined the Army the following year.
The details of funeral arrangements for Seth Blevins had not been announced as of press deadline Thursday, but at least two groups of volunteers were planning to cover the expected funeral route with yellow ribbons in his honor. Both groups plan to meet today, one in Georgetown and one at EHS, to make preparations for the ribbons. Former schoolmate Bethany Yockey is helping to organize one of the yellow ribbon campaigns. "No one can forget his wonderful smiling face," Yockey said. "He was a wonderful, wonderful young man." Yockey added that she and countless other individuals across Brown County will remember him fondly as a kind and brave and honorable young man. "It is a great loss," she said, "but we can celebrate his life now and hopefully show how much we were proud of him."
Seth is survived by his parents, Trisha Blevins and Steve Blevins, and by one sister, Paige Blevins. Steve Blevins said his son was well-known and well-liked in the community, and had touched a number of lives when he worked for Steve Blevins Construction. "I was always proud of my son, no matter what he did. He was a perfect son," his father said when contacted on Thursday.
"Everybody loved him," said Steve Blevins. "And his smile, everybody remembers his smile."
Sources: KUT News for Austin, TXA-21 CBS-DFW
"It has shaken our community"
Andrew Krippner was the youngest of the four, and was serving his first deployment. He enlisted in the Army less than a year ago, and had only been in Afghanistan for about a month and a half.
Krippner was an only child. His family has not been talking to the press and has asked for privacy. A note on their front porch reads: “Our dear friends, our hearts break with you as you grieve. Out of respect for Pam and I, please no calls no visitors no exceptions.” The sign is surrounded by flowers, flags, yellow ribbons, and teddy bears left by neighbors and friends.
Andrew Krippner's father is Pastor at the Concordia Lutheran Church in Garland. A message on the church’s website says they are planning a funeral for sometime next week. In a very brief statement on Wednesday his mother said she was very proud of her son. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Purple Heart.
Family friend Jeff Stillinger posted this remark in an on line tribute. “I knew Andy. He was a great young man, serving his country with pride and dignity. This particular memorial day weekend is more personal than ever for me and my family. It has shaken our community. This young man is without a doubt our hero. Someone a person can truly look up to.”
Krippner's best friend, Nolan Killingsworth, who lives down the street, put up his own memorial to honor a soldier who was like a brother to him. In his front yard he placed a flag at half staff, a photo of Krippner in uniform, and a hand lettered sign that reads: In Memory of Andy Krippner. “I started calling him my brother after he left for basic training, said 19-year-old Nolan Killingsworth. “When he was stationed in Hawaii, I would end all my e-mails with, I love you, brother.”
Sources: WOOD-TV.com, mlive.com, mlive.com 2, Kalamazoo Gazette, FB Tribute page, WWMT Channel 3
"What is she going to do now? He was her only child."
Thomas Allers was serving his first deployment and had only been in Afghanistan for a few weeks.
In his 2006 Plainwell High School senior yearbook, a photograph shows a bearded Allers smiling and wearing a black-hooded sweat shirt--very different from the clean shaven military look in his official Army photo. According to a news release from the 27th Infantry Division, Allers received the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Purple Heart and Overseas Service Ribbon.
Allers was an only child who was very close to his parents. “They just did everything together,” said family friend Tammy Austin, who knew Allers since he was a little boy. “He was a great kid, very sweet.” She added that Allers's mother was very fearful when her son left for Afghanistan. “I can just remember how shaky she was,” said Austin, as she stood in front of the Allers’ empty yellow house off a dirt road outside the city of Plainwell. “What is she going to do now? He was her only child.”
Condolences for the family were posted on line by neighbors and friends. Tina Howard wrote: “Our family's thoughts and prayers are with Lance and Denise. We are so sorry for your loss. We watched Tommy grow up and become a wonderful young man. Thank you Pvt. Thomas Allers you will be greatly missed.” Andrea Bumgart-Parsons added “My heart is breaking for your family. You were an amazing guy & I'm so grateful to have had the chance to get to know you. I will never forget our last conversation before you left & how proud & excited you were to be serving your country! You will always be a hero to our community, and to those who were lucky enough to know and love you.”
Friend Tom Matusiak says Allers was a generous friend who loved golf. Pictures show the two went golfing often as kids. “We had fun golfing,” said Matusiak. “He was better than me, but that's not saying much.” Matusiak added that Allers had a positive attitude about his deployment. “He was really pumped about it you know. When he was going over there, he didn't want anyone to worry about him." said Matusiak. "I think the last thing he said to me was, I got a slap on the shoulder and he said, 'Hey, I'll be back.'" Now Matusiak says everyone is feeling the loss. “It's hit a lot of people really hard.”
The Thomas Allers Memorial Fund has been established at First Community Federal Credit Union. "The close-knit community of Plainwell often comes together in times of both joy and in this case, sorrow," a news release from the city of Plainwell said. "The Memorial Fund is one way one Plainwell community members can pay tribute to the deceased and his family."
News of his death is circulating through the small community as it prepares for Memorial Day, making residents think about the meaning of that day more than ever.
“That’s what going to be on people’s minds, come Monday. It will bring a whole new meaning to it,” said David Rantz, a fire command sergeant with the Plainwell Department of Public Safety.
On Tuesday night, there was a candlelight vigil at the Veterans Memorial in Allers's hometown of Plainwell. “They lost a friend,” Rantz said. “It’s hard for them to put it into words.”
Traces of candle wax still remained on the red bricks in the rain on Wednesday.
Four illumination rounds fired into the star spangled night sky
After the soldiers' deaths, Lt. Col. Dan Wilson wrote this message on the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment's Facebook page:
Dear Wolfhounds and Wolfhound families,
It is with great sadness that I must write to tell you that yesterday we lost four members of our family. Wolfhounds Kris Lorenzo, William Blevins, Thomas Allers, and Andrew Krippner were killed in action on 23 May 2011. All were members of 1st Platoon, A Company.
We would like to express our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of our fallen heroes. Please know that they are in the thoughts and prayers of every Wolfhound here, and only wish that we could be with them now to help them through this difficult time. Our Rear Detachment and Family Readiness Group has already moved to help our families in their time of need, and I would ask everyone to lend their support however they can.
We gave our heroes a solemn, fitting farewell last night. The entire base turned out to salute our fallen comrades as they were carried to the waiting helicopters for the final trip home, and A Company fired four illumination rounds into the star spangled night sky to symbolize their spirits above us.
We will never forget the sacrifice of these gallant young Americans, we will carry them forever in our hearts, and we vow to honor their memory by completing our mission here.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remember.
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