The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross
This image is known as the Fallen Soldier Battle Cross or Battle Cross or simply, Helmet Rifle Boots.
It is made up of the fallen soldier's rifle with bayonet attached and stuck into the ground with the soldier's dog tags hanging, helmet on top of the rifle and the boots of the fallen soldier beneath.
This traditon began during the American Civil War as a means of identifying the bodies on the battlefield. Today it is used to show respect for the fallen and as a means to allow fellow troop members to mourn as attending a funeral or memorial service is not always possible for soldiers still engaged in battle.
Honoring and Remembering:
Capt. Joseph W. Schultz
Staff Sgt. Martin R. Apolinar
Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo
Spc. Richard C. Emmons III
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.
.
Since 2003 we have suffered the loss of 4454 American lives and a total of 4772 Coalition Forces in Iraq.
Since 2001 we have suffered the loss of 1604 American lives and a total of 2501 Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.
.
.
Capt. Joseph W. Schultz, 36, of Port Angeles, Washington
Capt Joseph W. Schultz died May 29, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. ~ DoD Press Release
Joseph Schultz grew up in Sacramento, Calif., and Springfield, Illinois. He graduated from El Camino High School in 1993 and later from the University of Oregon with bachelor's degrees in political science and economics.
Joseph also worked as an aide to Governor Grey Davis both in Sacramento and as a press aide in his Washington DC office. The former Democratic governor said this:
He had a bright spirit and enduring commitment to integrity and public service.
As a soldier, Joseph paid the ultimate price for our freedom, he gave his life. While Joseph's sacrifice has already been made, let us not forget the sacrifice that his family will be making for the rest of their lives - having lost one of their own. While we can never repay them for their sacrifice, we can honor Joseph and his family by committing to be of service in his memory.
Schultz is the son of prominent Port Angeles businesswoman, Betsy Reed Schultz.
Bonnie Kuchler, a friend of the family said:
He was the kind of young man who walks into a room and there's a presence. You take notice. He was a natural-born leader, just the way he carries himself, his confidence, the way he speaks. That's not the kind of person our world needs to lose. He was very close with his mom.
Capt. Schultz received his commission as an intelligence officer from officer candidate school in 2003. He later graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg and became a commander of Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha 3333.
Captain Joseph W. Schultz's military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutists Badge. He also wore the Special Forces Tab and the Ranger Tab.
He is survived by his wife, Kelly; and his mother, Betsy Reed Schultz of Port Angeles, Wash.
A memorial service will be held June 11 at Olympic Cellars Winery in Port Angeles with the burial at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
Staff Sgt. Martin R. Apolinar, 28, of Glendale, Arizona
Staff Sgt Martin R. Apolinar died May 29, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. ~ DoD Press Release
A 2001 graduate of Trevor Browne High School, Martin Apolinar was voted "prettiest eyes" by his senior class.
Staff Sgt Apolinar's first deployment was to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This tour in Afghanistan was his second deployment.
Staff Sgt Apolinar enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2004 and served as an infantryman with Company B, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division at Fort Riley, Kan. He served as a rifleman, machine gunner and team leader.
After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, he was assigned to the Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. He served as the senior Special Forces weapons sergeant for an Operational Detachment – Alpha.
Governor Jan Brewer ordered flags to fly at half staff on June 1st in Apolinar's honor and released this statement:
I ask all Arizonans to join me in thoughtful prayer and genuine reflection for the family of Staff Sergeant Martin Apolinar. May they feel proud of the many sacrifices made by this great American.
Staff Sgt Martin R. Apolinar's military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutists Badge. He earned the Special Forces Tab and Ranger Tab.
A family member Wednesday said the Apolinar family was not ready to comment on Martin’s death, adding that the family likes to “keep things very simple and quiet.”
Staff Sgt Martin R. Apolinar is survived by his wife, Elisa; his son, Martin; and his parents, Gene and Susan Apolinar, of Prescott.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo, 25, of Riverside, California
Sgt Aaron J. Blasjo died May 29, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. ~ DoD Press Release
Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo was a member of a special forces canine unit. Both he and his dog were killed by enemy fire while on patrol.
Aaron entered the Army after graduating from Ramona High School in 2004. This was his third tour in Afghanistan. He had also served in Iraq, according to a U.S. Army Special Forces Command statement.
Sgt Blasjo enlisted in the Army in July 2004 and was selected for the elite Green Berets after extensive testing and training in 2006, according to the statement.
Crystal Blasjo remembers her late husband, Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo, as a laid-back, surf's up guy.
Everything was just open to him and he loved life.
Aaron told his future wife he was a school janitor when they first met in 2007.
He didn't want people to know (he was in Special Forces). They are the silent professionals.
The couple's son, Talon was born on March 24th.
Aaron just screamed. He was never so excited.
Crystal Blasjo said Talon will know his father.
"I won't miss a detail," she said amid tears.
Sgt Aaron J. Blasjo's military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal.
On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation. The Governor and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
Sgt. Blasjo is survived by his wife Crystal, two month old son Talon and parents, Daniel and Bobbi Blasjo, of Riverside.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
In honor of Sgt. Blasjo's canine partner I am providing this link to a diary published on Memorial Day by Limelite honoring these Canine Warriors. There are two photo essay links in the diary as well as a link to the War Dog Memorial.
From a comment in the diary by our dear noweasels, there is this link to the K-9 Wall of Honor.
Spc. Richard C. Emmons III, 22, of North Granby, Connecticut
Spc. Richard C. Emmons III died May, 31, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. ~ DoD Press Release
Richard Emmons graduated from Granby Memorial High School in 2006 and joined the Army in September 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010.
Spc Emmons, was known as “the funny bone of the platoon,” a young man quick with a quip who kept his fellow soldiers loose and laughing.
On Thursday however, his platoon choked back tears during a tribute service at Forward Operating Base Altimur in Logar province. A shrine in Emmons' honor included a framed photo, his helmet, rifle and boots and the Bronze Star and Purple Heart he received posthumously.
Spc. Curtis Wood said:
He could always find the humor in a situation. He was the guy who was always smiling, who could get everyone to lighten up.
The man known to friends as Em stood out as the unit’s resident jester, said Cpl. Justin Price, Emmons’ team leader in the personnel support detachment platoon.
You could count on him to be joking and laughing wherever we went. He saw the best of everything.
Gov. Dannel Malloy ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Emmons.
Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Specialist Emmons at this devastating time. We will not forget that Specialist Emmons, like too many of our men and women in uniform, gave his life for the cause of freedom and in service to this country. Our thoughts are with his unit still in Afghanistan, and hope they, and the rest of our troops overseas, return home safely.
Spc. Emmons' awards and decorations are the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Spc Richard C. Emmons is survived by his mother and stepfather.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.