Please join us tonight in paying tribute to "Nikko" Hensley, a son, a husband and a father of three who gave his last full measure for his country this week.
Pale Rider
He beckons me with silent call,
He waits behind each corner.
He bids me now to go with him.
He stands alone with quiet smile
And patiently waits for me.
He holds the golden silver key.
He brings the peaceful, painless sleep,
The end of all men's problems.
He asked no price for endless night
But for else to ride forever.
Spc. Nicholas C. D. Hensley, 28, of Prattville, Ala. died June 24, in Landstuhl, Germany, with his family at his side, from injuries sustained in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 15 when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron (Pale Riders), 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
http://www.defense.gov/...
Spc. Nicholas C. D. Hensley
Spc. Nicholas Hensley was severely injured in the June 15 attack and was transported to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. His family was at his bedside when he died, nine days later.
"Nikko" Hensley, 28, of Prattville, Ala., was a cavalry scout and a member of the "Pale Riders", the tip of the spear of the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He enlisted in the military in 2001, and joined the active component of the U.S. Army in November 2005.
This was "Nikko" Hensley's third combat deployment. Previously, he had deployed from Fort Hood, Texas, to Iraq for seven months from May to November 2006 and 15 months from June 2008 to September 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Brigade in February 2011, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include two Purple Hearts, the Army Commendation Medal (awarded twice), the Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.
http://www.ksallink.com/...
If you want to know how the Pale Riders are serving their country, follow this link:
MISSION: http://www.riley.army.mil/...
"Nikko" as the man's father said his friends often called him, suffered the loss of both legs and at least one hand in the blast, but his parents were so thankful at the time that he survived. "I want to hold my baby so bad," his mom said during the interview.
The Hensley family traveled half-way around the world to be with their son in Germany where he was being stabilized before transport back to the United States.
http://www.wsfa.com/...
Please join us in prayer for "Nikko" Hensley, and those who loved him.
What is excellent,
as God lives, is permanent.
Hearts turn to dust,
hearts love remains.
Hearts love will meet the again.
- Emerson
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; 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. The series, which was begun by i dunno, is maintained by Sandy on Signal, 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, Wide Awake in Kentucky, CalNM and Maggie Jean.
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.
If that's not clear, read this: http://www.dailykos.com/...