At the beginning of this week, five wives got the tragic news that they were now widows. The husbands they lost were:
- Marine Sergeant Marlon E. Myrie who was from Florida
- Marine Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate, Jr who was from South Carolina
- Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel L. Douville was from Louisiana
- Army Specialist Kevin Hilaman who was from California
- Army Corporal Matthew R. Gallagher who was from Massachusetts
Sergeant Marlon E. Myrie
Marlon E. Myrie was from Oakland Park, Florida. Myrie joined the Marine Corps in 2004.
Sergeant Marlon E. Myrie deployed twice to Iraq, in 2005 and again in 2007. He was promoted to sergeant in May of last year and deployed to Afghanistan in January.
Myrie was an antitank missileman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, which is based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Little information has been released about his life, but that doesn't stop the Patriot Guard Riders from placing the name of Sergeant Marlon E. Myrie on their watch list so they will be ready to help his family during this difficult time. There are also several who have left comments of condolence at the site. One reads:
Karon and I would like to offer our most sincere condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Sgt. Marlon E. Myrie, USMC.
Please rest assured that Marlon has now reported to his new duty station and, as the last verse of the Marine Corps Hymn says, is now, along with his Marine brothers, "Guarding The Streets of Heaven”.
“If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven’s scenes,
they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines”.
Rest in eternal peace my Marine brother.
“Some people live their entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference to the world, Marines don’t have that problem.” — Ronald Reagan
On June 25th, Myrie was killed while conducting combat operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. He was 25 years of age.
His awards include two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, three Iraq Campaign Medals, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a NATO Medal – ISAF Afghanistan.
Sergeant Marlon E. Myrie is survived by his wife and child.
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Technical Sergeant Daniel L. Douville
Daniel Douville grew up in Harvey, Louisiana as the oldest of five siblings. Daniel graduated from Harvey's West Jefferson High School in 1995, which is where he met his future wife, LaShana.
With their first child on the way in 1997, Daniel enlisted in the military. He joined the Air Force after graduating from the Community College of the Air Force. His wife, and high school sweetheart, was interviewed by the
New Orleans Military News:
Daniel Douville joined the service to build a good life for his family, LaShana Douville, 33, said by phone Monday night. “His job was really strictly to take care of us.”
While he was an intensely focused airman, he was just as focused on his family when not deployed.
He was passionate about cheering on his children, 14-year-old Jadelynn, 12-year-old Ayjah-Danielle, and 9-year-old Daniel “Deuce” Jr., as they took to the field for athletic events.
“He focused on us,” while at home, his wife said. “He said work is work. Home is home.”
Douville was working toward a pre-med biology degree at Southeastern University in order to fulfill a dream of practicing sports medicine. He had an interest in other cultures, liked to brew beer, and loved to cook. He also loved to play the guitar and keyboard was in the process of building a recording studio at his home.
The Technical Sergeant was assigned to the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He had the dangerous but critical job of disposing of bombs before they explode and he trained others as an instructor at Eglin’s Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
On June 26th, Technical Sergeant Douvilleon was patrolling on the border of the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. He died after being mortally wounded in an IED explosion. He was 33 years old.
Air Force Technical Sergeant Daniel L. Douville is survived by his wife, of 14 years, LaShana, his son, Daniel Jr., and his daughters, Jadelynn and Ayjah. He also left behind his mother, and his four siblings.
Many thanks to CalMN for helping to research and write this tribute to Daniel Douville.
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Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate, Jr.
Ralph Pate was from Mullins, South Carolina. Mullins is located in the upstate Pee Dee region of South Carolina in Marion County. He enlisted right after graduating from Mullins High School at age 17.
Pate, a 13-year veteran, had joined the Marines in 1998 and had been deployed four times to Iraq in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008 and twice to Afghanistan. His last deployment started in March of 2011. He was due home again in September.
Promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in 2009, Pate was headquartered at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He served as an explosive ordinance disposal technician assigned to 2nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
On June 26th, Pate was killed while conducting combat operations in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. He was 29 years old.
His family's reaction to the news that their "EJ" had died is written about on the
WPDE News website:
"It was heart crushing. It was so surreal. It was almost like it could not be happening," said his cousin Lisa Collins.
Pate's family says they always knew it was a possibility, but they never expected him to be killed because he had served overseas so many times.
Awards received by the Gunnery Sergeant were the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Ribbon with Gold Star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars in lieu of fourth award.
Survivors of Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate, Jr include his wife, who is pictured with him above and two children, ages 8 and 10.
A private memorial service will be held for Marine Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate, Jr. later this week.
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Army Specialist Kevin Hilaman
Kevin Hilaman was originally from Citrus Heights in the Sacramento area of California. He and his wife Sara lived in Berkeley and Albany before moving to Hawaii where he was headquartered at Schofield Barracks.
Hillman joined the Army on March 7, 2003 as an infantryman. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield. He was serving on his third overseas deployment and was in Afghanistan.
On June 26th, Specialist Hilaman died when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Kunar, Afghanistan. He was 28 years old.
The Specialist is remembered in an article at Hawaii's KITV site
"He would have done anyting to to take care his family. And he did, and that's why ultimately he ended up in Afganistan," said Sara Bartels,
Hilaman's widow said she was told that her husband died from a wound to his neck.
She remembered HIlaman has being very charismatic, a real family man who loved to spend time with his son Ben. "He was kind of a homebody. He loved animals alot and was very compassionate. He was always helping poeple alot, helping family and firends with whatever they needed. He was a very funny guy always making people laugh," said Bartels.
Hilaman's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, (with numeral 2), NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Aside from his wife, Specialist Kevin Hilaman is survived by his parents and a young stepson.
Many thanks to JaxDem for helping to research this tribute to Kevin Hilaman.
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Cpl. Matthew R. Gallagher, 22, of North Falmouth, Massachusetts
Cpl. Matthew R. Gallagher, 22, of North Falmouth, Mass., died June 26 in Wasit province, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Matthew Gallagher was born in Weymouth and moved to North Falmouth, where he attended Falmouth High School. He won the Abigail Adams Scholarship for MCAS score excellence. He would have celebrated his 23rd birthday on July 5th.
Matt and Katie Gallagher were married in December 2009. Katie remembered their trip to Whiteface Mountain shortly before Matt deployed.
He grabbed hold of her and looked at her with his piercing blue eyes, she said.
"He just said 'I love being here with you so much,'". He told her he looked forward to finishing his upcoming deployment "so we could start a family, and go places, and really start our lives.
According to Boston's
WCVB news site:
A former Army reservist, Ruggiero said her son followed in her military footsteps and found he had a passion for serving his country.
"It made him feel good and proud," his mother said.
"He was so good at it. I mean he moved up in rank so quickly," said his young wife, Katie Hall Gallagher, who was still grappling with the news of his death.
"He was the most generous, nice person that I've ever met in my life. He was everything to me. He was my best friend," said Katie Hall Gallagher.
Cpl Gallagher's mother, Cheryl Ruggiero, who served in the Army for three years beginning in 1975, spoke about her loss:
"I'm a gold star mother," she said, choking up. "But I'd give that gold star back if it could bring my baby back."
Matthew Gallagher also maintained a strong relationship with his in-laws.
"You don't always get a son-in-law who you like," said Maureen Hall, to whom Matthew referred as "Moski," a nickname of his own invention. "We're all honored for the too short time he was in our lives."
Gallagher was on his second tour of duty and was expected home next month for a two-week visit. Gallagher was killed after shots were fired while he and another soldier performed a house sweep. Army medics took him to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries.
According to a Facebook post by the Falmouth Military Support Group, a candlelight vigil to honor Gallagher's memory is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Old Silver Beach in North Falmouth.
The funeral date and time have not yet been set, but it will be held at St. Elizabeth Seton parish in North Falmouth.
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Many thanks to JaxDem for doing the research and writeup for Matt Gallagher
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Helping our troops:
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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, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, Ministry of Truth, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, JaxDem, and kestrel9000. 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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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.