Since 2001, 1584 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4473 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Iraq.
The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) series is a reminder that nearly every day, somebody gets the heartbreaking news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
Tonight we remember a Sailor and a Marine killed in action far from home:
Seaman Aaron D. Ullom, 20, of Midland, Michigan
Lance Cpl. Robert S. Greniger, 21, of Greenfield, Minnesota
Please take a moment below to remember them,
and all those who have died in these wars.
The Department of Defense announced the death of a Sailor serving in Afghanistan:
Seaman Aaron D. Ullom, 20, of Midland, Michigan
Seaman "Doc" Ullom died July 12 when the Marine unit he was serving with came under fire during a foot patrol in the Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Doc Ullom was a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Aaron Ullom is a graduate of Midland High School where he played on the football and track team. While he was a high school student, Aaron worked at Genji Japanese Steak House. Aaron signed up for the Navy in 2009 as a high school senior, after a recruiter visited the school.
“He was curious about it," said his mother.
"He thought that is was something he was interested in doing.”
“He was a sweet kid,” she said. “I just want him to be remembered as a hero.”
Aaron Ullom joined the Navy in October 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in February 2011 for his first tour. In April he was promoted to seaman.
Seaman Ullom was a Navy medic who served alongside a Marine unit that was assigned to training Afghan troops. He was due to return home in less than three months and was most looking forward to getting a Pathfinder truck when he returned.
Seaman Ullom was on a foot patrol with his Marines during a training mission with Afghan troops when he was mortally wounded by gunfire. He had just celebrated his 20th birthday on June 25.
Friends have been posting messages on his Facebook page since his death, and have created a memorial page called “R.I.P. Aaron Ullom.”
“He was caring, humorous, strong, smart, and most of all brave,” wrote his best friend Arielle who created the page in his honor.
“If you met him once, he is someone you will never forget about. He died for our freedom, and will always be our hero.”
Other family and friends created a video tribute to Aaron at you tube.
A memorial service with military honors will be conducted at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Among those Seaman Ullom leaves behind are his parents and dear friends in Midland, and the Marine unit he took care of.
Seaman Aaron D. Ullom is missed. May he rest in peace.
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Taps (RIP Marine)
written by Horace Lorenzo Trim
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the run
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
Then goodnight, peaceful night;
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright.
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, goodnight.
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The Department of Defense announced the death of a Marine who was serving in Afghanistan:
Lance Cpl. Robert S. Greniger, 21, of Greenfield, Minnesota
Lance Cpl. Greniger died during combat operations July 12 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was a combat engineer assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Robert Greniger grew up in the small town of Greenfield, Minnesota, 30 miles west of the Twin Cities.
A 2009 graduate of Rockford High School, Greniger joined the Marines out of a pact with fellow classmates who thought the military would be exciting and a way to serve their country, according to his friend Adam Lewis. Lewis is a member of the Minnesota National Guard scheduled to be deployed in April to Afghanistan.
Robert enlisted in the Marines in Novemebr 2009 "because he wanted to be one of the elites," Lewis said. Greniger was promoted to lance corporal last January.
His mother said that Robert switched units so he could serve in Afghanistan. Family and friends said Lance Cpl. Greniger was proud of his service and excited about his first deployment in March 2011. He kept in touch with family and friends through his Facebook page.
Lance Cpl. Greniger had just returned to Afghanistan after a two-week leave in Minnesota over the Fourth of July holidays, when unexpectedly died in a roadside bomb explosion.
Minnesota Public Radio broadcast a story featuring Lance Cpl. Greniger.
With 450 students, Rockford High school and staff are described as particularly close-knit.
"It's like a big family," his former English teacher said. "It's a different kind of loss than at a big school. Everybody knows each other."
"Its really hard and it's really shocking because he was so young," said his childhood friend and former classmate, Melissa. "Why does it have to happen, you know?"
His father Kyle said his son was "a very unique, loving son. More than anything he enjoyed being around his friends. He had a big heart."
A military honors ceremony and funeral will be held for Greniger at Rockford High School Community Center.
Among those Lance Cpl. Greniger leaves behind are his parents, his two sisters and brother, as well as friends in the service and at home.
Lance Cpl. Robert Greniger is missed. May he rest in peace.
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Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
Other Photos by CalNM and linked Sources
Helping our troops: If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com. Fisher House provides housing for families of injured troops and veterans who are recovering in hospitals, and Guardian angels for soldierspet assists the animal companions of our deployed military.
When our veterans come back home, they can find support at Welcome Back Veterans. Our recently returned veterans need jobs, and Veterans Green Jobs is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in forest and resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas. Encourage a Veteran, and see if you can help out.
About the IGTNT series: I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died at war.
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 US Department of Defense news releases are found at defense gov/releases. Icasualties lists the names of those killed, and shows the number of wounded. Published AP photos of the returning war fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries in the series which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by 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, Sandy on Signal, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, ccasas, JaxDem, thefatladysings, and me, CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
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.