Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
The beautiful forget-me-nots were created by llbear.
Since 2003 there have been 4473 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 1665 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers, 27, of Mount Olivet, Ky., died Jul. 14 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire on Jul. 13. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
"I cannot say it in words of how appreciative, how thankful, and how proud of Jeremy that I am," said his father, Mike Summers.
Mike and his wife Laura Jo Summers just returned from Baltimore, where they received their son's body for burial.
"You can't really prepare yourself for something like this, but we are doing the best we can," said Laura Jo.
Both Laura Jo and Mike served in the U.S. Army. When Jeremy graduated from High School in Bracken County,it wasn't long before he made the decision to continue the family tradition. He went into the army in 2005.
"I am so honored that he followed in our footsteps. And went into the military," said Mike.
"I've always been proud of him, he's always worked hard at everything he's ever wanted to do," Laura Jo said.
A memorial service was held in Afghanistan and funeral arrangements are pending at Ware Funeral Home in Cynthiana.
Source
His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; and Combat Action Badge.
Source
&&&
Click here to read the series as begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, monkeybiz, 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, CalNM, Wide Awake in KY, maggiejean, racheltracks, kestrel 9000, JaxDem, and Cathy.
If you would like to contribute to the series, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal or noweasels.
To see what these tributes mean to those who have lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, please read Sandy on Signal’s story about meeting the father of a soldier at NN10.
The IGTNT logo was created by Timroff.
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.