Tonight, we honor a soldier killed in Afghanistan. He served with the Warhorse Brigade of the 101st and was due home next week for his wedding. His small town of Tyrone, NY (pop. 1714) is reeling from the terrible news. Please take a moment to read about his service to our nation.
So far in 2011, 314 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan. Since 2001, there have been 1752 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4474 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 46 killed in Operation New Dawn. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
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.
DoD Announces Army Casualty
Spc. Christopher J. Scott, 21, of Tyrone, N.Y., died Sept. 3 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY.
Spc. Christopher Scott was due home next weekend for his wedding. He was only 12 days away from his visit, when he was killed while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. Friends described him as a protector and a leader. A lover of the great outdoors and sports. He was a diehard fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Long time family friend, Amy Francione, told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:
“The community is just in shock, and I know it’s terrible to say but — Why here? Why here? Why Chris? He just left.”
“I think you just think ‘not our community,’ that’s what I can’t get over.”
The Mayor of Dundee and Scott's former Little League Coach, Fred Cratsley, was stunned to hear the news. He told the newspaper:
“Everybody knew Chris; we’re not a big community and he was one of our own,” Cratsley said. “He was a heck of a guy and a community leader. As a teenager he took younger kids and he protected them and was a guy to look up to.”
The Dundee Scottish Festival will be honoring Spc. Scott. The Chronicle-Express spoke to Fran Willis, director of the festival:
Everyone who wants will be wearing a yellow arm band in his honor, says Willis. When the procession carrying his body approaches Dundee, the festival, being held at Black Rock Speedway, just south of Dundee on State Route 14A, will stop, and will become quiet to greet the procession.
The bag pipe bands will play in unison Amazing Grace and a caparisoned horse (riderless horse) will follow the procession from the festival to the funeral home.
Spc. Scott enlisted in the Army in 2009. He was with the 561st Military Police and deployed for Afghanistan in July. Scott earned the following awards and decorations: Air Assault Badge, Purple Heart (posthumously), Bronze Star, National Service Ribbon, and Combat Action Badge.
“As a leader I couldn’t ask for a better Soldier,” said Sgt. Christopher Coats, a team leader with the 561st MP Co. “The way (he) conducted (himself) on a daily basis was 100 percent professional.” Clarksville Online - Source
Rest in Peace, Spc. Christopher Scott.
In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McRae, MD, (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. 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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings, Ekaterina, and me, Sandy on Signal.
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.