Since 2001, 1687 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4475 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.
~ Photo Credit Timroff
On Monday, the Department of Defense announced the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:
Pfc. Brett E. Wood, 19, of Spencer, IN
Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Quintana, 30, of Huntington Park, CA
Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, 36, of Winder, GA
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Pfc. Brett E. Wood of Spencer, IN, was a child, around nine years old, when the 9-11 terrorist attacks happened. According to his sister, Amber Poland, “He wanted to protect his family and his country and he really wanted to join after everything that happened with 9/11.” source
Wood and his brother Nikk, 21, joined the Army in July 2010. Brett arrived in Alaska in November 2010; he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
Brett had been home just a few weeks ago, recovering from an IED attack on his unit.
Wood....was home on leave in August after a bomb explosion caused a concussion and hearing loss. Family members say he complained of headaches and dizziness during his visit, but went on a five-day road trip that cousin Josh Wood called “the time of our lives.”
“It was really hard for me to wave goodbye to him because we had talked before and he had bad feelings about going back,” Josh Wood told The Herald-Times. source
On September 9, just two days before the tenth anniversary of 9-11, Pfc. Wood died in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. His grandfather said Brett stepped on the IED while on patrol.
Early Monday at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, an Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Pfc. Brett E. Wood. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik)
Although no funeral date has been set, Poland said two services will be held: one at the high school and a smaller one for close friends and family. source Wood is Owen Valley High School's first graduate to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His brother Nikk, also stationed in Afghanistan, has returned home for Brett's funeral. Brett is also survived by his parents and two other siblings.
Poland said her brother had told her to celebrate his life, not mourn, if he didn’t make it home from Afghanistan.
Rest in peace, Pfc. Brett E. Wood.
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Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Quintana, 30, of Huntington Park, Calif., died of gunshot wounds from an insurgent attack on his unit in Paktika province, according to a press release. Quintana was part of the 172nd Separate Infantry Brigade out of Germany, according to the Department of Defense; he was a weapons squad leader in the brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment.
As part of the 172nd, Quintana deployed to Afghanistan in July for a twelve-month tour. Following a tour in Iraq, this was his second deployment. He joined the military eleven years ago, first joining the Air Force before enlisting in the Army.
Quintana’s father, Daniel Quintana Sr., 50, said his son....planned to make a career of the service, Quintana Sr. added.
"He told me, ‘Dad, I love what I do. Don't worry about me, I'm a great soldier.’” the father recalled. “I believe him. He was a great soldier."
source
Staff Sgt. Quintana leaves behind a wife and two children. A third child is due in January, according to Quintana Sr.
Rest in peace, Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Quintana.
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The original DOD announcement stated that Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, 36, of Winder, GA, died Sept. 10 in Parvan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was a flight medic assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
However, a later release from the 82nd Airborne Division said Staff Sgt. Keith Rudd did not respond to efforts to revive him after he was discovered in his room in Parvan, Afghanistan, on Saturday. His death is under investigation. source
Rudd joined the Army in 2003. This was his third deployment. He served in Iraq from April 2007 to November 2007 and in Afghanistan twice from September 2009 to September 2010 and once again August 2011 to September 2011.
His decorations include three Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medic Badge and the Army Aviation Badge.
He is survived by his father, Donald Rudd.
Rest in peace, Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd
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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, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings, JaxDem, and me, Ekaterin. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
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 site. 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, CalNM, TheFatLadySings, and me, Ekaterin. 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.
If you would like to contribute to the series, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal.
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.