Since 2001, 1774 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
The Department of Defense has announced the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:
Spc. Francisco J. Briseno-Alvarez Jr., 27, of Oklahoma City, OK
Sgt. Tyler N. Holtz, 22, of Dana Point, CA
Please join me below for a remembrance of their lives. .
Spc. Francisco J. Briseno-Alvarez Jr., 27, of Oklahoma City, OK, died Sept. 25 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Stillwater, OK.
Three other soldiers were also injured in the attack, according to a release from the Oklahoma National Guard.
He is the 12th Oklahoma Guard soldier to be killed since July 29. (Please see Churchill's recent diary, 12 Oklahoma soldiers killed in Afghanistan in the last 2 months.)
(DoD photo)
According to an Oklahoma National Guard release, Briseno-Alvarez graduated from U.S. Grant High School in 2003 and joined the Oklahoma National Guard on Sept. 11, 2010. He attended advanced individual training to become a truck driver before he was deployed to Afghanistan.
Briseno-Alvarez previously served with the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, based in Stillwater.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Briseno-Alvarez family and those of our wounded heroes,” said Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, adjutant general for Oklahoma. “Spc. Briseno-Alvarez answered the call to serve this great nation and help defend it. His loyalty and ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our country will never be forgotten.” (source)
Briseno-Alvarez's cousin, Juan Cerano, said:
“He died doing the right thing. He died serving and protecting his country. He was like the brother I never had. "(source)
Another cousin, Sarai Cerano, said:
“I just remember him as always smiling. He could lighten up a room. Just the sweetest, most caring guy ever. It's devastating for our family.” (source)
Briseno-Alvarez is survived by his father, Javier Briseno; mother, Lurdes Alvarez, and two siblings, brother, Adrian Briseno, 24, and sister, Diana Briseno, 18.
Rest in peace, Spc. Francisco J. Briseno-Alvarez Jr. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Sgt. Tyler N. Holtz, 22, of Dana Point, Calif., died Sept. 24 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Special Operations Command says the Army Ranger died while leading his men in combat. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
(Photo Courtesy US Army Special Operations Command)
Holtz joined the Army in October 2007 after graduating from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, where he played football for four years.
He graduated from the Army's Ranger program in 2008, and joined the JBLM battalion in July 2008. He was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. (source)
On his Facebook page, Sgt. Holtz posted photos of his pride and joy, a 2003 Silverado.
(Facebook)
Lt. Col. David Hodne, commander of the Lewis-McChord-based Ranger battalion, said Holtz was:
"a courageous and incredibly talented Ranger who died while leading his men against determined insurgents. Tyler Holtz personified the Ranger Creed to the final moments of his life and his actions inspire us to do the same." (source)
Sgt. Holtz was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart and Joint Service Achievement Medal.
(source)
He is survived by his father, Andrew Holtz of Capistrano Beach, Calif.; his mother, Karen Holtz, and his three brothers, all of Dana Point, Calif.
Rest in peace, Sgt. Tyler N. Holtz. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
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.