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 4448 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 1810 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
Tonight we honor:
Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Michael R. Tatham, 33, of University Place, Wash.
Lance Cpl. Scott D. Harper, 21, of Winston, Ga.
The Department of Defense announced October 14 the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Michael R. Tatham, 33, of University Place, Wash., was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident, Oct. 12, while on rest and recuperation leave from supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Bali, Indonesia. Tatham was assigned to a West Coast based Naval Special Warfare unit.
A decorated Navy SEAL combat veteran who was on leave in Indonesia died Oct. 12 in a motorcycle crash, the Naval Special Warfare Command said late Thursday.
The accident in Bali killed Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Michael R. Tatham, 33, of University Place, Wash., Naval Special Warfare Group 1 said in a news release. Tatham, who enlisted in October 2002, was forward deployed to Afghanistan with a West Coast-based naval special warfare unit at the time. No other details were available about the accident, said Lt. Cmdr. Frank Magallon, a group spokesman.
Tatham “was a dedicated SEAL and a cherished teammate,” Capt. Collin Green, NSWG-1’s commander at Naval Base Coronado, Calif., said in a statement. “He was the epitome of professionalism, and his humble and selfless service to our country made him a role model for all.”
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Tatham graduated in April 2004 with Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Class 248 after completing SEAL Qualification Training, and he continued advanced training after reporting to his West Coast-based SEAL team.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V,” Joint Service Achievement Medal, four Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals including one with “V,” two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and NATO Service Medal, along with the expert rifle and expert pistol ribbons
Source..
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The Department of Defense announced October 14 the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Scott D. Harper, 21, of Winston, Ga., died Oct. 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Harper was a 2008 graduate of Alexander High School, where he was an outgoing student and active in ROTC, the Douglas County Sentinel reported.
A moment of silence was observed for Harper before the start of Friday night's football game between Alexander and Chapel Hill high schools, both in Douglas County.
Source.
Lance Corporal Harper is remembered with a Facebook page.
Some comments:
Thank you for your service,Mr and Mrs.Harper thank you for your son you raised a hero. God Bless you all.
This was a friend of my son who is also a Marine. They went to high school together. God bless his soul and praying for the family... Semper Fi...
I work with his grandmother. Thank you for your service Scott. Thank you to everyone in uniform fighting for our freedom.
Details of any memorial service planned has not been announced.
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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.