Since 2001, 1810 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4478 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 death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:
Spc. Jeremiah T. Sancho, 23, of Palm Bay, FL, died Oct. 13 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Please join me below for a remembrance of his life.
(Family photo--Spc. Sancho called this "Self-Portrait of a Soldier.")
Born in Palm Bay, FL, Spc. Sancho graduated from Palm Bay High in 2007 and joined the Army in January, 2010. After completing training as an infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia, he moved to Fort Drum, NY, in May 2010. He deployed with his unit in March, 2011, and would have returned to Florida on leave next month. ~source~
(Family photo)
Sancho's awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal,and the Combat Action Badge.
(Spc. Sancho's remains arrive at Dover AFB. DoD photo)
Spc. Sancho is survived by his mother and his wife RaiAnne.
(Family photo taken last Christmas.)
According to Florida Today:
During his Army basic-training graduation ceremony in May 2010, Jerry Sancho surprised his longtime girlfriend, RaiAnne Bocco, by dropping to one knee and proposing behind the bleachers at Fort Benning, Ga.
Seven days later, the couple married in the backyard of RaiAnne’s parents’ house in Palm Bay. Jerry’s grandfather, Eddie, an ordained minister, performed the ceremony.
Family members describe Spc. Sancho as an avid comic-book fan and budding artist. He enjoyed video games and playing bass guitar
His widow is only 21 years old.
RaiAnne, 21, learned of her husband’s death the next day while working at the Palm Bay Kmart..... “I was devastated,” she recalled Sunday night, sitting at a computer looking at photographs of Jerry. And then she bowed her head and cried, unable to speak further.
RaiAnne's mother, Sharon Rocco, loved Spc. Sancho like a son. On her Facebook page Sharon wrote:
On behalf of my family, I'd like to thank you all for your love and support you've given. Jerry lives on through our hearts and minds. Remembering him as the clown, the soldier, brother, son, husband.
On her Facebook page, his wife RaiAnne posted a farewell message Saturday night:
"Jerry I miss you. I love you so much baby. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you, but I know you’re watching over me. I love you and was proud to be your wife.”
N.Y. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has directed flags to be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, October 19, in honor of Specialist Sancho.
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.