I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which began in April of 2004, is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos and provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
~ Image Credit to llbear with gratitude
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Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of Heaven,
Blossom the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in Evangeline
Remembering Always:
Lt. Col. David E. Cabrera
Staff Sgt. Christopher R. Newman
Sgt. James M. Darrough
Sgt. Carlo F. Eugenio
Since 2003 we have suffered the loss of 4482 American lives and a total of 4800 Coalition Forces in Iraq.
Since 2001 we have suffered the loss of 1830 American lives and a total of 2792 Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.
On Saturday, October 29th, a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden car into a NATO convoy in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Seventeen people were killed and eight were wounded. Four American service members, one Canadian service member, eight civilian contractors and four Afghans died in the incident.
Tonight, we honor and remember the four American soldiers who died in that attack.
The Department of Defense announced today (November 1, 2001) the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Oct. 29, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
Killed were:
Lt. Col. David E. Cabrera, 41, of Abilene, Texas, assigned to Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md.;
Staff Sgt. Christopher R. Newman, 26, of Shelby, N.C., assigned to Medical Company A, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii;
Sgt. James M. Darrough, 38, of Austin, Texas, assigned to 101st Finance Company, 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; and
Sgt. Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., assigned to 756th Transportation Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, Van Nuys, Calif.
~ DoD News Release
Lt. Col. David E. Cabrera, 41, of Abilene, Texas
David Cabrera was born in Florida, but he grew up in Houston, Texas and graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1988. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Texas A&M in 1992 and his master's in social work from the University of Texas Arlington in 1994. He joined the US Army as a medical service corps officer in January of 1996.
Throughout the span of his 15 year career, Cabrera was chief of mental health in Hungary, behavioral health officer for a Stryker Brigade in Iraq, and in Germany he served as deputy director of Soldier and Family Support Services for Europe Regional Medical Command in addition to earning a doctorate in social work at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Last year, Lt Col Cabrera took over as director of social work and assistant professor at Uniformed Services University where he treated patients, taught military medical students, conducted post-traumatic stress disorder research and participated in field training exercises.
Lt Col Cabrera was a soldier's soldier. He was professionally happiest when in the field with his troops. His sense of service, love of God, family and country are an inspiration to us all. Dr Cabrera will be sorely missed by all of us in the USU community. ~ Navy Captain (Dr) Mark Stevens, chair, USU Department of Family Medicine
Mark Thompson, reporter for TIME Magazine interviewed David Cabrera last year for a piece on the Army's mental health woes. He found Dr Cabrera most earnest, hard working and dedicated to his tasks.
“There have been some absolutely amazing things that have happened in Army mental health,” he told me. He focused on improving soldiers' resiliency – giving them mental body armor before they shipped out to war, so they could better endure its horrors. Cabrera, 41 when he died, knew the challenge was tough. “We're humbled and honored to be able to help in the ways that we can,” he said. “But I'll be completely up front with you -- it's a tough job being a caregiver.”
Lt Col David Cabrera's son, Corbin described his father as an outgoing, loving man whose passion was service to his country. Some of his fondest memories were from trips they'd taken all over the world.
Last summer we went to Disney World. The summer before that we were in Europe.
The two had plans to go shark diving in Africa after Corbin graduated from high school.
He was an amazing person.
Lt Col David E. Cabrera is survived by his wife and four children ranging in ages from 5 to 13.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
Staff Sgt. Christopher R. Newman, 26, of Shelby, North Carolina
Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Sergeant Christopher Rod Newman, a 2004 Crest High School graduate, was raised by his grandparents in Shelby, North Carolina. Chris joined the Army immediately after graduation.
Throughout his teenage years, Newman talked often with his grandfather, a US Marine veteran, about his service in the military and the positive impact it had on him. It did not take long for young Christopher to decide he wanted to follow that path.
His passion was the army. He loved it. He told us when he was 15 or 16 that's what he thought he wanted to do, and he didn't want to go do it for a couple of years. He wanted to do it for the rest of his life. ~ Randy Birch, cousin
Staff Sgt Newman helped run a psychiatric ward and counseled other soldiers who had been injured, lost friends or just needed to talk about life in the military.
All he wanted to do in his life was help other people out. And that's what he died doing. He was helping people out. ~ younger brother, Brent Newman
Newman was scheduled to come home for a two-week leave on December 31 and it would have been his first time home for the holidays since joining the military. He had recently told family he wanted to live in Shelby after his retirement from the Army.
In his grandmother's freezer is a red velvet cake and a pecan pie that she had planned on sending him in a few days.
Staff Sgt Christopher Rod Newman leaves behind his wife; a 5-year-old daughter from a previous marriage; his grandfather, Don Newman; his grandmother, Earlene Newman; and his brother Brent Newman.
The Newton family stated they would hold the funeral service this weekend or early next week. Christopher will be buried at Cleveland Memorial Park in Shelby, North Carolina, with full military honors
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
Sgt. James M. Darrough, 38, of Austin, Texas
James Michael Darrough enlisted in the US Army in February of 2005 and arrived at Fort Campbell in July of 2009.
At the time of his death, Sgt Darrough was a Financial Management Technician assigned to Charlie Detachment, 101st Finance Company, 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
There was not much information to be found on Sgt. Darrrough, but a look at the list of his awards and decorations show he had been on several previous deployments.
Darrough's awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal with service star; Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; United Nations Medal; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal; Expert Field Medical Badge and Combat Action Badge.
Sgt. James Michael Darrough is survived by his father, Robert Darrough; his mother, Janelle Darrough; his wife, Isaura Darrough; sons Justin and Jared Darrough; and daughters, Julianna and Jenna Darrough.
Tennessee Governor, Steve Beshear ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Sgt. Darrough’s interment.
A memorial service will be held for Darrough in Afghanistan. Fort Campbell holds a monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony to honor fallen Screaming Eagles. The next ceremony will be held Nov. 9 at 4 p.m.
~ Source ~Source ~ Source ~ Source
Sgt. Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho, California
Carlo Eugenio, the youngest of five children, grew up in Fontana before moving to Rancho Cucamonga ten years ago. He was a graduate of Etiwanda High School.
Sgt Eugenio was described as a guy's guy who loved the excitement of the outdoors. He enjoyed many extreme sports including riding motorcycles and dirt bikes and snow boarding.
Eugenio's sister Cynthia Valdez said her brother was always upbeat and surrounded by friends.
He was always happy. It took a lot for him not to be sunny. He didn't just know people, he had relationships with everyone.
Sgt Eugenio had previously deployed to Kuwait and a military banner the city presented his family after that deployment was hung outside the home on Tuesday (image)
Eugenio is the first California National Guardsman to be killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Sgt. Eugenio's family and commit to them our unwavering support. Sgt. Eugenio's death, the first of a California Guardsman in Afghanistan, is a painfully wrenching testimony to the bravery, service and sacrifice of our state's National Guardsmen. ~ Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, adjutant general for the California National Guard
Army Spc Ronnie Pallares, 19, of Rancho Cucamonga died October 2010 in Afghanistan. His mother was at the airport to greet the Eugenio family on their return from Dover Air Force Base.
"This day is the hardest," said Brenda Pallares. "All I could do is give back."
The parents of Matthew Creed, an Army specialist from Covina who was killed during combat in Iraq in October of 2006, were also at the airport.
"I want families to know they're not alone," said Kim Creed. "October is just a horrible month."
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
Sgt Carlo F. Eugenio is survived by his parents and his siblings.
~ Source
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, Ekaterin and me, JaxDem. 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.
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POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41
and
Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23
Never forgotten - please keep good thoughts and prayers for these two men.
On December 8, 2010 new photos were published of Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl in captivity. The article and images can be seen here.
The father of Bowe R. Bergdahl released this video on May 6, 2011 in which he appeals for the release of his son.
The Army promoted Bergdahl to the rank of sergeant effective June 12, 2011. This is his second promotion since he was listed as Missing-Captured on June 30, 2009.
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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.