Tonight, we honor a soldier from Idaho. He was on his third and final tour with the Army when he was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan. His self-less actions saved other lives. Please take a moment to remember and honor this soldier and father to two young daughters.
So far in 2011, 403 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan. Since 2001, there have been 1849 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4483 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 55 killed in Operation New Dawn. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
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.
DoD Announces Army Casualty
Sgt. Ryan D. Sharp, 28, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, died Dec. 3, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered Nov. 21 at Kandahar province, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Sgt. Ryan Sharp was on his third deployment when he was killed from injuries by stepping on a land mine. A member of the Sharp family told KTVB that Sharp and his platoon were on a reconnoissance mission, when the Platoon Sargent stepped on a land mine and died instantly. Sharp, along with five other soldiers, worked to retrieve the body. As they were headed to the helicopter, Sharp stepped on a land mine. Sharp shielded others from sustaining serious life-threatening injuries, he bore the brunt of most of the explosion. Fellow soldiers loaded Sharp onto the helicopter and said he was talking and alert. His head, legs and shoulder all received trauma injuries. Doctors induced a coma and sent him to Germany for medical care. The other soldiers are being treated in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Ryan Sharp is survived by two daughters: Mia (6 years old) and Sasha (8 years old). A trust has been established for the two girls at a West Mark Credit Union to cover their expenses.
Sgt. Ryan Sharp's decorations and medals include the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
Rest in peace, Sgt. Ryan Sharp.
In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McRae, MD, (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. 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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings, Ekaterina, and me, Sandy on Signal.
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.