I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is among the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the war in 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.
Honoring and Remembering:
Technical Sergeant Matthew S. Schwartz
Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell
Airman First Class Matthew R. Seidler
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.
Killed were:
Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa. He was assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich. He was assigned to the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.
Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md. He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.
~ DoD News Release
Amazing Grace and Taps as performed by buglers at Arlington National Cemetery.
.
.
Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Michigan
Matthew "Matt" Schwartz was a 1996 graduate of Traverse City Central High School. Principal, Rich Vandermolen said Schwartz's name would be engraved on a bench in the school's memorial garden.
Those at Traverse City Central were saddened by his death and proud that he was a Trojan.
TSgt Schwartz had 12 years active duty in the Air Force and was on his sixth deployment.
Brother-in-law, Ken O'Brien used the term "Picture of a Patriot" in describing how the family would be remembering Matthew Schwartz. He added that Matt was full of motivation and was enjoyed and respected by the men who served with him.
O’Brien said Schwartz was well aware of the risks and dangers of being an explosive ordinance technician. But he said Schwartz had a strong patriotic streak that made him feel compelled to serve.
He was very proud of his country. He wanted to serve, and he did something very few Americans would do.
Brian Wright served with him and says:
He was a hero because he served our country, and kept his fellow servicemen safe. He was a hero because he was a tremendous father, because he was a wonderful husband, and a true friend to everyone he met. I was very honored to call him my friend.
Other messages left on a news site show how much he will be missed:
I went through basic training with Matthew. He was a remarkable person. My most heartfelt condolences go out to his family.
I had the privilege to deploy with this man, it was my pleasure and privilege to meet this man and get to know him. He will be missed and always loved. Go in peace.
I had the honor to get to know Matt and his team when they replaced us. It is a sad day indeed to have lost such bright lights in the career field. He was a riot to be around and it was never dull. Rest in Peace, miss and love you brother.
I had the luxury of serving with Matt for a brief time in 2008 in Balad Iraq. He is a great man and one of the funniest people I have met. It is sad to have lost someone like you Love ya Brother Hill AFB EOD
Tech. Sgt. David Csizmar, who has known Schwartz since 2006 when they both started at F.E. Warren, described him as "epitomizing" what it means to be an airman and fondly recalled his friend:
He was always ready to go on a deployment, and he would be the one who didn’t mind staying late. And as far as I know, he was the type of guy that no one disliked.
Known within the squadron as a jokester, TSgt Schwartz was made by his chief master sergeant to sing a "Queen" song in front of the entire squadron during a military formation.
He didn’t have a problem with it, either, I don’t think he ever knew the definition of the word ‘shy.’
Matthew and his high school sweetheart, Jennifer married in 2000 and had three beautiful daughters together.
I can't remember a time without him. We had an understanding ...; we needed each other. That's what it was.
Brother-in-law, Ken O'Brien said Schwartz cared about his family above all things.
The most important thing to him was being a loving husband and devoted family man.
Tech Sgt Matthew S. Schwartz leaves behind his wife, Jennifer and three young daughters.
No funeral arrangements have been set.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
.
Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pennsylvania
Bryan Bell was a 2006 graduate of Harborcreek High School.
Perhaps it was growing up with a father who was a volunteer firefighter that instilled such a strong sense of community obligation in Bryan Bell. Whatever the cause, this young man joined the Fairfield Hose Co. in Harborcreek Township at age 14 as a junior fireman and had achieved the rank of senior fireman by the time he graduated from high school.
After high school graduation, Bryan answered another call. A call to join the Air Force.
Rick Bell said his son was excited to be an explosive ordnance disposal technician and eager to defuse and dismantle bombs and other weapons.
He always made it a point to say, "Dad, it's what I want to do". He didn't want to go over there and shoot people.
When "The Hurt Locker", a war film about a three man Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team during the Iraq War, won the Academy Award for best picture in 2009, Bell was photographed for an Associated Press story describing EOD technicians' reactions to the movie. Bryan was later interviewed by the Erie-Times News where he was quoted as having said:
It's a fairly accurate movie. It's a little more gung-ho than things really are. We couldn't get away with the things they do.
It was one of the jobs I wanted. I love it. It's exciting. I'm glad I got it over the other jobs I picked.
Jim Hawryliw, the fire chief of the Fairfield Hose Co., who was eight years older than Bell said of his friend:
We grew up together at the station. He was so goofy and funny. He could make anyone laugh. Bryan was a great friend to all. Anybody who knew him loved him.
His family and friends set up In Loving Memory on facebook which includes several photos and comments in his tribute.
Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell is survived by his wife, Alaina; his mother, Donna Aldrich; his father, Rick Bell and his step-mother, Kim Bell.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
~ Source ~ Source
.
.
Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Maryland
Matthew "Matt" Seidler graduated from Westminster Senior High School in 2006. He took classes for a year in business administration at Stevenson University and then started in a multimedia design program at Carroll Community College before deciding to join the military. He enlisted in the Air Force in November 2009 and became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, technician.
Matt's aunt, Andrea Masek said she often played poker with her nephew. Poker and other strategy games appealed to him.
He was very logical, analytical
Childhood friend, Bryan Vana was somewhat surprised to have been asked to provide a reference for Matt's Air Force admission, but said the decision made sense because the military would satisfy Seidler's desire for new, evolving challenges.
He was extremely smart.
Despite being shy growing up, Seidler became an adventurous adult and once he joined the Air Force he became encouraging and outgoing. On his Facebook page, Matt had posted photos from trips he’d taken to Paris and New York and hiking and camping in the mountains. He also shared samples of his graphic design work and his preference for the Baltimore Ravens.
Matt's aunt, Marcia Seidler said he died the day after his 24th birthday.
We were all putting up beautiful, happy Facebook messages and then the next one is that he is gone. It’s hard to comprehend.
Matthew was a very, very sweet guy. He had great artistic talent, and a great mind for computers.
Matt's grandfather, Aaron Seidler was a pilot in WWII.
Lt. Col. Mark Donnithorne, Airman 1st Class Seidler's squadron commander, said Seidler’s role as an explosives disposal technician was vital to the operation.
We will never forget Matt’s sacrifice and dedication to his critical, yet dangerous, mission.
Col. Chris Crawford, 21st Space Wing Commander, said:
This is a tragic day for Team Pete, the 21st Space Wing, the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron and especially for Matt’s family. We will come together to help Matt’s family and friends through their grief.
Lt. Col. Mark Donnithorne, 21st CES commander, echoed Crawford's statements, adding:
EOD Airmen have been vital to Operation Enduring Freedom, and unfortunately, the pride we'll feel when we see Matt's name on the EOD Memorial Wall at Eglin AFB will not extinguish the sorrow we feel from his loss. We will never forget Matt's sacrifice and dedication to his critical, yet dangerous, mission.
Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler leaves behind his parents, Mark and Lauren Seidler of Westminster.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ 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.
.
Any Soldier – (Marine, Sailor, Airman or CoastGuardsman) Provides detailed information on sending care packages or cards and letters to deployed service members.
Books For Soldiers - View requests for and send troops books, DVDs, games and relief supplies.
Fisher House – Provides a “home away from home” for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.
Homes For Our Troops – Building specially adapted homes for our severely injured veterans at no cost to the veterans.
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans – The VA estimates 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. There are ways to get involved or donate at the link.
Netroots for the Troops (NFTT) – This non-profit raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones.
Special Operations Warrior Foundation - Provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel and their families.
Veterans Green Jobs - Helps transition veterans into their communities and find career opportunities in environment sustainable sectors of our economy.
Welcome Back Veterans - Committed to providing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment to our veterans and their families in a public/private partnership
Wounded Warrior Project - Their vision is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in this nation's history.
.
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.