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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 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.
~ IGTNT Candle logo created by Timroff
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Honoring and Remembering:
Cpl Michael J. Palacio
Spc James E. Dutton
Since 2001 we have lost 1924 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 2948 American and coalition forces.
Amazing Grace and Taps at Arlington National Cemetery
TAPS
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light....Dims the sight
And a star....Gems the sky....Gleaming bright
From afar....Drawing night
Falls the night.
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Cpl. Michael J. Palacio, 23, of Lake Elsinore, California
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Cpl. Michael J. Palacio, 23, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., died March 29 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. ~ DoD News Release
Cpl Palacio, a military policeman, enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in November of 2011.
1st Sgt. Timothy J. Schultz of the Military Police Company said this of his friend, "Mikey":
He was a quiet professional, dedicated to the mission and the Marines he served beside. He was not afraid to take care of his fellow Marines, always giving a helping hand and expecting nothing in return.
Mikey will always be remembered and carried with the members of MP Company as a great Marine, true family man, friend and relentless warrior. I know I’ll remember that huge smile and good attitude he always displayed.
Cpl Michael J.Palacio’s awards include the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and NATO-International Security Assistance Force Medal, according to III MEF.
~ Source
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Spc. James E. Dutton, 25 of Checotah, OK
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. James E. Dutton, 25, of Checotah, Okla., died March 31, in Logar province, Afghanistan.
Dutton was assigned to the 125th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas ~ DoD News Release
James Dutton was a native of Weleetka, Ok and graduated in 2006 from Weleetka High School where he played both football and baseball.
Weleetka High School principal and coach, Chris Carter said of Dutton:
James was a fine young man, high character, hard working, good student, [this news is] just a devastating thing.
I coached him in baseball and football ... he excelled and worked very hard at those sports.
Former classmate, Kyle Hare said:
Everyone knew him and everyone like him. Anyone who does that for your country is hero, regardless of where they are from.
Spc James Dutton enlisted in the Army in 2006 and received his combat training at Fort Jackson, SC.
Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss commander released this statement:
Team Bliss and the 1st Armored Division is saddened by the loss of Spc. James E. Dutton. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow soldiers during this difficult time.
Spc James E. Dutton is survived by his wife (also active duty military), Ellen Marie Dutton; father, James K. Dutton; mother, Trina Dutton; and sister, Roxanne Gibson.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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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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Any Soldier – (Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman) 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.
USA Together - "It's like craigslist for Wounded Warriors". Brings together injured service members who need assistance as they recover, with the people who want to help them.
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.
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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.