Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
The beautiful forget-me-nots were created by llbear.
Since 2003 there have been 4486 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 1943 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Capt. Michael C. Braden, 31, of Lock Haven, Pa., died April 18 in Bagram, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
LH soldier dies in Afghanistan
BAGRAM, Afghanistan - The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a Lock Haven man has died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Capt. Michael C. Braden was pronounced dead at a medical facility on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, after being found unresponsive in his living quarters Wednesday morning, officials said. The cause of death is under investigation.
Braden was a signal officer assigned to the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters which is currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
This was Braden's second deployment with the division. In 2010, he deployed for a yearlong tour to Basra, Iraq.
He also deployed to Qatar for five months in 2005.
Braden graduated from Slippery Rock University and received his Army commission in May 2003. He was assigned to Fort Riley in December 2008.
Braden's awards include a Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
photo source
RIP Capt. Braden. We salute you.
Click here to read the series as begun by i dunno, and maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, Twilight Falling, Sis Two, Spam Nunn, CalNM, Wide Awake in KY,
maggiejean, Jaxdem, Kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings, and Ekaterin
If you would like to contribute to the series, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal or noweasels.
To see what these tributes mean to those who have lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, please read Sandy on Signal’s story about meeting the father of a soldier at NN10.
The IGTNT logo was created by Timroff.
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.