We have two to remember tonight. Since 2001, there have been 1954 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since January 1, 2012 there have been 93 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan. 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 Marine Casualty
Master Sgt. Scott E. Pruitt, 38, of Gautier, Miss., died April 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Master Sgt. Scott Pruitt was a highly decorated Marine. He served in the Marines for nearly twenty years, enlisting a year after graduation from Pascagoula High School in 1992. Pruitt earned a degree in Criminal Justice from American Military University. He worked in the financial management sector.
Pruitt was engaged to be married to Trisha Lane.
Pruitt was awarded the Purple Heart and other medals including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 8th, 2012.
Rest in Peace, Master Sgt. Scott Pruitt.
DoD Announces Army Casualty
Pfc. Christian R. Sannicolas, 20, Anaheim, Calif., died April 28, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Pfc. Christian Sannicolas graduated from Sunny Hills High School in 2009. His wrestling coach remembered him as a team player. Coach Jimmy Valenzuela told the
Fayetteville Observer:
"He would do whatever he could to help the team," Valenzuela said.
and
"It's not going to be easy the next couple of days," Valenzuela said. "He was and is going to be remembered here on our campus."
Sannicolas was riding in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle when it hit an IED, killing Sannicolas. Sannicolas was a rifleman for the 82nd Airborne Division. This was his first deployment.
Sannicolas received the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Parachutist Badge.
He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Rest in Peace, Pfc. Christian Sannicolas.
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.