Tonight, we have two Soldiers and a Marine to honor. Since 2001, there have been 1969 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since January 1, 2012 there have been 105 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
Sgt. Wade D. Wilson, 22, of Normangee, Texas, died May 11 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Sgt. Wilson joined the United States Marine Corps when he was just 17 years old. He was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
In 2007, he graduated from Centerville High School, where he was played on the football and track team. He also showed cattle at the county livestock shows.
He was a determined and driven young man, who excelled at whatever he pursued. He was close and protective of his siblings. The family has set up a scholarship to honor him and asks that donations be made in his honor to Sgt Wade D. Wilson Scholarship Fund or St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Sgt. Wilson was a faithful donor to St. Jude's.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Semper Fi, Sgt. Wade D. Wilson
DoD Announces Army Casualty
1st Lt. Alejo R. Thompson, 30, of Yuma, Ariz., died May 11 in Bagram, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
1st Lt. Alejo Thompson joined the Army in September of 2000. He served in the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.
Thompson earned the following awards and decorations: Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with One Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Rest in Peace, 1st Lt. Alejo Thompson.
DoD Announces Army Casualty
Spc. Alex Hernandez III, 21, of Round Rock, Texas, died May 12, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Hernandez was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
Spc. Hernandez joined the Army in July of 2009. He joined the Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Division in October 2010.
Spc. Hernandez’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, and an Aviator Badge.
Spc. Hernandez is survived by his wife, Tyasia.
Rest in peace, Sgt. Hernandez.
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.