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.
Honoring and Remembering:
Cpl. Christopher M. Monahan, Jr.
Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert
Sgt. Channing B. Hicks
Spc Joseph A. Richardson
Since 2001 we have lost 2161 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3233 American and coalition forces.
Amazing Grace and Taps
Performed at Arlington National Cemetery
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
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Cpl. Christopher M. Monahan, Jr., 25 or Island Heights, New Jersey
Cpl. Christopher M. Monahan Jr., 25, of Island Heights, N.J., died Nov. 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. ~ DoD News Release
The oldest of four children, "Chris" Monahan graduated from Central Regional High School in Bayville in 2005 where he played defensive back and wide receiver for the Central Regional football team.
Mother, Sandy Monahan said:
In school, his teachers just loved him. He had no problems in classes. He played sports and volunteered for everything. He just did everything for everybody.
Just after graduation he and a friend enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Monahan's father served in the National Guard and his mother said Chris had planned on making the Marine Corps a career.
Monahan's battalion is responsible for delivering fuel, ammunition and supplies to outlying patrol bases in Afghanistan via ground convoys and air.
Sadly, his dream ended on Monday when he was riding in the turret of the lead vehicle of a 27 vehicle convoy and his truck struck an IED.
Cpl. Monahan had two previous deployments to Iraq and this was his first to Afghanistan.
Sandy Monahan said she last spoke to her son on Saturday when he called to tell her that he would not be able to come home for Christmas. He was happy that his deployment would be ending in just over two months.
He was definitely excited to be coming home. He had one more holiday to miss. He was going to be home in 73 days and had already started the countdown.
He just thought that what we were fighting for was definitely worth it and he wanted to do it.
Sister, Kaitlyn Monahan said her brother wanted to be a role model for his three children ages 6,4 and 1.
He said it all the time — the main reason he was doing it for his kids, so they had someone to look up to and be proud of.
Kaitlyn recalled how she and her friends would go to all of Chris' football games.
He was a skinny guy, and would just be gone.
He was amazing. Everybody looked up to him, and he made everybody laugh even if he had a bad day.
Sandy Monahan said many friends and family have gathered at the family home and reminders of her oldest child were everywhere.
Everything I pick up, everybody’s eyes I look into, I see him. He is just everything, he is my heart.
Cpl. Christopher M. Monahan, Jr.'s awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
~ Source ~ Source
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The following three tributes were written by Sandy on Signal.
DOD Announces Navy Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert, 32, of Arcata, Calif., died Nov. 24 while supporting stability operations in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Ebbert was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit in Virginia Beach, Va.
Ursula Ebbert, widow of Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Ebbert, wrote on Facebook:
My whole world is shattered. Kevin is the best person I have ever known. He was and will always be my inspiration. Thank you all for your love and support. Your words mean more than you know.
Charlie Jordan, Ebbert's mother, issued the following statement:
“Kevin Ebbert, my thirty-two year old son, US Navy SEAL serving his second deployment in Afghanistan was killed Friday. Kevin was poised to return home early next year and start medical school completing his training started as a Corpsman to become an MD. We last spoke about he and his wife Ursula joining Rotary where he could work in clinics internationally. There are many details to be worked out. There will be a Memorial Service scheduled in Arcata.
"In the meantime we have set up the ‘Kevin Ebbert Memorial Fund’ with Humboldt Area Foundation for those of you who wish to donate to it in Kevin’s name.” A memorial service will be held on November 29 at 10am at the JEB Little Creek Base Chapel. A reception will follow at the SEAL Heritage Center onboard JEB Little Creek.
Commander of Naval Special Warfare Group Two, Captain Robert Smith, released the following statement:
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of our teammate who has made the ultimate sacrifice," said Capt. Robert Smith "We have lost a courageous patriot who selflessly answered our nation's call to defend freedom and protect us from terrorism."
Rest in peace, Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Ebbert.
Source:
Tora Radical.com, WAVY.com
DoD Announces Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Killed were:
Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, 24, of Greer, S.C., and
Spc. Joseph A. Richardson, 23, of Booneville, Ark.
They died Nov. 16, in Paktika province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Sgt. Channing B. Hicks affectionately known as "Bo" to his family and friends was on his third tour of duty when he was killed in Afghanistan. He served two tours of duty in Iraq and this was his first in Afghanistan. His father told the local Greer S.C. paper
Greer Today.com:
“He didn’t have to go to Afghanistan. He felt it was his sense of duty, his conviction.”
His father recalled how his son was hit by shrapnel on his first tour in Iraq.
“He re-upped while he was recovering from his injury,” Chan said.
His father is extremely proud of his son and recalled the last time he came home to visit.
The last time Bo was home before he left for Afghanistan, his father, Chan Hicks, took him out to dinner, just the two of them. “I broke down, gave him a big hug, and told him how proud I was of him,” Chan said,
Sgt. Hicks was a 2006 graduate of Greer High School where he played football. He was an avid fan of the Greer Yellow Jackets and followed the team even while in Afghanistan. His brother, John, is a linebacker for the team and Bo would call to find out the scores.
The grief stricken family remembers their son, grandson and brother as a man proud to serve our nation. He was a considerate, respectful and thoughtful man, who loved his nation, community and family. Deepest condolences to his family and the people of Greer South Carolina.
Sgt. Channing B. Hicks
Spc. Joseph Richardson always wanted to be in the Army. Spc. Richardson was a 2008 graduated of Booneville High School. His high school guidance counselor, Ginger Ulmer, told the 5 News Online.com:
“He was just ready to do it,” said Ulmer. “He felt like it was going to be an honor to serve his country. He wanted to do it.”
Richardson's family issued the following statement:
“He was eager to come into this world and lived his life full of energy and with passion for everything he did,” the family said. “He loved his family and friends. Joe was always on the move and liked by everyone. There wasn’t a time that you spent with Joe that he wasn’t laughing or joking around. Everywhere you would go you would find someone that knew him or just loved how full of life he was.
“He met his wife Ashley Marie and fell deeply in love. You could see the love between them. … Joe and Ashley had just celebrated their second wedding anniversary on Nov. 5. He had planned on coming home and starting his family with her. Joe had just re-enlisted for six more years in the Army. He loved his job; he loved fighting for his country and our freedom.
“Joe loved his brothers in arms and had said he wanted to go to Afghanistan. He wanted to make sure that his brothers, his family, came home safe.”
Spc. Joseph Richardson
Rest in Peace, Spc. Joseph Richardson.
SourceDes Moines Register,, News 5 online.com,
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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, 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.
Sgt Bowe R. Bergdahl
The only known current Prisoner of War is Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 26 who was captured by the Taliban in June of 2009. Five propaganda videos featuring Bergdahl have been released by the Taliban. A website has been established with the most up-to-date information on Sgt. Bergdahl.
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.
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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.