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.
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Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike
Spc. David T. Proctor
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Since 2001 we have lost 2189 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3269 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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Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike, 31, of Peoria, Arizona
Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike, 31, of Peoria, Ariz., died March 13 in Landstuhl, Germany, as a result of combat-related injuries sustained on March 10 while conducting stability operations in Maiwand District, Afghanistan. Pike was assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. ~ DoD News Release
A graduate of Peoria High School, Christian Pike is described as a spirited, happy and joyous man.
Aunt, Denise Graham said Christian believed in what he was doing and loved serving his country, his job and the men he served with.
Christian enlisted in the Navy in Aug. 2001, and was later stationed at the Naval Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Fla. He served on the amphibious transport dock Cleveland, and then spent 2007 to 2011 at the Navy Information Operations Command in Georgia. In July 2011, he moved to Naval Special Warfare. His full rank was a chief petty officer cryptologic technician.
His aunt, Denise Graham says she never even saw her nephew get angry. She described him as compassionate and positive. So positive that he even enjoyed Navy training.
When he got to boot camp, he was so excited. He loved boot camp and he called his mom -- said 'mom this is so fun and they have the best food here' ".
Graham said that he loved serving his country, his job and the men he served with. She says that he believed in what he was doing.
"He believed in living life to the fullest and doing what he wanted to do every day and he did. He would not have been happy settling for something that he wasn't completely committed to."
Last Sunday CPO Pike and four other team members became involved in a firefight against over a dozen enemy insurgents while conducting stability operations in Maiwand District, Afghanistan. Pike was on a rooftop alone when he was shot in the head. One of his team members risked his life to get to Pike's location and pull him away from further danger. He was airlifted out from the firefight and taken to Landstuhl, Germany. His fellow service members continued their firefight for another 10 hours before defeating the insurgents.
CPO Pike's mother, Diana Pike, who is HR Director at FOX TV in Phoenix, flew immediately to Germany to be by her son's side. Ms Pike was informed by the doctors that Christian was brain dead, but she able to spend the last 24 hours of his life with her son.
Diana Pike posted this on her facebook page:
“Christian was so proud to be a Navy Chief with the SW Special Ops group and he was living honorably a life he chose. He wouldn’t have it any other way and neither would I. Christian lived every day, fully and with joy in his heart. He was beautiful, compassionate, honorable, happy and he loved his friends, family, and Navy brothers and sisters with all his heart.”
He passed away with his mother, sister and his best friend at his side.
His organs were donated, so he will continue to make a difference in this world for others.
Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona ordered flags at government buildings lowered immediately in the hours after the Defense Department’s announcement.
Gov. Brewer released this statement:
My heart breaks for the family and friends of Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike. I ask that all Arizonans join me in thoughtful prayer for CPO Pike, his loved ones and his fellow Navy brothers and sisters. Please keep all of Arizona’s servicemen and women in your hearts and thoughts. Their serve and sacrifice must never be taken for granted.
Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medals, the Navy Good Conduct Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
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Spc. David T. Proctor, 26, of Greensboro, North Carolina
Spc. David T. Proctor, 26, of Greensboro, N.C., died March 13, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., from injuries sustained during a non-combat incident on March 3, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. ~ DoD News Release
David Tyler "Ty" Proctor grew up in Hickory, NC and attended Startown Elementary School and graduated from Fred T. Foard High School in Newton in 2004.
David Proctor then attended Lenoir-Rhyne University on a full academic scholarship then transferred to UNC-Greensboro where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.
Spc. Proctor enlisted in the Army in 2011 and arrived at Fort Stewart the same year. This was his first deployment. He had intentions of making the Army his career.
According to his grandmother, Rachel Proctor of Hickory, a steel door fell on Spc Proctor.
He was a fine young man. I begged him not to go to the Army.
David Proctor was married. His wife had two children from a previous marriage.
Proctor was surrounded by his family members when he died.
Fort Stewart will add Spc David T. Proctor's name to the other fallen soldier's names on its Warrior Walk. The base will also plant a redbud in his name as they have for every Fort Stewart or Fort Hunter soldier killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. To date, the site contains more than 400 trees.
No funeral arrangements have been announced, but the family has said his body will be returned to Hickory, North Carolina for burial.
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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, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, 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.