Since 2001, 2251 U.S. troops have died while serving in Afghanistan, and from 2003 to 2012, 4486 U.S. troops died while serving in Iraq.
The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) series is a reminder that nearly every day, somebody gets the heartbreaking news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
Tonight we remember a Marine and a Soldier who died serving in Afghanistan:
Lance Cpl. Benjamin W. Tuttle, 19, of Gentry, Arkansas
Staff Sgt. Sonny C. Zimmerman, 25, of Waynesfield, Ohio
Tonight we also remember an Army Veteran who died six years after being wounded
while serving in Iraq: Sgt. (Ret) Richard Allen Marshall, 37
Please take a moment below to remember them,
and all those who have lost their lives in these wars.
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.
* * * Thank you, dear Sandy on Signal, for writing this tribute to
Lance Cpl. Ben Tuttle, a 2012 High School Graduate and Proud Marine * * *
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
Lance Cpl. Benjamin W. Tuttle, 19, of Gentry, Ark., died July 14 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center following a medical evacuation from the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during a scheduled port visit in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. This incident is under investigation. He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
The small town of Gentry, Arkansas is in shock at the news of the death of a well-liked, All-American athlete and Marine . Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tuttle graduated in 2012 from Gentry High School. He was a linebacker on the football team, a wrestler and runner on the track team.
LCPL Tuttle sent a facebook message to his friends back home on May 28:
Lots of love goes back home to my family, i miss all of you I should be home in October, i cant wait to see all of you, uncle mike we will have to go fishing, little brother we will have to hang out, and granny we will have to go out to dinner together, and as for the rest of the family, i cant wait to see all of you too.
Love Ben
Daniel Ramsey, football coach at Gentry High School remembered Ben Tuttle to
5 News Online
“Ben was a great kid. He came to us in 10th grade,” said coach Daniel Ramsey. “Played football for me and ran track for me as well.”
“Anybody that puts a uniform on pits them-self in that situation is a hero in our hearts, and we love them for what they do,” Daniel Ramsey said.
Funeral Arrangements are pending. Lance Corporal Ben Tuttle is survived by his grandmother, who raised him, brothers, and other relatives.
Semper Fi, Lance Corporal Ben Tuttle.
Lance Cpl. Benjamin Tuttle
Source:
Facebook,
5 News Online
The Department of Defense confirmed the death of a soldier serving in Afghanistan:
Staff Sgt. Sonny C. Zimmerman, 25, of Waynesfield, Ohio
Staff Sgt. Zimmerman, 25 died July 16, in Mushaka, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Staff Sgt. Zimmerman was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The small town Ohio town of Waynesfield was shocked to hear news of young soldier killed in Afghanistan. Flags flew at half-staff at several places, including the library, post office and Armentrout Funeral Home.
Sonny Zimmerman was a native of Waynesfiled, Ohio and graduated from Waynesfield-Goshen High School in 2005. He played baseball and was a good student who maintained a 3.2 GPA reported the NorwalkReflector.
Sonny Zimmerman joined the Army in 2005, and was featured in a local news story before he left for basic training. In the profile, Zimmerman said he always wanted to be in the military. His grandfather was in the Air Force, and an uncle served in the Army. His sister served in the Air Force.
“I want to serve my country,” Zimmerman said in 2005. “It’s also a steady job that allows me to help people.”
Staff Sgt Sonny Christopher Zimmerman was on a mounted patrol as an infantry squad leader in Paktiya Province when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade.
Staff Sgt. Zimmerman was married, and was helping to raise a step-daughter. His awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, and Air Assault Badge, and many other decorations.
Among those Staff Sgt. Zimmerman leaves behind are his wife and his step-daughter, of Lima, Ohio; and his father of Waynesfield, Ohio, and mother of Jennings, Ohio.
Staff Sgt. Sonny Zimmerman is missed. May he Rest in Peace.
WHIOTV Eagle Honors WBKO
Tonight we also honor and remember a decorated Army Veteran who's death will go uncounted toward official Iraq war casualties. Sgt. (Ret) Richard Allen Marshall died six years after being critically wounded in an IED explosion in Iraq during his third combat tour. The explosion killed three other soldiers and wounded another; the memorial diary for them is found here.
Sgt. (Ret) Richard Allen Marshall, 37
Sgt. (Ret) Richard Allen Marshall died on July 16, 2013, after a long fight to survive his injuries from 2007. Allen was a career soldier in the US Army and a Native American of the Muscogee Creek Tribe. During the Army he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division , Ft. Benning, GA. Richard served four deployments to the Middle East. He served 6 months in Kuwait prior to the war in Iraq and following the attacks on 9/11 Richard served 3 tours of duty in Iraq.
Sgt. (Ret) Richard Allen Marshall Obituary
Thank you to facebook page Honor to the Troops for sharing his story, excerpted here.
During his 3rd deployment on Jun 23, 2007, the humvee he was in with 4 other fellow soldiers, ran over a IED (Improvised Explosive Device). Three died, one other was injured. Richard suffered shrapnel damage to his chest mainly to his lungs and heart, and a nearly severed arm.
He was airlifted to Bagdad where he underwent emergency surgery to remove some of the shrapnel in his lungs and heart and to temporarily repair his arm. He was flown from there to Germany where they did more surgery, removing the remainder of the shrapnel and they put in a pace maker to keep his heart pumping so he could be flown to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington.
After coming home, Richard went through physical therapy for his arm, and was set up with a heart Doctor. He tried to remain in the Army but he was suffering from congestive heart failure and a severely diminished lung capacity. His Army career was over and he was allowed to take a medical retirement and was declared disabled.
For six years, Richard endured many procedures and surgeries, fighting daily as one of our many Wounded Warriors...a fitting name for him as he is a Native American of the Muscogee Creek tribe.
Richard and his wife Brittany have 2 beautiful children. Jalen Allen who is now 10 yrs old and Autumn Brooke who is 8 yrs old.
Shortly after 1:00 am [ 16 July 2013 ] Sgt. Richard Allen Marshall peacefully joined God's Army surrounded by family.
We cannot thank you enough Sgt. Richard Allen Marshall for your life of dedication to this great nation. Your battle was long and hard fought and we wish you God speed in your new Army in Heaven. You will always be honored in our hearts and never forgotten. We extend our condolences to your precious loved ones.
Sgt. (Ret) Richard Allen Marshall is missed. May he Rest in Peace.
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Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
Other Photos by CalNM and linked Sources
Helping our troops: If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com. Fisher House provides housing for families of injured troops and veterans who are recovering in hospitals, and Guardian angels for soldierspet assists the animal companions of our deployed military.
When our veterans come back home, they can find support at Welcome Back Veterans. Our recently returned veterans need jobs, and Veterans Green Jobs is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in forest and resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas. Encourage a Veteran, and see if you can help out.
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About the IGTNT series: I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died at war. 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. The US Department of Defense news releases are found at defense gov/releases. Icasualties lists the names of those killed, and shows the number of wounded. Published AP photos of the returning war fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries in the series which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma, Sandy on Signal, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, JaxDem, theFatLadySings, Ekaterin, Joy of Fishes, and me, CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
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.