Tonight, we remember a soldier from California. She was just 19 and had been in Afghanistan for two months. She became ill and was sent to Germany for treatment.
Since 2001, there have been 2317 American troops killed in Operation Enduring Freedom. Since 2010, there have been 66 casualties in Operation New Dawn.
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 Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Pfc. Daniela Rojas, 19, of Los Angeles, California, died May 3, in Homburg, Germany, due to a non-combat related illness.
She was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Private First Class Daniela Rojas
Private First Class Daniela Rojas was serving in Afghanistan, when she came down with an illness that required immediate medical care in Kaiserslautern, Germany at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Treatment Center. The center transferred her to Homburg, where a major university could provide medical treatment.
Landstuhl spokeswoman Marie Shaw said Rojas was taken to Homburg after her medical evacuation flight landed at Ramstein Air Base because her illness “would have required treatment beyond our capability.”
Rojas died on Saturday, May 3. She was a 2012 graduate from Theodore Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles. Rojas enlisted in the Army in October, 2012 and deployed to Afghanistan on February 1, 2014. She served as unit supply specialist to the 4th Infantry Combat Brigade Team out of Fort Carson, Colorado.
She earned the following medals and awards: the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and NATO Medal.
Pfc. Daniela Rojas
Sources:
Stripes.com, KPBS
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 i dunno, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, The Fat Lady Sings, Ekaterina, Joy of Fishes, 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.