Since 2001, 2330 U.S. troops have lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan, and between 2003 and 2012, 4486 U.S. troops lost their lives 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 five soldiers accidentally killed
by a U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan:
Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California
Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald, 28, of Butler, Georgia
Spc. Justin R. Helton, 25, of Beaver, Ohio
Cpl. Justin R. Clouse, 22, of Sprague, Washington
Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen, 19, of Mokena, Illinois
Please take a moment below to remember them,
and all those who have died in these wars.
The Department of Defense confirmed the death of five soldiers in a June 9th friendly fire incident during combat operations in Gaza Village, Afghanistan:
Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund, Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald, Spc. Justin R. Helton, Cpl. Justin R. Clouse, and Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen
The soldiers were members of an elite special operations force, according to a coalition official. The Americans had just completed a mission with coalition troops when they encountered a Taliban force. The men called in Air support, but apparently a fatal mistake occurred during the air strike, and the B-1 bomber dropped its payload on the American forces.
Staff Sgt. Studenmund and Staff Sgt. McDonald were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Spc. Helton was assigned to the 18th Ordnance Company, 192nd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Cpl. Clouse and Pvt. 2nd Class Toppen were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colorado.
Army Times and
Daily Mail UK
Thank you to JaxDem for writing the memorial to Staff Sgt. Studenmund.
Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California
Scott R. Studenmund was a 2008 graduate of Flintridge Preparatory School where he was a star on the football field and an outstanding cross country runner.
Football coach and science teacher Glen Beattie shared his recollections:
He made our defense go. He would fight through anything and would not let himself be defeated. This single-mindedness made him a really good football player, and it also reflected Scott’s personality in other facets of his life.
Ingrid Herskind was Scott's Cross-country coach and history teacher who said he had a love of history, military history in particular where he was always up for a hearty debate on issues:
I'm sure he was a fine leader for his troop mates and served them with all of his humor and support. He will be missed dearly.
Flintridge Headmaster Peter Bachmann called Scott a "brave, virtuous patriot":
When I think about Scott’s service, I think of the Founding Fathers — a virtuous man must be prepared to risk his life, fortune and sacred honor for his country. This sentiment guided Scott. Please hold him fast in your memories, and hold his parents, Woody and Jaynie, and his sister, Connell ’12, in your hearts.
Following his graduation from Flintridge, Scott attended and played football for Pitzer College for a year before enlisting in the Army.
Studenmund was accepted into the Green Berets and spent two years in training with the Special Forces unit also studying Arabic for six months. He completed his combat diver qualification in 2013 from the Army's Special Forces Underwater Operations school in Key West, Florida. At Ft Campbell, SSgt Studenmund was training as a sniper prior to his deployment in January. He was due home in August.
Family spokeswoman Mary Lyon said Studenmund strived to be the best at whatever he did.
He was just a force to be reckoned with. From a very early age he knew he wanted to serve his country.
Studenmund leaves behind father Woody, chair of the economics department at Occidental College, mother Jaynie, former CEO of eHarmony and Flintridge Prep board member, and sister Connell, a 2012 Flintridge Prep graduate currently enrolled in Dartmouth College. He is also survived by a half-brother living in Seattle.
~ Source ~ Source
Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald, 28, of Butler, Georgia
Staff Sgt. McDonald had done several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq over his 10 year military career.
Jason McDonald is from Locust Grove, Georgia, where his mother is an oncologist nurse in Henry County. His father was a coach at Henry County Middle School for several years before passing away in 2010.
Jason went to high school in Cordele, and enlisted in the Army at age 18 shortly afterwards. His family and friends said Jason had always wanted to be in the Army. He excelled at being a Special Forces soldier.
Residents lined Bill Gardner Parkway and waved Americans flags as Locust Grove police escort Staff Sgt. McDonald’s family as a show of support. Friends say they want to show their love for McDonald’s family, and to show them his service is appreciated.
“His family is from here and he lived here before he went into the military and it would be nice to show our love and support for him,” said friend Ashley Vicos.
“I don’t care who the soldier is. It’s very important for a community to come together and support people who have sacrificed their lives to keep us safe," according to the Henry Herald. “They stood on the front line to keep us safe. We can stand on the side of the road to honor them.”
Staff Sgt. McDonald was the married father of two daughters, age 4, and 2; the family lives in Tennessee. His aunt remembered him as "someone who could always make you laugh."
The family says his funeral will like be held at Arlington National Cemetery, but a date has not been set yet.
Among those Staff Sgt. McDonald leaves are his a wife and two daughters, his mother and other family, and the men who served with him.
Staff Sgt. McDonald is missed. May he rest in peace.
13WMAZ and AJC.com
Spc. Justin R. Helton, 25, of Beaver, Ohio
Spc. Helton was an explosive ordnance technician on his first deployment.
Justin "Buck" Helton grew up in the small town of Beaver, Ohio, where he played baseball and loved the outdoors. Justin graduated from Eastern High School in 2006. He joined the Army in 2010.
Now the village with fewer than 500 residents is reeling from the loss of one of its own.
“He was one of those guys who was never in a bad mood,” his friend and fellow Veteran Alexander Gullett said in The Chillico Gazette “He was amazing to be around.”
“It’s taken a pretty good toll on the community. ... It’s going to take some time (to heal),” he said. “He’s our hero now.”
Spc. Helton been in Afghanistan since April working as an ordnance specialist. This was his first deployment, and he expected to be home in about six months.
Spc. Helton was engaged to be married, according to his family.
“He was a great boy, so full of life and outgoing,” she said. “He loved hunting and the outdoors.” Justin was known to friends and family as "Buck" and was a quiet leader, according to his high school baseball coach in Circleville Today.
“He said time was really dragging over there. I said, ‘Just don’t worry. You’ll be home soon.’ And to be safe,” his coach said. “Then I told him I loved him.”
Among those Spc. Helton leaves behind are his fiancee, and mother and father, family and friends in his hometown.
Spc. Justin Helton is missed. May he rest in peace.
Fay Observer
Cpl. Justin R. Clouse, 22, of Sprague, Washington
Cpl. Clouse was serving his second tour in Afghanistan, where he worked as a gunner on one of the vehicles.
Justin Clouse also comes from a small town of 550 found about 30 miles west of Spokane. Residents from the small village flew American flags and gave the family a send-off and welcome home to show their support, as the community mourns the loss of one of their own.
Growing up Justin was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved the outdoors. He played basketball and football at Sprague Lamont High School.
Clouse graced many pages of high school yearbook. He was a basketball star, a team captain and Most Valuable Player both on the court and in the lives of others.
Justin Clouse graduated in 2010 and joined the Army about a year later, which was his dream.
“He always wanted to serve his country,” Tina Clouse said.
Cpl. Clouse was engaged and planned to get married next May after leaving the Army. His plan was to study engineering and eventually find work in the oil industry, his mother said.
the Spokesman
"He was an awesome man," said his grandfather Orville Clouse in The Republic.
"He was outgoing, and yet quiet."
"He was always a hard-working and ambitious kid."
One resident recalled Cpl. Clouse as a young man with a big heart. Her son, a senior at Sprague Lamont High School, called him "the coolest guy ever."
“Justin was a role model for kids all throughout his life. I still remember waking up early in the morning to go lift, dreaming of having muscles like him,” she said, reading from a letter her son wrote for the Clouse family.
“I wish I could go back and tell him that I'm proud of him and that I'm going to miss him," Clouse's coach said in KXLY News.
The coach last spoke to Clouse on Saturday and finds it hard to believe he's now gone.
“You can never judge a book by its cover because he was quiet, this big strong guy that you would think is this mean person, but man he would babysit my kids, my son. Good guy, good kid," he said.
“Justin was a brave man who was willing to risk his life for the honor of fighting for his country," the resident said.
Among those Cpl. Clouse leaves behind are his fiancee, mother and grandfather, and many friends and family in Sprague.
Cpl. Justin Clouse is missed. May he rest in peace.
Fox 21 News
Thank you to JaxDem for writing the memorial to Pvt. 2nd Class Toppen.
Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen, 19, of Mokena, Illinois
Aaron Toppen, a graduate of Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, Illinois and for one year he attended Joliet Junior College before joining the Army
The youngest of three children. Aaron simply loved being the in the outdoors and he especially loved to fish.
Toppen's uncle Jack Winter said:
Aaron was predisposed to serve. He was very keen to be in the military. He was quite proud to be there.
Other family members recalled Aaron as a kind-hearted and loving man who wanted a career in the military or law enforcement.
Aaron's sister Amanda Gralewski adored her younger brother:
My brother lost his life doing what he always wanted to do since he was a little boy. He's my biggest hero and the bravest man I know.
After offering her sympathy to the families of the other four casualties, Amanda added:
Aaron Toppen, you are the most amazing man I know. I will forever hold you in my heart and never forget the man you were. Nineteen years old, making choices in life that are nothing but courageous. I love you Bud.
Toppen's father Ronald Toppen had been gravely ill and died suddenly in February of this year. Toppen came home from Fort Carson for the funeral and afterwards caught up with his unit, which had deployed without him, in March.
Jeff Winter offered a poignant description of his nephew:
He was something somewhat rare in youth culture today. In a word, I would summarize what he had as 'class'. So rarely now do you see somebody like that who truly does have class, who's polite, humble, loyal, who's a kind-hearted soul, generous.
Pam Toppen, Aaron's mother told reporters:
He told me he was going on a mission. He told me it was going to be OK. He said, 'Mom, I'm with the best men there are. I love you.' And that was it.
He was looking for a challenge and opportunity. He wanted to serve his country, and it's something since grade school he wanted to do. He followed his dream. I'm proud of him.
Pvt 2nd Class Toppen had the following statement posted to his facebook page:
I stand between the innocent and harm not because I should ... but because I can.
Pvt 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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 soldiers pets 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 with diaries written 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.