I Got The News Today (IGTNT), 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.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Samuel C. Hairston
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. 1st Class Samuel C. Hairston, 35, of Houston, Texas, died on August 12, 2014 in Ghazni, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his unit was engaged by enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Samuel C. Hairston
(Fort Bragg)
Sam Hairston grew up in Shalimar, Florida, where his parents, Bernette and Josephine Hairston still live. He has three brothers, Junnee Cardama, Broady Hairston and TJ Hairston. He was husband to Staff Sgt. Tawana Hairston, and father to their son, Hayden. His wife and son live in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Sam attended Choctawhatchee High School in nearby Fort Walton Beach, where he is remembered as a young man whose smile lit up the room. Coach Dean Vinson called Sam “part of the glue that held the team together,” saying, “They did things you can’t coach and that’s called loving and caring about one other. They’re still just kids to me. They’re 35 years old, but they’re your players.”
Sam went on to the University of Houston, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2002. While at UH, he played football for the Cougars. Kim Helton, the head football coach, recalled a Sam’s infectious smile, saying, “He was a young man who had really tremendous ability to make everybody like him. I'm very proud of him. It's a sad ending and you wish it hadn't happened. He was a man of honor."
Sam enlisted in the Army following his college career. A former teammate, Patrick Boatner, said that Sam had wanted to follow his father and brother into the military. “You would thank him for serving his country and he was like, ‘This is what I wanted to do; you don’t have to thank me’,” said Boatner. Another former teammate, Daniel Jonke, recalled thanking him for his service to this country and urging him to stay safe. “I would give it all to make sure people like you get to enjoy the freedoms we all too often take for granted,” Sam Hairston responded.
According to the Fort Bragg Press Center, Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Hairston enlisted in the Army in March of 2003. Upon completion of one station unit training, he completed the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2003, and was assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team in August of 2013. He was most recently a platoon sergeant with A Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters and the NATO medal. His qualifications include the Ranger tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Military Master Free Fall Parachutist Badge, the Basic Parachutist Badge, Drivers Badge and the Marine Qualification Badge Expert-Rifle.
From people who knew Sam Hairston ...
We have suffered a great loss in the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and express our deepest condolences. Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Hairston was an exceptional noncommissioned officer and a valued member of our team. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time. We will never forget him. ~ Lt. Col. Chris Hockenberry, Hairston’s battalion commander
We are deeply saddened by the loss of Sam Hairston and express our greatest condolences to his wife, Tawana, son, Hayden, extended family and wide circle of friends. Sam was not only a valuable member of the Houston family but an American hero. He is an inspiration to all of us and will always be remembered as a great Cougar. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sam’s family and friends. ~ Mack Rhoades, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics, University of Houston
His toughness as a football player transferred from the football field. That's what made him a good soldier. It transferred over into his military career. I'm just so proud of the way he, me being a soldier myself, the way he represented our country. A true American hero. ~ Rex Bowman, coach at Choctawhatchee High School and a reservist who spent time in the Middle East
Sam, he was exceptional from Day No. 1. Everyone was drawn to Sam. Not only was he an unbelievable athlete, he was kind hearted about it. He would rip your face off and tell you how much he cared about you. ~ Jeremy Griffith, who played football with Hairston in high school and college
He was like the brightest smile in any room. The guy had the prettiest, whitest smile and never had a bad day. He was the glue who held people together and brought people together … You would thank him for serving his country and he was like, ‘This is what I wanted to do; you don’t have to thank me.’ ~ Patrick Boatner, who also played football with Hairston in high school and college
Rest in peace, Sammy.
(Facebook)
DoD, Fort Bragg, Houston Chronicle, Facebook, NCAA, Northwest Florida Daily News, WEAR
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.
The DoD news releases are here, and all of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. These men and women all had people who they loved and who loved them.
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, Sandy on Signal, and me, Joy of Fishes.
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.