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.
Spc. Kyle E. Gilbert
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Freedom Sentinel. Spc. Kyle E. Gilbert, 24, of Buford, Georgia, died on September 21, 2015, in Bagram, Afghanistan, in a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.
Spc. Gilbert Joined the Army since April 2013, and he arrived at Fort Drum that November. He deployed to Afghanistan in June with 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
In 2009, prior to joining the Army, Spc. Gilbert enlisted in the Marines, where he suffered a major injury to his eardrum during basic training, requiring years of rehabilitation. His father explained that his son “wanted to serve his country so bad that he didn’t want to stop because of his eardrum. That’s all he ever wanted to do. Ever since he was a little boy, that’s all he said.”
Spc. Gilbert’s battalion commander, Lt. Col. Michael Kovacevic, said “Specialist Gilbert was an exceptional soldier and junior leader in our battalion. He met every mission and challenge with contagious enthusiasm and vigor. His family is in our continued thoughts and prayers. His memory will forever remain with those who served with him.” His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. In addition, he completed the Combat Life Savers Course and the Combatives Level 1 Course.
Spc. Gilbert’s father spoke of his son’s lighthearted personality, saying “He loved to see people laugh. He loved to be the clown. He wanted to see people happy.” One of his friends, Tanner Fisher, described him as a man who cared about the people around him:
He was as true a patriot as anyone I've even known. Always upbeat and always making sure people around him were laughing... Always had a silver lining when we were all tired and broken down. I will always consider him a friend and a brother. I know for a fact giving his life for the brothers next to him and his country would never be something he would have hesitated to do. Gilly will be missed by a lot of people and a lot of people we went through infantry training with have come together online from our different duty stations to talk about him and our hearts go out to his family in their time of loss. Gilly is a hero and a hell of a grunt and his actions and sacrifice for his country and loved ones will echo through eternity forever. Hooah Gilly.
Spc. Gilbert is survived by his mother, father, and stepmother and brother. His father and other family members planned to be at Dover Air Force Base when Spc. Gilbert's body returned to the U.S.
A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Spc. Kyle E. Gilbert during
a dignified transfer Sepember 23, 2015, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
Sources: DoD, Fort Drum, 11 Alive Atlanta, Watertown Daily Times, and Dover AFB
~ ❦ ~
1914 IV: The Dead
~ Rupert Brooke ~
These hearts were woven of human joys and cares,
Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth.
The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs,
And sunset, and the colours of the earth.
These had seen movement, and heard music; known
Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended;
Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone;
Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended.
There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter
And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after,
Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance
And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white
Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance,
A width, a shining peace, under the night.
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.