IGTNT: We’re Losing Too Many Jasons

The boys I grew up with in the 60s tended to have names like Michael, Timothy, Stephen and Thomas. I don’t recall any Jasons. It seems like a name more common to boys born in the 80s, the generation that is bearing the primary weight of serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tonight we honor the memory of yet another Jason who has made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as three other soldiers in their early 20s. They were among their generation's best and brightest. And they had the courage and conviction to put their lives on the line in service to our country.

Please join me in remembering these brave souls:

Spc. Jason N. Marchand, 26, of Greenwood, W. Virginia

Sgt. Joseph B. Milledge, 23, of Pointblank, Texas

Spc. Adam D. Quinn, 22, of Orange City, Florida

Spc. Vincent G. Kamka, 23, of Everett, Washington

IGTNT: October 10, 2007 edition

From the DOD:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Oct. 5 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit during combat operations. They were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, in Vilseck, Germany.

Killed were:

Sgt. Joseph B. Milledge, 23, of Pointblank, Texas, and

Spc. Jason N. Marchand, 26, of Greenwood, W. Va.

Spc. Jason N. Marchand, 26, of Greenwood, W. Va.

It's a mother's worst nightmare.

Friends told Debbie Parsons on Friday that two soldiers had shown up in this pretty little community about 40 miles east of Parkersburg on U.S. 50.

She became frantic when they said the soldiers were looking for her.

"I knew immediately," she said. "My heart stopped. When they came to the house, I didn't want to let them in, hoping that would stop the news."

The source for the above is the Charleston Daily Mail. Debbie Parsons is Spc. Marchand’s mother.

You can see a picture of Spc. Marchand’s daughter, Savannah, holding a photo of her dad here. There is also a link to a video containing interviews with family members.

The Marchand family has been told that Spc. Marchand was in the process of searching houses when a bomb went off inside one of them. The 2000 graduate of Doddridge County High School had been in Iraq less than two months.

In addition to his mother and 6 year old daughter, he leaves behind his wife Jamanda and two brothers. He will be buried on Saturday amidst the grieving community of Doddridge County. Again, from the Daily Mail:

"At the cemetery, Savannah wants to release a balloon to go up to heaven to be with her daddy," Parsons said.

"His cell phone is still on," she said. "I can call and hear his voice."

Through tears she added, "Remember to tell your child every day how much you love him."

Rest in peace Spc. Marchand. May Savannah’s balloon find its way to you, and may your heroic and loving spirit guide her always.


Sgt. Joseph B. Milledge, 23, of Pointblank, Texas

You can see a photo of Sgt. Milledge here.

From the Omaha World Herald:

When Sgt. Joseph Milledge wasn't busy kicking down doors in search of enemy combatants and explosive devices, he enjoyed tossing around a football with Iraqi children or handing them pieces of bubble gum.

The 23-year-old Army sergeant from Glenwood, Iowa, asked his family to send him socks and T-shirts so that he could distribute them to impoverished Iraqi children.

"He always loved the children in Iraq, and I know he just loved his own family very much," said his sister Jaclyn Dunkirk of Des Moines.

"He's just compassionate."

Sgt. Milledge, a 2002 graduate of Glenwood High School, died alongside Spc. Marchand. Among those he leaves behind are his wife, Amanda, and their 14-month-old son, Joseph Bradley Ryan Milledge Jr. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, according to his mother Carla Milledge.

"He was a sergeant and a team leader," she said. "He was a good soldier for the Army. He eventually wanted to get into the Special Forces."

The World Herald reported that his sister Mary Cooper of Glenwood said Sgt. Milledge tried to return to Iowa every six months to visit family and maintain his local ties:

"No matter where he was, it was always of the uttermost importance for him to see his family," Cooper said. "Even though he had nine nieces and nephews, he would spend quality time with every one of them while he was here."

Milledge was also an avid reader, especially about religion and philosophy. He especially enjoyed learning and reading about Socrates, Cooper said.

"My brother would always say, 'Don't let schooling get in the way of education,'" Cooper said. "He never stopped reading, and he was always a very good person. He doesn't want to be portrayed just as a soldier because he was much more than that."

Finally, from the Sioux City Journal:

"You couldn't have asked for a better father or husband," said the soldier's mother, Carla Milledge, who still lives in Glenwood. "He loved his wife and son. He loved them with his whole being."

His family said he was not in Iraq to fight a war but to help the defenseless, especially the children.

"Joey would want people to know that the soldiers aren't just fighting over there," his sister said. "They bring the kids water, play football, get involved with the schools. He cared about the humanitarian effect.

"At Christmas, he asked us to send toys and clothing for the kids."

Rest in peace Sgt. Milledge. Your mission is complete. My deepest condolences to your family. May your son grow up knowing you were a hero whose heart matched the size of your courage.



Spc. Adam D. Quinn, 22, of Orange City, Florida

From the DoD:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Adam D. Quinn, 22, of Orange City, Fla., died Oct. 6 at Forward Operating Base Phoenix, near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Spc. Quinn was one of two paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division who died last week.

We learn from WRAL what an amazing young man he was:

"Quinn was extremely popular and respected by his peers and superiors alike," said his company commander, Capt. Eric Von Fischer-Benzon. "To him, nothing was a bother and helping out a fellow soldier or civilian was a genuine pleasure for him."

And we learn from the Orlando Sentinel that the 2003 graduate of DeLand High School was a father-to-be:

Calling himself "Daddy to be" on his MySpace.com page, Cpl. Adam D. Quinn offered a simple answer to the question of how he wanted to die: "doing something that I love."

His Paster, Reverend Owen Stricklin called him "the finest kid" who would have made a great dad.
He will also be buried on Saturday.

Spc. Quinn is survived by his wife, Faye Quinn, who serves in the Army Reserve, his brother Asa, and his parents, Charles and Sherri Quinn, both from Orange City, Florida.

Rest in peace Spc. Quinn. May your child grow up infused with your sense of generosity and concern for his/her fellow human being. My deepest condolences to your family, friends, community and unit.


Spc. Vincent G. Kamka, 23, of Everett, Washington

From the DOD:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Vincent G. Kamka, 23, of Everett, Wash., died Oct. 4 in Bayji, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Soldier’s death is under investigation.

We learn from HeraldNet, where you can see a picture of him, that Spc. Kamka grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho and was a 2003 graduate of Skyline High School, one of 11 siblings.

Not a lot is known about him at this time, but his family did issue this statement:

"Vince believed in duty to God, country and family. He served this country with dedication obvious to all now. Vince was a quiet, respectful and honorable son, beloved brother and uncle. We thank God for Vincent's life and sacrifice. We honor all others who stand up next to him; this is the price of freedom."

And on her MySpace.com page, his sister, Cassandra, wrote this statement:

"I want everyone to know that my brother died to keep America free," she wrote. "I know that this war is looked on in many different ways. For my brother, he was there (Iraq) for the cause of helping and caring for people. He loved the people there. He could not stand the thought of us leaving."

May you rest in peace, Spc. Kamka. We are grateful for your service. My deepest condolences to your family, friends, community and unit.

Please take a moment to honor the memory of Spc. Jason N. Marchand, Sgt. Joseph B. Milledge, Spc. Adam D. Quinn, and Spc. Vincent G. Kamka, as well as too many other service men and women who have passed through this world much too quickly.

You can do that by viewing the stories and remembrances of these heroes at sites such as Iraq Veterans Memorial, Honor the Fallen and Spread the Word: Iraq-Nam




Regarding Iraq, the Department of Defense has confirmed 3,816 deaths and the announcement of 4 more death is expected pending notification of the next of kin, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. 449 American troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.

To support our military service members and veterans, please visit AnySoldier.com, StandUp4Vets.org and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

they will always be young
they will always be beautiful
they will be in our hearts
they have become part of our souls
we will carry them with us always
and meet in the fullness of time.

(thank you labwitchy)

About the IGTNT series:

IGTNT stands for "I Got the News Today."  The phrase most likely refers to the Beatles song, and it is meant to symbolize that terrible knock on the door that any number of families got today, bringing with it the news that a loved one has died. IGTNT is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind.

Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is maintained by blue jersey mom, Chacounne, joyful, labwitchy, moneysmith, Monkeybiz, noweasels, roses, Sandy on Signal, sheddhead, silvercedes, sistwo, twilight falling, Wee Mama, MsWings and me, greenies.

Fallen soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and National Guard whose names have been released by the Department of Defense are typically diaried two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each fallen service member more fully, and still in a timely manner.

If you would like to help out with IGTNT -- even once a month -- please get in touch with silvercedes, Sandy on Signal, noweasels or monkeybiz.

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.