IGTNT: He Didn't Like Being Called a Hero

Tonight IGTNT diarist Sandy on Signal and I bring you 6 tributes to fallen soldiers who died serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please join us in remembering and honoring them:

Sgt. Robert T. Ayres III, 23, of Los Angeles was a thoughtful loving man held in high regard by those he served under and by those who served with him.

Staff Sgt. Donnie D. Dixon, 37, of Miami was a caring and loving son, as well as a devoted husband and father of four children.

Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster, 37, of Pine Bluff, Ark. was scheduled to come home this month to his daughter Kathryn and the rest of his family.

Spc. Ciara M. Durkin, 30, of Quincy, Mass. was adored by her 17 nieces and nephews and beloved by her 8 siblings.

Sgt. 1st Class Randy L. Johnson, 34, of Washington D.C. – we know little about him tonight, but he is surely missed intensely by loved ones.

Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier, 31, of Charlotte, N.C., Massachusetts and New Hampshire didn’t like being called a hero, but what else would you call someone who went into a flaming vehicle to save two members of his unit, suffering severe burns in the process?

Staff Sgt. Donnie D. Dixon, 37, Miami

DoD Identifies Army Fatality

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

Staff Sgt. Donnie D. Dixon, 37, of Miami, died Sept. 29 in Baloor, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Dessie Dixon recalled how her son always wanted to be a soldier. When he was a little boy, he loved playing with toy soldiers, as soon as he turned 18, he chose to enlist.  From theMiami Herald:

''He died doing what he always wanted to do: serve his  
country,'' said his mother, Dessie Dixon, who lives in Miami Gardens,  
near where Donnie grew up.

Donnie Dixon was a caring and loving son.  His mother described how he bought his parents a car out of  concern for their health.

A few years ago, when Dessie Dixon was struggling to get her husband Ronald to the doctor for diabetes treatment because she had no car, Donnie bought her a 1996 Jeep Cherokee.

'He just said `Mommy, you need a car to take Daddy back and forth,''' Dessie recalled.

''I still have it,'' she said.

Ronald passed away last year and Donnie came home for his funeral. This was the last time she saw her son.  He was due home in December and the family was planning a big bash to welcome him home.

Besides his mother, Dessie, the survivors include: his wife of 13 years, Lovelia, and their four children  Sha'Bria(13), Donnie, jr. (12), Ta Mya (8), and D'Andre (3).  He also leaves behind a sister and a brother.

My heartfelt condolences to the Dixon family.

Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster, 37, Pine Bluff, Arkansas

DoD Identifies Army Fatality

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

Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster, 37, of Pine Bluff, Ark., died Sept. 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive devise and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Arkansas Soldier killed in Iraq

The family of James Doster eagerly awaited his visit home this month.  His mother, Billie Doster,  told the local Morning News, her granddaughter, Kathryn, age 6, was "counting the days" to see him again.

"Kathryn was counting down the days until he was supposed to be home," Billie Doster said. "She doesn't really understand. All she says is, 'It's not fair.' They had so many plans for when he came home."

Sadly, now he will be coming home next week in a flag draped coffin. Billie Doster told the news, the doorbell rang at 9 p.m. when she opened the door she saw two Soldiers in full dress uniform and they gave her the devastating news: her son was killed in Iraq.  She told the Morning News:

"It's so easy to read 'an American soldier was killed' in the papers. You don't really make the connection," she said. "When it's your own, you find it a lot harder."

Besides his dear mother, Billie, Sgt. 1st Class James Doster, leaves behind his wife, Amanda, and daughters, Kathryn, 6, and Grace,3.  My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Sgt. 1st Class James Doster.

Sgt. Zachard D. Tellier, Charlotte, NC

DoD Identifies Army Fatality

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

Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier, 31, of Charlotte, N.C., died Sept. 29 at Firebase Wilderness, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

We learn from the Charlotte Observer that last April Sgt. Tellier saved the life of two paratroopers when he pulled them from their burning vehicle while on patrol in Afghanistan. He was award the Bronze Star with valor and received two Purple Hearts. But he did not survive the wounds he suffered in a gun battle with the Taliban last Saturday.

People on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and in Manchester, New Hampshire, where Sgt. Tellier grew up, aren’t surprised by his heroism and they are devastated by his death. That’s evident in the comments section of an article in the Manchester Union Leader:

"Zach and I were in the same grade together and shared a lot of classes as well. I heard this morning what happened from another one of my friends back home. It is a tragic and horrible thing to happen to such a great person."

"Zach was a tender and kind friend that would do anything for anyone. He will be greatly missed."

"Zach has been a very dear friend of mine since we were both 15 years old in high school. ... He is one of the sweetest people I have ever known in my life.

"His laughter is what I remember most - I can still hear it. "The happiest I saw Zach was the moment he kissed Sara on their wedding day. I'll never forget that."

Sara was Sgt. Tellier’s wife. They had married just over a year ago. He was due to come home on leave for two few weeks and one of those weeks was going to be spent just the two of them on a desert island, with the other week being spent with his family in New England.

"He really just wanted to serve his country," said wife Sara Tellier. "He felt it was something he should do with his life. ... He didn't like to be called a hero. He was very uncomfortable with that, but he was definitely very brave man."

There is much more to know about Sgt. Tellier – his selflessness, his devotion to family, his dreams, his dedication to service. I encourage you to read the Manchester Union Leader coverage to learn more.

Tellier is survived by his wife Sara; his father Daniel of Groton, Mass., his mother Pamela Morse of Falmouth, Mass.; two brothers, James Tellier, 28, of Seattle, and Daniel Tellier , 22, a half-sister, Hannah Tellier, 12 and a half-brother, Samuel, 10, all of Groton, Mass.
We mourn alongside Sgt. Tellier’s family, friends, community and unit.

Spc. Ciara M. Durkin, 30, of Quincy, Mass.

DoD Identifies Army Fatality

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

Spc. Ciara M. Durkin, 30, of Quincy, Mass., died Sept. 28 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 726th Finance Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard, West Newton, Mass.

Spc. Durkin was found shot in the head near the church where she worshipped on Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. That’s all that’s been told to her close-knit family. They are looking for answers this evening and have asked their senators and congressman for assistance.

From the Boston Globe:

"She did say to us that she had concerns about things she was seeing when she was over there," Ciara Durkin's sister, Fiona Canavan, said in an interview with WGBH-TV. "She told us if anything happened to her, that we were to investigate it."

We also learn from the Boston Globe article that Spc. Durkin was the eighth of nine siblings, born in Ireland and moved to Massachusetts at age 9. After working in information technology for a healthcare company, she enlisted in the Guard two years ago.

Her family says she admired military discipline and wanted to serve her country. She also was a devoted aunt who sent allowance money to many of her 17 nieces and nephews so they would know she was thinking about them.
Over the weekend her sisters walked 4 miles to raise money for the Quincy Medical Center cancer care services. Spc. Durkin had pledged $100. Also from the Globe:

"I give because I learned to stay strong here in Afghanistan because of your courage. I love you."

She had been home with her family for two weeks in early September "painting steps, mowing lawns, and building shelves at her mother's and sister's houses, spending happy times with friends and family, and attending Red Sox games to reconnect with her beloved team," according to the Globe.

She too was a hero. Again from the Globe:

In April, she sent the family an e-mail with a photograph of her and an American private contractor, who explained in a note how Durkin had helped break his fall from a 26-foot ladder.

"Without a doubt, she saved my life," he wrote. "Her personal sacrifice has bonded her and I as friends (to the bone) for life."

May Spc. Ciara Durkin’s loving family get the answers they so deserve about the circumstances of her death so that they may have closure. May she rest in eternal peace.

Sgt. 1st Class Randy L. Johnson, 34, of Washington, DC

DoD Identifies Army Fatality

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

Sgt. 1st Class Randy L. Johnson, 34, of Washington D.C., died Sept. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Sadly we have no information about Sgt. 1st Class Johnson as of the publication of this diary. But may his family, friends, community and unit know that we grieve among them tonight.

Sgt. Robert T. Ayers III

DoD Identifies Army Fatality

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

Sgt. Robert T. Ayres III, 23, of Los Angeles, died Sept. 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Again, we have little information about Sgt. Ayres. We know he is survived by his loving parents and two brothers and two sisters. And he was well-thought of if the comments here are an indication.

May Sgt. Ayres rest in peace and may his family, friends, community and unit know that we mourn their tremendous loss.

Please take a moment to honor the memories of these fine men and woman, as well as too many others who have passed through this world much too quickly in service to their country.

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 3,807 deaths and the announcement of 1 more death is expected pending notification of the next of kin, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. 448 American troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.

To support our military service members and veterans, please visit AnySoldier.com 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.

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.

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 join Sandy on Signal and me in remembering these fine soldiers.