IGTNT: The Death of Excellent Sons

On this Father’s Day, we remember two more military men, Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley and Maj. Kevin H. Sonnenberg, and the parents and children they leave behind.

They were once little boys. Maybe they made cards for their dads for Father’s Day. Maybe their fathers taught them how to throw a baseball, or catch a fish.

They were also fathers, and I hope that they took with them the memories of their children as newborns, and of cuddling them as toddlers, and of discovering the adventure of parenting. As you read about these men, please take a few moments to consider how much has been lost with their deaths.

For the Lilley family, and for the Sonnenberg family: We remember.

As Friend of the court said so beautifully the other night: "For all the lost children, and for all who have lost them."

I Got the News Today, 6/17/07 edition.

From the Department of Defense:

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

Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley, 35, of Smithfield, Pa., died June 15, in Shkin, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire. He was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

See him here. Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley came from a family with a strong military tradition, as Lilley’s father, Arthur F. Lilley, told the Herald Standard:

"The Army runs in the family," Lilley said. "My brother and I fought in Vietnam. Art and his brother, Mike, also joined the service. It's a family tradition."

(snip)

"He knew what he wanted to do. He wasn't afraid. He wanted to serve his country," his father said. "I was in Vietnam from 1965-67. I know what it's like. I told him, 'If that is your choice, I will back you 100 percent.'

"He was an excellent son," he added. "He played sports in high school. I guess you could say that he was an average student. He raced motocross, and he liked BMX bicycle racing. His recent hobby was reconditioning SUVs and using them for rock climbing. He belonged to a club. They traveled all over. He was in Utah recently. It was a dangerous sport, but he loved it."

A veteran of Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Lilley leaves behind a number of family members, says the Herald Standard:

Lilley is survived by his wife, Christine, daughter, Mackenzie, and son, Cole, of Spring Lake, N.C.; his parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Lilley of Smithfield; his brother, Michael Lilley and his wife, Katya; his half-brothers, Bruce Sanford and his wife, Mary, and James Sanford and his wife, Beth; half-sisters, Sandra Horton and her husband, Rick, and Jessica Barnett; his grandmother, Evelyn Barrett; and his grandparents, Arthur and Edith Lilley, Ralph and Louise Barrett and Jerry and Sondra Tate, according to his biography.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more:

During his regular phone call from Afghanistan to his parents last Sunday, Master Sgt. Arthur Lilley told them not to worry.

His mother, Elizabeth, and his father, Arthur F., of Smithfield, Fayette County, got to talk with him during the half-hour call.

Mrs. Lilley said her son said "things were going good. It was going to get to be a busy time and if he didn't get to talk for us for a few days, not to worry. He would be OK."

Days later, Sgt. Lilley was dead.

Pennsylvania has lost 167 service members to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 1,109 have been wounded, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.

From the Department of Defense:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maj. Kevin H. Sonnenberg, 42, of McClure, Ohio, died June 15 when his jet crashed five miles north of Balad Air Base, Iraq.  He was assigned to the 112th Fighter Squadron, Toledo, Ohio.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

See Maj. Kevin H. Sonnenberg here and read the Toledo Blade’s remembrance:

McCLURE, Ohio - Threads tying this close-knit community together tightened with sorrow as word spread that a native son had been killed in Iraq.

"Rest In Peace Kevin" was the message posted on a board outside of the American Legion Post 332 yesterday.

(snip)

"We're a small town. It hits everyone hard, really hard," said a customer at a downtown business who didn't want her name published.

(snip)

"He would fly over his folks' house - they live a mile south of town - and he would wave his wings," said Mr. Houser yesterday as he held a photograph of Mr. Sonnenberg and Bob Kane, former post commander, that was taken after the pilot presented the post with an American flag.

"In 2002, Kevin flew overseas and he had that flag with him. When he came back, he gave the flag to the post," said Mr. Houser, who is mourning the pilot's loss.

"I've known Kevin ever since he was a baby," Mr. Houser said. "He was an All-American boy. He never got in trouble. He was a community man, a community kid."

More from WTOL.com:

In the small Henry County town of McClure, where Sonnenberg lived, the sign on Roberts-McMillen Post 332 of the American Legion says it all, "Rest in Peace Kevin."

For the people who live in that town, the news of Sonnenberg's death hit hard.  

"The whole town's in shock.  Everyone's walking around looking at each other, and you can tell who knows," said Jackie Burt, a close friend of the Sonnenbergs.

With Kevin Sonnenberg's death, Burt says the town has lost some one very special.  

"Kevin was a good guy.  Very well-respected," said Burt.  "He's the kind of guy that whenever you saw him, you could say 'Hi' to him, and he would stop and he would take the time to talk to you."

When asked whether she considered him a hero, Burt answered, "Absolutely.  He's a small-town hero."

And finally, from a press release issued by his family:

Ohio Air National Guard Maj. Kevin Sonnenberg, 42, will be remembered as an intrepid fighter pilot who perished before his time serving the nation he loved. But he was also a loving husband, commercial pilot, dedicated farmer, loyal friend and a faithful family man.

He leaves behind wife, Lorin, and his stepson, 6-year-old Carson Orr.

Ohio has lost 151 service members to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 1,056 have been wounded, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.

***

The Department of Defense has confirmed 3,517 deaths and the announcement of four more deaths is expected, pending notification of the next of kin, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. The DoD news releases are here.

You can read more about each service member at  Honor the Fallen and  Spread the Word: Iraq-Nam, which is written by our own  spread the word iraq-nam. They all had friends and loved ones. Please visit the Iraq Veterans Memorial for a moving look at how a few of their survivors remember them. It will break your heart. If you want to do something more, please visit anysoldier.com, Operation Helmet, and/or Fisher House.

I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, American Daughter, blue jersey mom, chacounne, BeninSC, Worried Dem, Wee Mama, Just the Facts, and me, monkeybiz.

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