IGTNT: "Somehow I Don't Feel Worthy of Your Sacrifices

IGTNT – "Somehow I Don’t Feel Worthy of Your Sacrifices"

Today we honour Staff Sergeant Nicholas Carnes, who gave the last full measure. I definitely don’t feel worthy of his sacrifice.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Carnes, 25, of Dayton, Ky., died Aug. 26 in Orgun-e, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Lewanne Bazaar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment, Kentucky Army National Guard, Carrollton, Ky.

For more information related to this release, the media may contact the Kentucky National Guard public affairs office at [phone].

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Carnes

"They were on maneuvers, looking for (improvised explosive devices)," said his mother, Wray Jean Carnes, who lives in Dayton. "Then the enemy fired on his squad."

Carnes grew up in Dayton and graduated from Dayton High School in 2000, where he played football. He entered the Army National Guard at 17 and went to work at BB Riverboats, where he became a captain before leaving on his Guard deployment in October 2006.

While at BB Riverboats, he met his wife, Terri Bernstein, herself a captain and a member of the Bernstein family, owners of BB Riverboats. Sept. 19 would have been their one-year wedding anniversary. They lived in Ludlow.

This was Carnes’ first deployment.

To give you a picture of what Staff Sgt. Carnes was all about, I will let those who knew him best speak:

"He was the most kind, gentle, loving young man," his mother said. "There wasn’t anyone he ever met who didn’t love him. He never grumbled. He was always there to lend a helping hand. He was a giving young man."

"He wanted to protect his family," she said. "He wanted us all to be free."

These messages on SoldierWall.com show the measure of love that this man inspired:

His Wonderful Wife
    "Hey baby ... I love you and miss you so much. This is the absolute hardest thing I have ever had to go through. You were my rock to help me through stuff and now it’s just me. I am so proud of you. You have always been my hero and the love of my life. I am so proud to be your wife. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this life without you but I know one day we will be together again it is just going to be a little longer than I was expecting. I promise to you I will look out for your family. I will be there with you on September 19 for our first anniversary. I have so many words to say I just can’t get them all out. I LOVE YOU MY HANDSOME HUSBAND!!! ... With all my heart ... Your Wonderful Wife."

Erin Chandler
    "Nick was a great person. He will truelly be missed by everyone that has ever known him. I had the pleasure of knowing him since Kindergarten and we graduated high school together. My heart forever goes out to his Mom Wray Jean, sisters Amanda and Sarah, Grandma Frankie, his wife Terri and many many family and friends. Thank you Nick for being a true HERO !!!"

Ray and Dena Sieme
     "God Bless You and Thank You Nick for fighting for our freedom. We’ll always be family and you’ll always have a special place in our hearts."

Linda
     " Somehow I don’t feel worthy of your sacrifices. To leave your loving family and friends to work toward a better world and freedom for a nation that knows none, you are a hero. Thank you and God Bless your family and all those who knew and supported you."

Sgt. Stewart William
    " I remember meeting you back in 01. A genuine guy with the best of intentions. You are missed sincerely. Sleep tight brother. We will hold the line."

Spc. Christopher Ely
    " The world will not be the same. One of the greatest soldiers I have ever had the honor of being a friend to has went home without us. Brother, you will be missed. Terri, you or yours need anything or anyone, you let Tiff and me know. To Nicks parents. You need us as well, we’ll be there ... anytime. Till we see you in Heaven, HERO..."

Your Nana,
    "Oh my sweet boy and my sunshine. I only hope that Nana will live long enough for the "thanks" that you so deserve for your huge sacrifice that you made for us all. Sleep precious one and know that because of who you are Nana has been blessed in many ways. Always remember you have been my HERO long before your days in the military. Nicholas in your short life you taught Nana so much and I will thank Terri’s mom and dad for their wonderful daughter. Always know that you are my sunshine and somehow I find a way to live on just as we spoke about many months ago, my child you were always wiser than your years!!! Heavenly father please watch over this man for those who have had the priviledge of knowing and loving him. Nicholas lives have changed forever because of you. What a priviledge and blessing it is to be your Nana."

My heart is with the Carnes family this evening. I identify so strongly with the words and heart of Terri, Staff Sgt. Carnes beloved wife. May she find comfort and peace.

Thank you, Staff Sgt. Barnes, thank you to your family friends for your service and for you sacrifice.

According to the DoD, there are 3729 fatalities in Iraq and 3 pending notification.  There are 681 fatalities in Afghanistan of which 428 are from the United States.  All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here.  They all had loved ones, families and friends.  The DoD news releases are here.  I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind.  Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.

About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT) I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Monkeybiz, silvercedes, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Wee Mama, twilight falling, moneysmith, sheddhead, labwitchy, joyful, roses, sistwo, sandy on signal, and me, chacounne.
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.