IGTNT: "Why does it have to be my son?"

"Why does it have to be my son?"

Tonight, I am thinking of all the parents who have asked this terrible question, of their grief, of their desperate need for an answer.

Tonight, their ranks have grown with the deaths of Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac, 28, of Wahiawa, Hawaii; Lance Cpl. Lance M. Clark, 21, of Cookeville, Tenn.; Pfc. Sammie E. Phillips, 19, of Cecilia, Ky.; Cpl. Javier G. Paredes, 24, of San Antonio, Texas; and Cpl. Travis M. Woods, 21, of Redding, Calif.

For each parent who has had to bury a son or daughter killed in these wars: I wish you peace. I wish you strength. I wish you an answer to your question.

We remember five more fallen sons, below.

"I Got the News Today" (IGTNT) 9/13/07

From the Department of Defense:

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

Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac, 28, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, died Sept. 9 in Hawijah, Iraq, of wounds suffered from a rocket propelled grenade during combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield, Barracks, Hawaii.

Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac wrote his last myspace entry on Sept. 1:

Finally!, I'll be home for good.....
This is very rare that write a blog. For the past 13 months I have been living in the a place that time forgot "Iraq". Now it is finally coming to an end with a few weeks to go. I can't wait to be back home with family and friends. This has been a long time coming and it gonna feel a lot longer as it comes to those last hours that I'm here. The taste of freedom is going to be sweet. To let you in on a secret, the expected date for my arrival is the 24th of September. I'll keep my fingers cross. I hope to see you all when I get back.

Now, he’ll arrive home in the saddest and most solemn manner possible.

Gagalac was a 1997 graduate of Leilehua High School and part of its varsity wrestling team. "Calamity Jane" posted this comment on his blog: "Didnt know you all that well, seen you around school... watched you wrestle ...had a chat with you here and there.. but, yours was a sweet soul, and it touched all. . You surely will be missed, may you rest in peace forever." Just a life that he touched in passing...

He attended Leeward Community College for a few years, and in 2000, joined the Army -- along with his twin brother, Alexis, says The Honolulu Advertiser.  Alexander was assigned to Schofield in 2003, and re-enlisted this past July. Here he is last January, practicing with his .50 cal. sniper rifle. The AP says that he would have been back in Hawaii months ago, but his deployment was extended; nevertheless, he had expected to be home soon.

Alexis, a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard and formerly of the 2nd Infantry Division, got the news while he was at drill, says the Star-Bulletin. "There was a message from my mother which said, 'Come back home. Your brother is dead.' I just couldn't believe it."

As he told a local news station "He's like my better half. He's my twin brother and I lost him this weekend." Alexis will escort his brother’s body back to Hawaii, with a tentative return date of Saturday. As he told a local newspaper, "I need to bring him back... We want to see each other." He posted this poignant message on his own myspace page:

Alexander was a great man, a hero, My Twin brother. I lost him to the war in Iraq. Please keep him alive by remembering him.

And their mother, Regina Gagalac, asked this heartbreaking, unanswerable question: "Why does it have to be my son?" Oh, God, her face, as she asks...

Godspeed, Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac.

From the Department of Defense:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
           
Lance Cpl. Lance M. Clark, 21, of Cookeville, Tenn., died Sept. 7 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The incident is under investigation.

At this time, little information is available about Lance Cpl. Lance M. Clark. The Herald-Citizen describes his homecoming:

COOKEVILLE -- Hundreds of people lined the streets last night between White County and Cookeville to pay respect to a U.S. Marine from Cookeville who was killed in Iraq last week.

The body of 21-year-old Lance Cpl. Lance Murphy Clark arrived at the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport on a Kalitta Charters plane shortly after 6 last night, where more than a hundred people including family, friends, members of law enforcement, emergency and rescue crews and the Patriot Guard were waiting.

The plane was greeted by a salute from seven uniformed U.S. Marines, who escorted Lance Cpl. Clark's casket from the plane to the hearse of Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home.

(snip)

As the processional honoring Lance Cpl. Clark made its way from the Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in White County to the Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home on South Jefferson Avenue in Cookeville, hundreds of supporters lined the streets waving flags and signs.

Family and friends traveling in cars behind the hearse carrying Lance Cpl. Clark wiped away tears as they drove through crowds, many with their hats off and their hands over their hearts.

He would have been 22 this December. He will be buried on Saturday afternoon.

In California, flags over the capitol are at half-staff in Clark’s honor.

If you have more information about Lance Cpl. Clark, please share it in the comments and I will update this diary.

Godspeed, Lance Cpl. Lance M. Clark.

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

Pfc. Sammie E. Phillips, 19, of Cecilia, Ky., died Sept. 10 in Rustamiyah, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a vehicle rollover. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, Kentucky Army National Guard, Carlisle, Ky.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Kentucky National Guard member Pfc. Sammie E. Phillips had been deployed for just a month when he died. He was riding in a military vehicle, "headed to a traffic control point, when a civilian vehicle swerved into its path. The military vehicle took "evasive action," struck a culvert and overturned," said Kentucky Adj. Gen. Donald Storm. Two other guardsmen from Kentucky were also injured, according to military officials, but their names have not been released.

He was 19 – three years older than you have to be to get a driver’s license. A teacher at his alma mater, North Hardin High School, remembered him:

Laura McGray, a former teacher and assistant principal at North Hardin High School, remembered the 2006 graduate. "He was an outgoing young man and was always ready to help someone," she told The News-Enterprise of Elizabethtown. "He would go out of his way to help someone."

So did Adj. Gen. Storm, who told reporters: "Sammie Phillips, 19 years old, lived in Vine Grove, Ky. His wife is 19 years old. Just a tremendous young soldier that had just tremendous potential."

And from his unit commander, Capt. Robert S. Mattingly: "Pfc. Sammie Phillips was an excellent soldier who had unlimited potential, I rode with Sammie while training in Mississippi. He was one of our best gunners, the absolute cream of the crop. He was always ready to go, which is one of the best traits a soldier could possess. I never met a person that didn't like Sammie Phillips."

The Courier-Journal adds that Phillips is survived by "his wife, Ashley Marie Phillips; his mother, Rachel D. Crutcher; stepfather Donnie Crutcher; and father, Ronald E. Phillips." According to WKYT, a service for Phillips will be held tomorrow in Lexington and he will be buried at Camp Nelson Cemetery in Jessamine County.

Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher has asked that the commonwealth’s flags fly at half-staff until sunset on the day of his funeral. They are already at half-staff at North Hardin High School.

Dead at 19. With a widow the same age.

Godspeed, Pfc. Sammie E. Phillips.

From the Department of Defense:

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

Cpl. Javier G. Paredes, 24, of San Antonio, died Sept. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Cpl. Javier G. Paredes was a medic. It was a long way from his childhood, during which he suffered enough abuse to place him in the foster care system. According to mysanantonio.com, "Paredes and his four siblings spent most of their childhood at foster homes and group homes all over the state." "Nino" grew up; he helped others.

When the news came to his brother, Pedro Paredes, he thought there might have been a mistake. "They found his dog tags," he said."That's how they confirmed the body. I didn't want to accept it. I never thought that would happen to Javier."

Paredes was a hard worker, but was spontaneous, too. His best friend, Juan Medina, recalled Paredes’ decision to join the military two years ago:

"The day he joined the military, he called me from the recruiter's office. I told him, 'Niño, what are you doing? You know we are at war, right?'" Medina said. "But he said he had made his decision, that he was going to do it and I didn't need to worry. But that's the way he was, spontaneous."

(snip)

Medina also remembered a more playful side of Paredes, who was an avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Cowboys.

"Every Thursday we would all get together to play flag football at Olmos Park," Medina said. "Once, there was a team playing rugby and Niño said he wanted to try it, so he did."

At the Hill Country Youth Ranch, a residential treatment and foster care center, Paredes was remembered as someone who found "joy in the simplest of moments," said HCYR Director Gary Priour:

"We knew him to be a person of great character and courage, who cared deeply about others, including his siblings and friends at the Ranch," Priour said in a statement. "He was proud that he had picked up the pieces and graduated from high school. By the time he left, he had become an integral part of our family here."

(snip)

"He was truly one of the sweetest spirits I’ve ever known," Priour said. "He loved the medical corps in the army because he was always helping people."

He will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery on Friday.

Godspeed, Cpl. Javier G. Paredes.

From the Department of Defense:

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

Cpl. Travis M. Woods, 21, of Redding, Calif., died Sept. 9 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Northern Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to3rd Battalion, 1stMarine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The parents of Cpl. Travis M. Woods got the news last weekend that their son had died while fighting alongside special operations forces, though details are unclear. But the details are less important than the loss, said his mother, Stacey Woods: "All I know is my son is gone," she said. "It doesn’t matter how it happened or where."

Woods joined the Corps on Sept. 8, 2003, according to the Marine Corps Times – well before his 2004 graduation from Foothill High School, where he played football.

From Redding.com:

His former principal at Foothill High School, Kyle Turner...described the former football player "as an outstanding young man who represented Foothill with character and integrity... He was a good kid."

Family members are stunned. His sister, Tessa Woods, says "I went to my uncle’s and saw three marines outside, and the only reason they would be there is ‘cause he was gone."

Tessa Woods can still remember he(r) older brother and his love for life. He was an extreme sports enthusiast and was always reaching for the limits. "He was crazy," she said, "everyone knew him as a daredevil." Evidently, his myspace page is full of photos of him taking risks on BMX bike and surfboard – and having fun. "He was funny and fun and always kind of a risk-taker," said his friend, Aislinn Anderson, 21. "But after high school, he turned into this real man."

KNVN. Com describes him as "part of an elite counter-terrorism force," and the Marine Corps Times identifies his as a field wireman who might have been part of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

He had already served a tour in Iraq; according to his mother, he wasn’t happy about being overseas again. "I don't think he wanted to be in Afghanistan, but it was his job, and he was going to see it through. He was going to do it to the best of his ability."

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that woods "had recently called his mother in Redding to tell her to stop sending care packages because he was coming home." Now, a memorial fund has been set up to honor him:

A local soldier gave his life for his country, now his family is encouraging the community to give back. The family of Corporal Travis Woods, who died in Afghanistan last week, has set up a memorial fund in his name. The money that is donated will be used to make care packages for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you are interested in giving, you can take your donation to any north valley bank or view information below under the Donations tab.

The Fresno Bee notes that "he is survived by his mother and his father, Paul, as well as a sister, Tessa, 18, and a brother, Jake, 14."

Godspeed, Cpl. Travis M. Woods.

***

The Department of Defense has confirmed 3,775 deaths and the announcement of one more death 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.

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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.

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 blue jersey mom, chacounne, greenies, joyful, labwitchy, moneysmith, MsWings, noweasels, roses, Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, SisTwo, twilight falling, Wee Mama and me, 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.