We’ve lost five more soldiers -- Spc. Michael T. Manibog, 31, of Alameda, Calif.; Sgt. Timothy P. Martin, 27, of Pixley, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Jerald A. Whisenhunt, 32, of Orrick, Mo.; Sgt. Gary D. Willett, 34, of Alamogordo, N.M.; and Pfc. Jack T. Sweet, 19, of Alexandria Bay, N.Y. -- to IEDs in Iraq.
Sweet died Feb. 8 in Jawwalah, according to the Department of Defense; Manibog, Martin, Whisenhunt and Willett died the same day in the Sunni Triangle's Taji, northwest of Baghdad.
There are no words I can give you to bring them back, no phrases that will much comfort the family and friends who miss them so much. But I have to try to tell you a little bit about them so you know how much we have all lost.
This diary was written by monkeybiz, greenies and SisTwo.
The good news is that six soldiers survived when their 20-ton Stryker set off a roadside bomb, sending the vehicle’s metal flying. Twenty-two-year-old Sgt. Caleb Martin (no relation toSgt. Timothy P. Martin) was hit by debris and was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. for treatment of damaged vertebrae, as his mother told the Honolulu Advertiser. The Cibola County Beacon talked with his father, Tim Martin, who said that "during a surgery performed that night a couple of his vertebrae were fused and rods were placed on the spine. 'He has no spinal cord injury and is breathing on his own,' he added." His mother, Sylvia Martin, reported that her son was walking a little bit and added, "We just feel lucky, and our hearts go out to those that didn't get the news that we got."
The bad news is that four of their companions didn’t make it. Spc. Michael T. Manibog, Sgt. Timothy P. Martin, Staff Sgt. Jerald A. Whisenhunt and Sgt. Gary D. Willett died of their injuries.
The Star Bulletin reports that they were all members of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, which deployed last November and December out of Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, and were only weeks into their 15-month deployment at Camp Taji.
Michael Manibog joined the military for many reasons, but the most important was his son, Terrell, now 9. You can see them together here.
"He had been through hard times in life, and he wanted to make a good living for his son," said Brenda Reyes of San Leandro, whom the Contra Costa Times identifies as Terrell’s mother and Manibog’s former girlfriend.
She also told the San Francisco Chronicle that Manibog was a "kind-hearted person who always liked to make people laugh. He always helped other people regardless of whether he knew them or not, and basically he always had an extended hand to someone."
In August 2005, Manibog, a 1996 graduate of San Leandro High School, went from driving RVs and working at a pizza place to the Army – a change that he thought would help provide a better life for his little boy. "He also felt that this was the change he needed to become a better person and to help out his country," as his friend Carla Dorotheo told the newspaper.
He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division and had been based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii since October 2006.
Soldier, father – and a fun person to be around. Ebony Martin, whose husband Caleb survived the IED blast, told the Honolulu Advertiser that Manibog was Caleb's best friend:
Manibog was almost part of the family, she said, and he and her husband liked to play basketball and football.
"Manibog was a very joyful person. He was laughing all the time," Ebony Martin said. "He loved to sing. He was always singing and he loved to dance. He would always just bust out with a song. It'd be completely quiet and he'd just bust out with a note or two or a song."
He looks like he loved to dance at clubs, and his friend, 31-year-old Gil Cuevas, of San Leandro, told the Chronicle that the soldier "loved to party. He was the loudest one in the crowd whenever he goes out." He lliked to pretend to be the bouncer at clubs, but had plans to become a police officer after enlistment, according to the Contra Costa Times.
Another friend told the newspaper that "He was very loud - his voice ... carried across the room, and he always joked around with everyone... I will always remember him as being the comedian of the group. He made people smile, and he cared genuinely about his friends," said Dorotheo.
There’s a great story in the article about the time that he and his buddy, Erwin Rodrillo, went to Dave and Buster’s, a bar/restaurant. Rodrillo was in no shape to approach the pretty lady he spotted, so he sent Maribog over with a note. "I gave it to Mike and said, 'Hey, Mike, I'd really appreciate it if you gave this piece of paper to the lady,' and now we're married," Rodrillo said.
His myspace page is filling up with tributes, including this one, from arielle:
your not supposed to be gone, your supposed to be here. You were supposed to come back home and eat up all of your homemade bibingka. I miss you, I love you. Just remember to watch over us. I love you Kuya, you'll always be my Hero.
Brenda Reyes, too, can’t fathom life without Manibog. "I just can't imagine how it's going to be not seeing him coming through the door, as loud and funny as he could be," she said.
California’s governor has directed the capitol’s flags to be flown at half-staff in Manibog’s memory. The Patriot Guard will escort Manibog’s casket from the airport to the funeral home, and then to Lone Tree Cemetery in Hayward next Saturday.
Please spare a thought for the parents of Sgt. Timothy P. Martin:
"He was a wonderful son and he was a wonderful soldier," said Anthony Martin, who stood behind a doorway decorated with a single red, white and blue wreath. "Me and his mother don't want to talk about it at this time," he told a reporter (from the Fresno Bee).
Their son had wanted to join the military since he was a little boy, reports the Bee, which is the only source of information available at the moment. He graduated from Monache High School and attended Saint Mary's College of California; he joined the Army in April 2005 and was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, in March 2007.
A classmate from St. Mary's left a message about Martin at Legacy.com that praises his gift for friendship:
I had the great honor of meeting Tim as he was one of his Classmates at Saint Mary's College. Tim has left a deep hole in my heart not only because he was a great friend and human being. My classmates and I will miss Tim, but our hearts and prayers go out to you and the rest of your family. May the Lord grant you the peace and serenity that you need.
May he rest in peace and thank you Tim for being a great friend, student, and for defending us and your country. I'll miss you!
With deepest Sympathy,
Cecilia Sandoval
Saint Mary's College Class of 2004
Resa's mother, Patricia, still lives across the street from the Martins. She said Martin's death is still surreal.
"I can't even imagine Tim not being here," she said, choking up. "When he was home, he'd be out there racing his Mustang, making a lot of racket. We always knew when Tim was home."
Resa remembered Martin as someone who loved his parents very much. She also said Martin not only wanted to protect Americans -- he also cared for Iraqis. She said he learned some Arabic so he could communicate with the people he came across.
Resa said Martin's parents, Anthony and Lucy, were ready to send their son a package filled with candies and pens. Many Iraqi children came up to Martin and asked to have his pens, Resa recalled from a conversation she had with Martin's mother.
Martin would smile at the children, Resa recalled, and he would tell the kids, "Oh, I need a new pen anyway."
California’s governor has directed the capitol’s flags to be flown at half-staff in Martin’s memory. He will be buried on Wednesday at the Tulare District Cemetery.
In addition to his parents, he leaves behind an older sister.
Staff Sgt. Jerald A. Whisenhunt, 32, of Orrick, Mo.
This tribute was written by monkeybiz.
Unfortunately, there is very little information available about Jerald Whisenhunt, whose family has asked the media not to contact them.
Whisenhunt joined the Army in October, 2000 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division; he had been at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii since May of 2007.
He leaves behind a wife, as well as his father, Richard. May they find comfort during this very difficult time.
Sergeant Gary D. Willett was 34 when he died in Iraq. He had joined the Army in 1995. The military lists his home as being in Alamogordo, New Mexico. His death pushes the war death toll for New Mexico up to 40 souls.
Willett was assigned to 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. He was based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Sergeant Willett’s funeral will be held on Feb 20th in Tucson, Arizona.
According to the ever-faithful Patriot Guard, his family is already in Arizona preparing for the ceremony. There they will be able to finish paying their respects to him and be able to share fond memories. May this time be a time of peace and healing for them all. The website of the Patriot Guard also includes this message to those who mourn the loss of Gary Willett:
To the Family and Friends of Sgt. Gary D. Willett please accept our deepest condolences on your loss. Hearts and hands reach across America to hold you all now thru this time of great sorrow. No words can ease this pain, yet we share your sorrow at the loss of an American Hero.
There is another message for his family at Legacy.com from the mother of someone who was present when the Stryker was hit with the explosion on February 8th:
We would like to express our profound sympathies to the Family of Sgt. Gary D. Willett. Our prayers are with all of you during this most difficult time. My son was in the vehicle behind Gary when this occurred. To say the least he was very shaken by what happened to Gary and the other three heroes.
This comment from William Burch was also found on an internet forum:
I was Gary's company commander during his first OIF deployment. I am proud to have known this hero. I will miss him. God bless him and his family.
There is little to be found about Sergeant Gary Willett in the mainstream media, and little that could be found elsewhere, but all the comments refer to him as a hero, and that is what he is--an American hero who died while serving our country. May he rest the peaceful rest due all great heroes.
Schofield Barracks was hit hard last summer when 10 of its members were killed in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter last August. The Advertiser reports that a memorial service is planned for next week, most likely to be held at the base chapel. Please spare a thought for those on base who knew and worked with tonight’s fallen.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Jack T. Sweet, 19, of Alexandria Bay, N.Y., died Feb. 8 in Jawwalah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Pfc. Jack T. Sweet, who was killed Friday in Iraq, returned home via Fort Drum's Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield yesterday. A motorcade proceeded to carry him to north to Alexandria Bay, where the streets were lined with hundreds of adults and children welcoming home their hometown hero. You can see the solemn procession here:
The 19-year old was a member of Fort Drum’s 1st Brigade Combat Team's 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, having completed his basic training at Ft. Benning, GA last summer. Soon after that he deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division.
Sweet's father credited the Army for turning a spirited teen into an adult.
"The Army was Jack's second home," he said. "They took a hold of him and made him into the man he is. He did a lot of things a 19-year-old should never have to see or do, but he knew he was doing it for his country."
At Alexandria Central School District, where Sweet was a student until he earned his GED, flags flew at half-staff Tuesday. School counselor Kevin Durr remembered Sweet as a determined young man, inspired by his goal of joining the Army.
"He set himself back a little bit early in high school," Durr said. "But, all of a sudden, he said, 'I'm going to move forward and get on with the rest of life.' That's the kind of person he was." ~Source
Pfc. Sweet was remembered this week by Alexandria High School Principal Ronald J. Hochmuth and school counselor Patricia Wagoner:
Mr. Hochmuth said he had known Pfc. Sweet since the seventh grade and that he was full of life.
"He always had a twinkle in his eye," Mr. Hochmuth said.
The principal said the school held a moment of silence for Pfc. Sweet and the flag was at half-staff Monday. He said counselors were on hand to help students deal with the death. In addition, students are collecting stories and pictures of Pfc. Sweet for a eulogy.
One of the school counselors, Patricia S. Wagoner, had known Pfc. Sweet since he was a boy and said he had a great attitude.
Pfc. Sweet’s father Glenn described his son’s visit home just before Christmas:
When Army Pfc. Jack Sweet returned to Iraq in December, his father knew something didn't feel right.
Bad weather had extended Sweet's leave in Alexandria Bay past Christmas - an unexpected blessing. Then it was time to go.
"It was almost like he knew he wouldn't be coming home and wanted to say 'goodbye,' " said his father, Glenn Sweet. "But he was tough. You couldn't deter him from his job. He had to do what he had to do."
(snip)
Sweet's father described his son as a "good old country boy" who loved to hunt and fish. Father and son often hunted together. During that final trip home, Glenn Sweet arranged a duck-hunting trip as a special treat.
In spite of his son's death, Sweet said he has no regrets.
"I just know he was proud to do his job," Sweet said. "He was a soldier, and our hearts are with all the other soldiers who are deployed. We hope they can all come home safe." ~Source
Glenn Sweet gave a poignant interview to WSTM that you can see here.
Reporter: "He described his son as his best bud. His best bud, a local boy who joined the Army in April and deployed to Iraq not long after basic training."
Glenn Sweet: "He just had that glow about him all the time. He had so many friends. I never heard him say anything bad about anybody. Everyone loved him who met him... Jack wanted nothing more than to be in the army... Seeing him put that uniform on and he smiled everytime he put it on – that made me proud."
Pfc. Sweet’s loss is hitting Alexandria Bay hard. It seems he was known – and loved – by all. A local blog is filling up with remembrances. They are all beautiful tributes to him. Some of the ones that stand out:
Thinking of him,
Poor Jack Sweet.
The kindest kid
anyone could ever meet.
Small town kid,
grew up to be a Soldier
Everyone so happy,
he's finally making a difference.
Friday Night and all was nice
They came the next morning Jack was gone.
A small town hurting
Their Hero's soul is gone.
He was still a child
He was like No Other
Little Jack Sweet
Is dearly missed
Can't remember,
the last time he was so happy..
Until that day
He joined the Army
We remember his laughter
We remember his smile.
Most of All,
We remember him as
A Home Town Hero.
For A Lost friend and a Fallen Hero!
Jack you will be missed greatly by everyone. You were a great person at heart and you were always there for the people that needed you. I know that I will definitely miss you alot and so will many others. I will always remember all the great times we had together in our English class with Ms.Guler. I hope that whenever we all come up there to be with you one of these days you will be the same old Jack that everyone knew. GOD SPEED and I will see you when I get there.
My family knew Jack from the Jefferson County Young Marines. What a Great Loss. He was one my son looked up to and admired. Always fun to work with a great outlook on life.. May you rest in peace. And to the poor family. As an Army wife and a Young Marines I want to say thank you for raising the son you did. And hold your heads high knowing he touched so many lives while he was here.
"We are born owning many qualities; some we may never know we possess. It all depends what kind of run God gives us"
C.McCullough
Although I had never met Jack, it is very clear by these testimonials, that he found his qualities and himself. I hope you may find a measure of peace with this knowledge.
Pfc. Sweet’s friends have set up a MySpace tribute site for his loved ones to further honor and remember him.
He will be laid to rest this weekend, with the Patriot Guard Riders on hand to support the family.
More than 30,000 service members have been wounded and soldier suicides are at a record level. Those currently serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would also be grateful for support, even if it's only a letter or a small care package.
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. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, moneysmith, labwitchy, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn and AGirlinMI.
If you would like to comment on this tribute, but don't have an account at Daily Kos, contact monkeybiz here (address at top of page).
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.
