The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) title is a reminder that nearly everyday, somebody gets the news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
A year ago today, I got the news my friend from work and town, Sgt. Joey Gallegos, died while he was deployed to Iraq with the New Mexico National Guard. I've thought about Joey every day since then, and especially remember him and his family on this sad anniversary.
Tonight our hearts go out to two more families and groups of friends in small American towns, who are mourning the loss of one of their own:
Pfc. David R. Jones Jr., 21, of Saint Johnsville, New York
Sgt. 1st Class Phillip C. Tanner, 43, of Sheridan, Wyoming
Please take a moment below to remember them.
Since 2001, there have been 1356 American troops killed while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4427 American troops killed while serving in Iraq. While many casualties come from roadside bombs and battle field wounds, many deaths are classified as "non-combat." They said my friend Joey died of a heart attack in his sleep. Even in wartime, causes of death are vehicle accidents, natural causes, and violent crimes. Currently there is an epidemic of troop suicides while deployed, and upon safe return home.
The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was serving in Iraq.
Pfc. David R. Jones Jr., 21
of Saint Johnsville, New York
died October 24 at Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat shooting incident. Pfc. Jones was serving as a policeman and assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Hood, Texas.
David Jones grew up in the small village of Saint Johnsville, where he was raised in his aunt's family with seven cousins. The Bennets considered David their son and brother. His family and friends are devastated at the unexplained loss.
According to Times Union,
Members of the Army first told the Bennett family Tuesday that Jones committed suicide, but called back an hour later to say the cause of death was undecided.
The same day, his family had received a copy of a text message from a soldier in Iraq saying that Pfc. Jones was one of five people killed or wounded Sunday in a shooting "rampage" on a U.S military base in the Iraqi capital.
The Army is investigating the shooting death, and has not released further details.
Meanwhile, the family says that suicide simply is not possible, because Jones had so much to live for, and was looking forward to coming home for a break in two weeks.
Jones' brother said, "I talked to him the other day and he was gonna be back for my birthday and we were going to celebrate together."
Twenty-one-year-old Jones even had plans to propose to his girlfriend.
His mother said, "He sent Brittany an engagement ring, and gave it to her mother to hold on to. And he sent us tickets to the Dallas Cowboys and Giants game on November 8th and he was gonna propose to her at half time."
Fox 23 News
David Jones' hometown remembers him as a hero, where he played several sports and graduated from St. Johnsville High School in 2008. After that, Jones attended Fulton-Montgomery Community College before joining the Army in 2009, which had been a long time dream. Jones received training as a field artillery cannon crew member at Fort Sill, in Lawton, Oklahoma, earlier this year, before deploying to Iraq.
Pfc. Jones leaves behind his family - mother and father and seven brothers, and many friends.
Pfc. David Jones Jr. is missed. REST IN PEACE.
Little Falls Times; Times Union; cbs6albany
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The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. 1st Class Phillip C. Tanner, 43
of Sheridan, Wyoming,
died October 26 at Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, in a non-combat incident. Sgt. Tanner was a motor transportation operator assigned to the 106th Transportation Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Another family is trying to find out how their beloved died while he was serving in Afghanistan, just a day before coming home for a break.
According to WKRN news,
Sgt. Tanner was processing through Kuwait after leaving Afghanistan en route to Ft. Campbell at the time of his death. The Defense Department has not released any other details.
A seventeen year Army veteran, Sgt. Tanner had served overseas in South Korea. He arrived at Fort Campbell in 2007.
Sgt. Tanner was traveling home from Afghanistan for a short vacation, when he apparently collapsed and died.
Among those Sgt. Tanner leaves behind are his wife, in Clarksville, and a daughter in Hinesville, Georgia.
Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Tanner is missed. REST IN PEACE.
Fort Campbell Courier; Eagle Honors
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In Loving Memory
of Joey Gallegos, Army Sgt.
Rest In Peace, My Brother
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Photos Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
and Thanks to llbear for our beautiful forget-me-nots IGTNT logo.
(Other Photos by CalNM)
Helping our troops: If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or Fisher House. Sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com can provide letters or care packages that make a real difference in a military person's life. To assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available at guardian angels for soldierspet.
When our veterans come back home, they need jobs. Look at the programs of Veterans Green Jobs and Welcome Back Veterans. Encourage a Vet, and see if you can help out.
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About the IGTNT series: I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died at war.
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. The US Department of Defense news releases are found at defense gov/releases. Icasualties lists the names of those killed, and shows the number of wounded. Published AP photos of the returning war fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page.
Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries in the series which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma, Sandy on Signal, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, JaxDem, and me, CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
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.