~ Logo Credit to llbear with gratitude
I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, provides members of this community a forum to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
Tonight we remember and honor the lives, service and sacrifice of Two Soldiers and One Marine.
Sgt. 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, U.S. Army
Sgt. Justin A. Officer, U.S. Army
Lance Cpl Timothy M. Jackson, U.S. Marine Corps
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
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Tribute On The Passing Of A Very Real Person
People are of two kinds, and he
Was the kind I’d like to be.
Some preach their virtues, and a few
Express their lives by what they do;
That sort was he. No flowery phrase
Or glibly spoken word of praise
Won friends for him. He wasn’t cheap
Or shallow, but his course ran deep,
And it was pure. You know the kind.
Not many in life you find
Whose deeds outrun their words so far
That more than what they seem, they are.
~Author unknown
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Heaven Was Needing A Hero
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Sgt 1st Class Calvin B. Harrison, 31, San Antonio, Texas
Calvin graduated from Jones High School in Coldspring, Texas and joined the U.S. Army in 1998. At the time of his death, Calvin was assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. He earned the coveted "Green Beret" as a Special Forces medical sergeant in 2007.
Sgt. Harrison died September 29th in Afghanistan from wounds suffered as his unit was attacked by enemy small arms fire during what was a combat reconnaissance patrol.
He is survived by his two daughters, Azalia and Elenna and his parents Jack Washington and Betty Harrison.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement medals, Army Good Conduct Medal (third award), National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces tab, Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge.
He was posthumously awarded his second Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal.
~ Source
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Sgt Justin A. Officer, 26, Wichita, Kansas
Justin Officer died September 29th in the Kandahar province, Afghanistan of wounds he received from an improvised explosive device by insurgents attacking his unit.
Sgt. Officer joined the U.S. Army in 2004 and served two tours of duty in Iraq prior to this current deployment to Afghanistan.
Justin earned the "Silver Spurs", a traditional Cavalry honor earned by passing a multi-day series of physical and mental tests that evaluate leadership, technical and tactical proficiency, and the ability to operate as part of a team under high stress and fatigue. For Christmas his family gave him a black Stetson, another Cavalry tradition.
Sgt Officer's father, Timothy Officer of Colorado Springs, Colorado, said his son was a typical boy growning up and had a "big heart".
"You should know most of all, Justin was due to leave the Army and did not have to go on this deployment," Timothy Officer said. "He told us repeatedly he was leaving the Army to pursue school. Justin changed his mind as the deployment grew near and extended his enlistment long enough to take the deployment.
"I asked him why many times, until he left. His only reply was 'he could help the new kids that were assigned to his unit and might save their lives.'"
~Source
Justin is survived by his father, Timothy A. Officer and his mother Linda G. Officer.
Sgt. Officer's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
A memorial service will be held in Afghanistan. Fort Campbell holds a monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony to honor fallen Screaming Eagles. The next ceremony will be held October 13th.
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Lance Cpl Timothy M.Jackson, 22, Corbin, Kentucky
Lance Cpl Jackson died on September 30th in Helmand province, Afghanistan when he was stuck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations.
"Matt" was a 2007 graduate of Corbin High School where he took part in the JROTC. Col. Rick McClure, the Senior Army Instructor with the High School's JROTC program said this:
"Matt was a good kid. I am very sorry for his family. All he ever wanted to do when he graduated was join the Marines and serve his country and that's what he did."
~Source
Several of his friends remembered him:
matt, you were one of my first friends when i transferred to corbin high and i always looked forward to sitting and talking to you before my school day got started.. i will never forget you.
God Bless Matt and his family. Today would of been his 23rd birthday. "May you rest at ease, you served your time in hell." RIP LCpl Jackson.
We miss you Matt you were such a great friend to my husband and i in high school. we wish your life didn't have to end this way. you were a great husband to your wife too. you will always be in our hearts and we will never forget you.
~Source
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognized this native's sacrifice by ordering the flags to half staff on the day of Matt's internment.
Jackson's family traveled to Dover Air Force base in Delaware this weekend to receive their son's body. He is survived by his wife and parents.
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About the IGTNT series:
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, JaxDem, kestrel9000, and casas. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner.
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Helping Our Troops
There would be no finer way to honor the fallen than to contribute to programs that assist our active duty military. Here are a few suggestions:
Fisher House - Provides a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitilization for an illness, disease or injury.
Netroots For The Troops - raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones, and to provide assistance to military families in the United States.
Welcome Back Veterans - created to inspire Americans to give back to our returning veterans and their families and assist in particular with PTSD.
Books for Soldiers - purchases and ships books to our troops deployed in war zones.
Any Soldier - provides "contacts" for you to send greetings, care packages, etc. to any Soldier, Airman, Marine, Sailor or Coast Guardman.
Guardian Angels for Soldiers' Pets - establishing a network of foster families providing a loving and healthy home environment for the pet(s)of deployed military personnel until they can be reunited with their owner.
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