TAPS
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light....Dims the sight
And a star....Gems the sky....Gleaming bright
From afar....Drawing nigh
Falls the night.
Composed By Major General Daniel Butterfield
In Honor Of:
Sgt Jason D. Peto
Staff Sgt Vincent W. Ashlock
WWI Army Private Henry A. Weikel
I Got The News Today (IGTNT)
This is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos. It's purpose is to provide members of this community a venue 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.
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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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Sgt. Jason D. Peto, 31 of Vancouver, Washington
Sgt. Jason D. Peto, 31, was injured on Nov. 24 during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was transferred to the Navy Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland where he died on December 7th.
He was a rifleman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Peto attended Mountain View High School and Clark College before enlisting in the Marines on Sept. 13, 2004. This was his third combat deployment, according to a spokesman for the 1st Marine Division.
Paula Dillmon, his mother-in-law said of the family after they were informed of his injuries:
"We were told they expected him to survive, but he took a turn for the worse," she said. His injuries were complicated by an infection.
Jason's wife and parents traveled to Maryland and were waiting to accept his remains for return home.
Peto had moved to Vancouver from Southern California when he was in junior high school. His family lived near Hockinson and had a farm with a cattle operation, and he enjoyed riding horses.
People who know Peto say serving the country runs in the family -- both his father and brother were Marines.
"He loved his country. He really felt it was a noble and just cause. He was just committed and dedicated," says family friend Blaine Lanz.
Four years ago, Peto was wounded in Ramadi, Iraq, during a combat tour with the 7th Regiment. The deployment to Afghanistan was his third combat tour.
His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
The Patriot Guard Riders have Sgt. Peto on their Pending Mission Watch List.
Peto is survived by his wife, Tiffany Dillmon Peto and his parents, Janie and Ernie Peto.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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Staff Sgt Vincent W. Ashlock, 45 of Seaside, California
Vincent "Wayne" Ashlock was serving with the 890th Engineer Battalion, 168th Engineer Brigade, Army National Guard based in Lucedale, Mississippi when he died Saturday, December 4th in what the Pentagon described as a non-combat related incident.
It was Staff Sergeant Vincent Wayne Ashlock's dream to serve his country. He joined the Army as an 18-year-old and served for 10 years. He loved the military so much, he signed up for the National Guard four years ago.
Ashlock's mother, Margot Stengel said this about her son:
"He's a beautiful, peaceful person and it's even hard to believe he wanted to be a soldier so bad."
"He made Christmas parties for the Ugandans who are forgotten and don't get anything. He made sure he went around and got a goat to feed for Christmas dinner. I liked that, I liked that that's who my son is."
Two days before deploying to Afghanistan, Wayne was honored at a Veteran's Day assembly at his 6 year old daughter's North Auburn’s Rock Creek Elementary School.
Principal Suzanne Flint said today that Ashlock visited the school for the Nov. 10 ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day and received a standing ovation when he was announced.
"He was a really nice dad and also visited his daughter’s first-grade classroom," Flint said. "He was an active dad and certainly a presence."
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement regarding the death of Staff Sgt. Vincent W. Ashlock of Seaside:
"Staff Sergeant Vincent Ashlock was a courageous soldier who dedicated his life to protecting our country. Maria and I will be forever grateful for his service, and we send our condolences to Vincent’s family and friends. We pray that they find comfort as they mourn this tragic loss."
In honor of Staff Sgt. Ashlock, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.
His wife, Angela, and four children live in Seaside. His mother, Margot Stengle, is an aide to 5th District Supervisor Dave Potter.
The Patriot Guard Riders Have Staff Sgt Ashlock on their Pending Mission Watch List.
Wayne leaves behind a wife and five children. A funeral date hasn't been set yet.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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WWI Army Private Henry A. Weikel, 28 of Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania
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Argonne Cross
During the period from April 1920 to July 1921, the remains of many servicemen buried in Europe during World War I were disinterred. These remains were either reinterred in selected cemeteries in Europe or returned to the United States. Of these, the remains of about 2100 were reinterred in Arlington National Cemetery, specifically, in Section 18. Through the efforts of the Argonne Unit American Womens Legion, the Argonne Cross was erected to their memory and in their honor. It is situated in the southwest corner of Section 18 and faces east. A grove of 19 pine trees are on 3 sides of the Cross (North, West and South). These trees are symbolic of the Argonne Forest where many of the men fought. At the juncture of the arm and stem of the cross is carved, in low relief, an eagle and a wreath.
The inscription on the east side of the base reads:
IN MEMORY OF OUR MEN IN FRANCE
1917 1918
The inscription on the west side of the base reads:
ERECTED * THROUGH * THE * EFFORTS * OF * THE
ARGONNE * UNIT * AMERICAN * WOMENS * LEGION
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Private Weikel was killed in action in northeastern France on Sept. 16, 1918, in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, during which the American Expeditionary Force reclaimed the area from the Germans. His remains have returned home 92 years later.
Weikel, who was 28, was buried at the location with other casualties. However, the graves of Weikel and three others could not be found afterward since the burial markers were lost due to shelling and other military actions in the area over the next few weeks. Subsequent searches in the area over the years were unsuccessful.
In September 2006, French nationals looking for metal in the area found remains along with World War I artifacts, the statement said. A joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team operating near the location was notified and recovered the human remains.
Scientists used forensic identification tools, circumstantial evidence and dental comparisons to identify Weikel's remains.
Army representatives recently contacted Weikel's niece, Rosemary Weikel Wesner, who resided at the Mahanoy City High Rise at the time, and her daughter, Debra Coleman, Maple Hill, Mahanoy Township.
"My mother and I only learned about this a few weeks ago," Coleman said. "We didn't even know he was missing in action because it was so long ago. My mom is 80 years old, and she went into a nursing home yesterday (Tuesday). I can't believe all of this is happening all at the same time."
Weikel was killed 12 years before his niece was born, which added to the lack of information.
"My mom was born in 1930, so she didn't even know him," Coleman said.
World War II veteran Arlin Kramer's father fought in the battle of Saint-Mihiel with Weikel. Kramer's father told him about the intense week long battle.
"The thing that he remembered the most was the artillery barrages that never let up day and night," said Kramer.
The hearse carrying Weikel from the Philadelphia International Airport was escorted by state police to Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home, where the flag-draped casket was removed and taken inside by members of the Patriot Guard Riders of Pennsylvania as veterans stood at attention and saluted a fellow comrade.
The army is honoring Weikel with several awards including the Purple Heart. Coleman and her mother will accept them.
Henry's funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday, followed by interment with full military honors at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at 1 p.m.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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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, and me, JaxDem. 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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POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41
and
Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23
Never forgotten - please keep good thoughts and prayers for these two men.
On December 8th new photos were published of Pfc Bowe R. Bergdahl in captivity. The article and images can be seen here.
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Retroactive Stop Loss Benefits submission deadline extended to December 18th. Details availablehere.
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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:
Any Soldier - provides "contacts" for you to send greetings, care packages, etc. to any Soldier, Airman, Marine, Sailor or Coast Guardman.
Books for Soldiers - purchases and ships books to our troops deployed in war zones.
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.
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.
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.
Veterans Green Jobs - Our recently returned veterans need jobs and VGJ is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in natural resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas.
Welcome Back Veterans - created to inspire Americans to give back to our returning veterans and their families and assist in particular with PTSD.
Wounded Warrior Project - To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.