Amid all the dangers that those who serve in our country's armed forces face in war-torn areas, it is easy to forget that they are also vulnerable to the same sorts of violence that affect citizens at home, especially women. The two women we honor tonight--Seaman Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho, 20, of Panama City, Florida, and Seaman Genesia Mattril Gresham, 19, of Lithonia, Georgia--were murdered, apparently by a fellow sailor who had had a casual relationship with one of them. The Navy Times reported that he was armed as a member of the base security force, and according to WJHG News, friends said that he had threatened her in the past and had been ordered to stay away from her. The alleged shooter remains hospitalized in critical condition after turning his gun on himself.
Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and colleagues who are affected by this tragedy.
Anamarie Camacho and Genesia Gresham were both sailors who held the master-at-arms rating and were roommates during their assignment to U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Unfortunately, as of tonight, little information is available online about either of them. Please add any other details you may find about them in the comments.
Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho
Anamarie Camacho joined the navy in June 2006 as a way to fulfill her dream of obtaining a college degree. Her mother, Jovy San Nicolas Paulino of Tinian (an island in Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), told the Saipan Tribune that her daughter was a joyful child, and that she could still remember her daughter's face, especially her big smile: "She always had big smiles. She was an individual who was filled with so much energy." Her mother said that Camacho knew that getting into college was expensive, so after graduating from the Tinian Junior/Senior High School, she decided to join the navy in order to be able to go to college. Paulino said, "She always tried to do things on her own. She was an independent child."
The Saipan Tribune notes that Camacho is the sixth CNMI native to die in active duty in the Middle East. A photo is available here.
May she rest in peace.
Genesia Mattril Gresham
Genesia Gresham enlisted in the navy last November. Her mother said that she was affectionately known to her friends and family as Snowflake and was a wonderful person, the Gulf Daily News reports. Gresham's mother confirmed that her daughter had a casual relationship with Jackson and that he turned nasty after she tried to cool it: "We are grieving and awaiting more details from the U.S. Navy to try and make sense of this tragedy. We ask that our privacy be respected during this time."
Some touching posts in the legacy.com guestbook for Seaman Gresham
show how dearly she was loved.
From a cousin:
I cant believe you are gone but the memories we shared will always be in my heart you were a beautiful talented young lady and for that god will see you threw i love you and miss you my beautiful and special cousin I love you
From an aunt:
Be Still
Be still like the grass on a melancholy summer day
Be still like desert shrub.
Be calm and you will hear your loved one speak, in the stillness, in the calm, their love resounds.
If you are still this promise I make, you will hear the voice of your loved one helping you along your way.
From a friend:
Though I haven't seen you in a couple of yrs. It seems like yesterday when we were in high school laughing and carrying on, then you left to serve our country, and i thank you for your courage, i can't express in words what i feel right now... i know you are at peace of mind and spirit right now...i will see you when it's my time, until then hold it down!!! I Love you Genesia "Snowflake" Gresham!!!
From a friend:
Genesia was good spirited, funny, and sweet. She placed a smile on the face of everyone who she graced the presence of. She will always and forever be missed. Her laughter and good character will forever stay in my memories and I know she will be smiling down on all of us until the day we all meet again.
May she rest in peace.
Every day four women die in this country as a result of domestic violence, the euphemism for murders and assaults by husbands and boyfriends. That's approximately 1,400 women a year, according to the FBI. (link)
Last year nearly 3,000 military women reported sexual assault while on active duty. (link)
For anyone reading this who is a victim of violence or who wishes to know more about violence against women (in the military and civilians), here are some links that may be helpful:
American Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 866-USWOMEN (866-879-6636). An international toll-free domestic violence crisis line that abused American women and children can call by contacting the regional AT&T operator in their country of residence and ask to be connected.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233) or 800-787-3224 (TTY)
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE. Website also has link to online hotline.
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence: Military Links
National Women's Trauma Recovery Program (part of the VA’s National Center for PTSD)
WomensLaw.org: Military Information
Fact Sheets: Military Sexual Trauma and Military Sexual Trauma: Issues in Caring for Veterans
Violence Against Women in the Military (article with many references)
Anti-Violence Resource Guide (links to many resources)
Family Violence Prevention Fund: facts on domestic violence in America
World Health Organization: Gender-Based Violence
V-Day (global movement to stop violence against women and girls)
As of this writing, Iraq Coalition Casualties reports that 3,835 American soldiers, sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardsmen have been confirmed killed in action and 4 others are missing or captured in Iraq; 451 have died in Afghanistan; and 2 additional deaths are pending notification of the families. The DoD news releases can be found here. The death toll among Iraqis is unknown, but is at least in the tens of thousands.
You can help our military men and women! Please consider sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com. It doesn’t take much time or money. Just send letters or care packages to your soldier, sailor, Airman, or Marine. Remember, "mail is gold" for a deployed soldier. A few minutes of your time and one airmail stamp can make a real difference in a military person's life. anysoldier.com, Operation Helmet, and Fisher House are also wonderful organizations that provide comfort and care to deployed American troops. Finally, if you would like to assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here. Animal companions can provide such solace and comfort.
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 entire series, which was begun by i dunno and which is now maintained by monkeybiz, Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, MsWings, twilight falling, labwitchy, moneysmith, joyful, roses, and sistwo.
There is a new mailing list on Google Groups for Kossacks who are concerned about issues pertaining to our active-duty military personnel and our veterans. Sign up here to receive notices when diaries about these issues are posted to Daily Kos; if you write a diary about one of these issues, please send an announcement to the group (http://groups.google.com/...) as well.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and families of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
Updated 10/26/07 to add the paragraph above about the new Google group.