You, whose forebodings have been all fulfilled,
You who have heard the bell, seen the boy stand
Holding the flimsy message in his hand
While through your heart the fiery question thrilled
"Wounded or killed, which, which?"--and it was "Killed--"
And in a kind of trance have read it, numb
But conscious that the dreaded hour was come,
No dream this dream wherewith your blood was chilled--
Oh brothers in calamity, unknown
Companions in the order of black loss,
Lift up your hearts, for your are not alone.
~ Henry Christopher Bradby
April 1918
Pfc. Chad M. Trimble, 29, of West Covina, California
Pfc. Trimble died May 28, near Gardez, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
"I hope all of America and the world will take a minute to pray for Chad," said his father.
He was the little kid with the impish laugh. He was outgoing and popular. Sweet.
"He was the smallest boy in the neighborhood," said Gaye Wingfield, a neighbor. "He had the cutest giggle and would run around the neighborhood with a group of older boys."
(snip)
Trimble attended Covina High School and played football there briefly. But mainly, he enjoyed his social life.
"This home was where all the kids would come," said Tim Trimble, Chad's father, who still lives with his wife in the Idahome Street house where Chad grew up.
(snip)
Nancy Trimble, his mother, said that after the terrorist attacks on New York on Sept. 11, 2001, her son started to take an interest in joining the Army.
(snip)
"I think it was something he wanted to do since he was a little boy," Nancy Trimble said.
Though his mother was not surprised to see him join the service, some of his friends were.
"I didn't see it coming," said Doug Wingfield, Gaye's son and Chad's best friend. "It was very late in life to join the army ... but I think he wanted to make a life for his wife and his children."
His wife, Rosanna, who he met at Covina High and his two daughters, Steffani and Micaela, all moved with him to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after he joined the army.
(snip)
Trimble's family and friends all said they were proud of the choices he made.
"I hope all of America and the world will take a minute to pray for Chad," said his father. "He paid the ultimate price for us."
Source ~ San Gabriel Tribune
Video ~ A Family Remembers Fox 11 LA
Flags in two states are at half-staff in honor of Pfc. Trimble.
Yesterday, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear directed that flags at all state office buildings be kept at half-staff in honor of Pfc. Trimble until sunset on the day of his funeral.
Individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies are encouraged to join in this tribute by lowering flags to half-staff.
Source ~ Office of the Governor of Kentucky
On Thursday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered all flags at the Capitol flown at half-staff in honor of Pfc. Trimble.
"Private First Class Trimble served with honor, integrity and unrelenting dedication to our country and his fellow soldiers. He was a true patriot and his selflessness will never be forgotten. Maria and I join all Californians in offering our condolences to Chad's loved ones during this difficult time."
Source ~ Office of the Governor of California
He is also being remembered by Covina High School, where he was a member of the Class of 1996:
It is with regret to inform that Chad Trimble, class of 1996, was killed during the war effort in Afganistan. Chad played football and ran track while here at CHS. He transfered to Ranger alternative ed his senior year. Please keep Chad and his family in your thoughts and prayers. We have lowered the flag to half staff here on campus, as well as announcing this tragedy to our students during homeroom.
Source ~ Covina High School
According to Fort Campbell's Web site, Pfc. Trimble entered the Army in October 2006 and arrived at Fort Campbell in March 2007.
Source ~ Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
Slide Show ~ A Community Mourns
Pfc. Trimble is survived by his wife, Rosanna, and their two daughters, Steffani and Micaela, all of Fort Campbell; and his parents, Timothy and Nancy, of West Covina.
Thank you, Pfc. Trimble. Your mission is done.
_________________________________________________________________
Remember them.
To date, 4083 members of the United States military have lost their lives in Iraq. The death toll for May was 31. The Department of Defense Press Releases, from which the information at the start of this diary was drawn, can be seen here. The death toll among Iraqis is unknown, but is at least 100,000. and probably many times that number.
To date, 511 members of the United States military have lost their lives in Afghanistan. The death toll thus far for 2008 is 36. 313 members of the military from other countries have also lost their lives.
Other sites have stories, video, pictures and remembrances, including: Honor the Fallen.
Supporting our troops. It's the RIGHT THING to do.
You can donate to Netroots for the Troops here.
All donations will go toward putting together 101 care packages full of needed items for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Read more here.
You can write letters.
You can find other ways to give at anysoldier.com or Fisher House. If you have frequent flyer miles you would like to donate to hospitalized veterans or their families, please see Fisher House’s Hero Miles program.
You can help the left-behind animal companions of our troops. See how here.
And don’t forget them when they get home! Read welcomebackveterans.org to learn what you can do.
About the IGTNT series.
(Our beautiful logo was created by kossack Timroff. Thank you.)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and rememeber. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, twilight falling, labwitchy, moneysmith, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI and me, noweasels. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them. If you would like to volunteer, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, or me, noweasels.
As you read this diary, please consider that the family and friends of Pfc. Trimble also may read it and that many members of our community have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or have loved ones currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the very proud daughter of a Navy pilot, and the granddaughter of a Marine pilot and a submariner, I hope that the comments tonight will demonstrate our respect for the sacrifices of our fallen military and our compassion for their families; please reserve your political comments for appropriate diaries.