The Department of Defense recently announced the death of a soldier who lost his life supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the deaths of sailor and a soldier who lost their lives supporting Operating Enduring Freedom.
All three of these deaths were non-combat/non-hostile incidents, but their families, friends and other loved ones grieve no less.
These three deaths serve as a reminder that a veteran is someone who writes a check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Pfc. Michael A. Rogers, 23, of White Sulphur Springs, Montana, died Nov. 27, at Forward Operating Base Hammer, east of Baghdad, Iraq. of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Oregon, died Nov. 28 in a non-hostile accident aboard USS Rentz while in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Sgt. Brandon T. Islip, 23, of Richmond, Virginia, was a member of the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. He went missing on November 4 while involved in a resupply mission in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan. Sgt. Islip had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown, but after his body was recovered on November 29 his status was changed from DUSTWUN to having died in a non-combat related incident.
Please take a few minutes to join us in remembering the life and honoring the service of Pfc. Michael A. Rogers, Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge, and Sgt. Brandon T. Islip: three men who gave their all in the service of our country.
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sources: Utica Daily News, KTVM Butte/Bozeman, mt.gov, Billings Gazette, KFBB 5 Great Falls-Helena
Michael A. Rogers deployed in October 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as an automated logistical specialist, and was a member of the 210th Brigade Support Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team. PFC Rogers died on November 27 in a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Hammer, located east of Baghdad. Pfc. Rogers' awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal. He was 23 years old.
Governor Brian Schweitzer ordered that all flags in the State of Montana be flown at half-staff from Thursday morning, December 3 until sundown Friday, December 4 to honor the memory of Pfc. Rogers. Governor David Paterson directed that all flags on New York state government buldings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, December 3, in honor of Rogers, as is done for all Fort Drum soldiers who die in a combat zone: "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I wish to express our condolences to the family, friends and fellow service members of Private First Class Rogers," Governor Paterson said. "We regret his death but we will remember his service. Although he was not a New Yorker, we consider all soldiers based at Fort Drum as our own."
On Thursday, December 3, the day before his funeral, police vehicles escorted the silver hearse carrying his flag-draped casket from a Helena airport. Members of the Montana Honor Guard unloaded the casket at the historic Immaculate Conception Chapel (also known as the Rose Chapel) as family members watched and others stood by in salute.
The following day, as part of the Friday evening memorial service, the Patriot Guard riders stood a flag line. Chaplain Les Walton urged the family, friends and officials in attendance to celebrate Rogers’ life. "I ask what time is it? Well, it’s a time for grieving and a time of remembering," Walton said, adding his hopes that those who grieve would also have a time of comfort.
Then James Westcott, a sergeant in the Marines,
spoke of growing up in the country with Rogers, his younger brother. Westcott remembered that Rogers loved snowball fights and building snow forts. One of their favorite pastimes was going to the Missouri River to catch crawdads, which they would give to their mother to make gumbo. Westcott called Rogers a bit mischievous and said he had to "pull rank" with him sometimes. But after speaking briefly, Westcott broke down and could not go on. His aunt Monica shared the rest of his written tribute with the assembled group. "My little brother is on a new adventure now," Westcott wrote.
Brig. Gen. John Walsh presented Rogers’ family with commendation and good conduct medals during the ceremony, and said "PFC Rogers and his brother, James, truly epitomize the best of Montana and America. I am extremely proud of the commitment, the courage, and the sacrifice I witness everyday by our Montana men and women who serve their state and nation." "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Pfc. Rogers," Walsh added. "There are countless others who are sharing in your loss."
Rogers’ family members did not want to speak directly to the press, deferring any comment to Lt. Dan Bushnell, a spokesman for the Montana Army National Guard. "He served with great honor and pride on behalf of Montana," Bushnell said. "It’s very unfortunate. It’s a hard day. It’s a hard day. We’re very grateful for Rogers’ family allowing him to serve on behalf of a thankful nation."
At the end of the memorial service, five doves were released outside the quaint white chapel. The first dove, representing Rogers, landed at the feet of his brother James, who smiled down at the bird.
After the other four doves, representing the branches of military, were released, they all flew off into the frigid sky together.
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sources: Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon News Review, The Oregonian, Military Times
David M. Mudge grew up in a large, close-knit family. The fifth of seven children, David was always interested in visiting new places, trying new food, and having new experiences that were different from what he could have at home.
Mudge attended the Phoenix School, an alternative charter school in Roseburg, Oregon, for five years. The school's Executive Director, Ron Breyne, and some of his former teachers who knew Mudge as a teen, called him a success story. He initially struggled at school, preferring to be outside and active, but was one on whom everyone could count, they said. "(David) was one of those kids who, although he had problems, you wanted to come to work to see," Breyne said. The longtime educator said it took a while for Mudge to get into the rhythm of school, but he came around because he was mentored by some of the older students.
Several of his other siblings also attended Phoenix School. One of Mudge's sisters was a teen parent who brought her son to school, and Mudge could often be seen caring for his nephew. "He was just a great uncle and you could see what a great parent he was going to be," Breyne said. "He took Christopher under his wing the way some of the older kids took David under their wing."
Diane Abrao, one of Mudge's teachers, said that other teachers told the young man he wouldn't graduate, but she would ask him to move beyond the discouragement. "I would tell him, ‘You can chart your own course,' " she said. "He worked very hard to get to where he was going." Abrao also said, "He had a lot of odds against him and he pulled himself through it."
More than one person at Phoenix School said that Mudge sought military service in order to live out the dreams he had as teen. Another former teacher, Eric Bezdek, remembered the young man had set his sights on the military from a young age and had planned to join as early as 10th grade. Diane Abrao added, "He would always tell me, ‘One day, I'm going to travel the world and see the things I've read about.' He set his eyes on that goal and he was doing it."
After graduating from the Phoenix School, Mudge signed up for a six-year enlistment with the Navy at age 19. He wanted to see the world after a childhood of listening to his uncles and other relatives share stories about serving in the military. "He was looking for something to do with his life that he would be able to be proud of," said his older brother, Curtis Mudge. "He always looked up to the fact that our family was military oriented."
Mudge served aboard the frigate McClusky before reporting to Rentz in July 2009, said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, a Naval Surfaces Forces spokesman in Coronado, Calif. Rentz, a San Diego-based ship, is deployed with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. On the USS Rentz' current deployment, which included stops in Egypt and Japan, David Mudge was able to see the ancient pyramids. The sight left him at a loss for words. "The sheer size of them and the
age of them and everything just blew him away," his brother Curtis said. "Pictures didn't do it justice."
But even though he was excited to see the world, David Mudge always had an eye toward returning home. He would do anything for family, Curtis Mudge said, remembering how David encouraged him to live with him in San Diego for a while when Curtis was going through a tough time in his life. "He really enjoyed the Navy, but his biggest complaint was that we weren't close enough to him," Curtis said. "His phone calls (home) weren't a couple minutes; they were always an hour to two hours long."
During David's visits home, the family would plan camping trips or and outings to the places he enjoyed the most. Mudge's father, Larry, said David had recently developed an interest in motorcross sports. "To be able to come to where he grew up and play in the woods and the snow trips we planned for him meant the world to him," Curtis Mudge said. "Everything he did 100 percent. He just wanted the best out of his life and of everyone's around him."
Engineman 3rd Class David Mudge was killed in an electrical accident while the guided missile frigate Rentz was on a port call in the Persian Gulf. He suffered fatal wounds due to electric shock while doing repairs in an auxiliary machinery space, Naval Surface Forces officials said in a statement. Mudge died despite resuscitation efforts, and was pronounced dead at the Jebel Ali International hospital in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Ron Breyne said each year a few students from the Phoenix School join the military, and he and others at the school had felt Mudge was much safer onboard and at sea where he wasn't directly in harm's way, compared to other students who had been shipped off to scouting missions in Afghanistan or serving in hot spots in Iraq.
"With David, we felt a little safer ... so this was a shock, and it hits hard," Breyne said.
Mudge is survived by his parents, Larry and Judy Mudge; sisters Sarah Washburn, Allison Tomlinson, Angelica Mudge; and brothers Brian, Curtis and Jed. David Mudge was 22 years old.
Diane Abrao, after hearing of Mudge's accident, said it was hard to grasp Mudge's death. "Every time I think about it, I cry," she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
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sources: Freedom Remembered, CNN World, Military Times, WWBT-12 Richmond, WTVD Raleigh-Durham, ISAF-NATO, Richmond Times Dispatch, the Virginian-Pilot, DVIDS News from the Field, Newport News Daily Press
Brandon T. Islip was born and raised in the Richmond area, and graduated from Monacan High School.
He enlisted in the Army in January of 2006 as an indirect fire infantryman, who supervises or is a member of a mortar squad, section or platoon.
He attended One Station Unit Training and Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia and was subsequently assigned to 1-508th at Fort Bragg.
He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, having previously served a 15-month deployment in 2007-2008.
"Sgt. Islip was a very focused individual when it came to work," Sgt. 1st Class Joe Armenta, Islip's platoon sergeant said in a statement. "He would be assigned a task, and complete it to standard. He was always focused on mission accomplishment, success of the platoon, and more importantly, the welfare of his soldiers."
On November 4, Sgt. Islip was on an airdrop resupply mission in the Bala Murghab area of Badghis province, Afghanistan. With him was Benjamin W. Sherman of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The two soldiers were retrieving airdropped supplies when one of the bundles fell in the river, according to Maj. Brian Fickel, an Army spokesman. "We believe they were trying to retrieve that bundle, and in the process of that, they were both swept away," Fickel said.
Sherman’s relatives believe Sherman died after jumping into the river to try to save Islip. Another account says that Islip jumped in to save Sherman. The event is still under investigation and the truth may be impossible to know. But their widows say that Islip and Sherman were very close friends in life. These battle buddies who served together as brothers in arms were carried away to their deaths together on the same fast moving river current.
Maj. Fickel said that British divers recovered Sherman’s body on Nov. 10. But Islip was listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown while efforts to recover his body continued. During the period while Islip was listed as DUSTWUN, more than 2000 people became members of the "Pray for Brandon Islip" Facebook page.
It took many days of searching in icy, fast-flowing waters, but a team of divers out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story successfully recovered Islip's body from the Murghab River after a local Afghan citizen provided information on his whereabouts. The divers, from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, Company 2-3, spent days searching the Murghab River in water as cold as 42 degrees and flowing as fast as 12 knots. The entire MDSU team took the job to heart and considered finding the lost Soldier to be their most important mission of their Navy careers.
Navy Diver 1st Class Daniel Muhlbach comes up out of the water during the search for Sgt. Islip.
"We expected very challenging dive conditions, but everyone was prepared mentally, and we were determined to complete the mission successfully," Chief Warrant Officer James Dertilis said. Visibility in the river was "at 6 inches or less," said Petty Officer 1st Class William Stetson, who added the river bottom was "rough and uneven." "The team laid everything on the line for mission success," said Billy Gilbert, master diver. "The personnel applied all their expeditionary and salvage experience performing dives in a hostile environment."
"The recovery of Sergeant Islip and Sergeant Sherman would not have been possible without the untiring support and efforts of our fellow international forces, the Afghan National Security Forces and the local people of Bala Murghab," said Col. Brian M. Drinkwine, commander of the 4th Brigade Combat Team. "We owe a great debt of gratitude to our fellow warriors of the Marines, Air Force, Navy, the Italian and Spanish forces of Regional Command-West, Regional Command-South, the Afghan National Security Forces and the leaders of Bala Murghab."
"We never leave a fallen comrade behind," Colonel Drinkwine added. "We can only hope the families of Sergeant Islip and Sergeant Sherman will receive some peace knowing their loved ones have been recovered."
After Islip's body was recovered from the river near the Afghanistan-Turkmenistan border on November 29, 2009, the Department of Defense changed his status to having died in a non-combat related incident, and condolences poured in to the "Pray for Brandon Islip" Facebook page. One poster commented: "You gave all so we could live free in the greatest country in the world. Thank You's are not enough." Another posted, "RIP Brandon. I am so thankful for your hard work and dedication to our country. Thank you for giving your all." Brandon's stepmother wrote "Your father and I love you very much... Please know you're our hero and will always be. We're so proud of you" Another message reads, "What a courageous soldier you're with the army's angels."
Brandon is survived by his wife, Sonja Lynn Islip; his father, George W. Islip III; his stepmother, Rosemary Hampton; his mother, Allison Chaney; a younger sister, Scarlett Chaney; and many other members of an extremely large and loving family. Memorial contributions can be made to Snowball Express, a charity for the children of fallen military heroes.
During a phone conversation, Islip's family members emphasized how much he loved the military and loved his wife. In another interview, his widow Sonja said "He's always been a hero to me. He was willing to put his life on the line for this country and that's all anybody really can ask for."
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(big thanks to timroff for the beautiful logo)
The purpose of the I Got the News Today (IGTNT) series is 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.
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.
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