Tonight we celebrate the lives of 6 fine young men who were killed in Afghanistan. Camp Lejeune, which has seen so many of its Marines killed recently, has lost 4 more. Fort Carson is missing 2 more of its proud soldiers.
- Lance Corporal Eric Ward from Redmond, Washington
- Lance Corporal Matthias Hanson from Buffalo, Kentucky
- Lance Corporal Adam Peak from Florence, Kentucky
- Staff Sergeant Christopher Eckard from Hickory, North Carolina
- Staff Sergeant Michael David P. Cardenaz from Corona, California
- Private First Class JR Salvacion from Ewa Beach, Hawaii
The tributes to Staff Sergeant Cardenaz and Private First Class Salvacion were written by CalMN.
The Department of Defense identified two Fort Carson, Colorado soldiers who died in separate incidents while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The deaths raise the number of Fort Carson soldiers killed in Afghanistan to 45. Two hundred and fifty-five have been killed in Iraq.
Staff Sgt. Michael David P. Cardenaz, 29, of Corona, California, died Feb. 20 in Kunar, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Staff Sergeant Michael Cardenaz was a 12-year Army veteran who described himself as "an old-school career soldier." Cardenaz attended Corona High School in Moreno Valley, California, and enlisted in the Army in 1998 as soon as he graduated and turned 18. He loved his job as an infantry platoon sergeant and had recently signed a 20-year contract with the Army. Cardenaz was serving his fifth deployment, with two previous tours in the Balkans and two previous tours in Iraq, in 2004-2005 and 2006-2007. This was his first tour in Afghanistan.
Michael Cardenaz and his wife were raising three young daughters, age 18 months to 5 years old, in Colorado Springs, near Fort Carson where he was stationed. He also had an older son and daughter from previous relationships.
Staff Sgt Cardenaz, nicknamed "big Chile," was due to return from his tour in late March. He was planning a big 30th birthday party at the family's Moreno Valley home.
"He told my mom he wanted everybody to be there," said his sister, 19. "We were starting to plan it, and now he gets a funeral instead."
A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Michael D. Cardenaz, of Corona, Calif., at Dover Air Force Base, Del., February 22. (U.S. Air Force photo/Roland Balik) Cardenaz was the receipient of 38 Army medals, among the highest, the Soldier's Award, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor and eight Army Achievement Medals.
Staff Sergeant Michael Cardenaz will be missed. Rest in Peace.
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Pfc. JR Salvacion, 27, of Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, died Sunday when his unit was attacked with an improvised bomb in Senjaray, a town of 12,000 near the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan. He served with the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. (source) and (photo source)
Pfc. JR Salvacion grew up in the Philippines, and had recently gotten married. He leaves behind a year old son. Salvacion entered the Army just over a year ago and deployed to Afghanistan as an infantryman in August. He was on his first deployment. (photo source)
Pfc. JR Salvacion's honors and awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and NATO Medal.
Pfc. JR Salvacion will be missed. Rest in peace.
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North Carolina is reeling from the effect of the increased assault in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. Tuesday, an article at News Observer.com stated:
North Carolina Marines have been taking the brunt lately of the most deadly winter of fighting in Afghanistan since the war began.
In little more than a week, nine of the 12 Marines killed in action in Helmand Province -- the most dangerous place for U.S. troops -- came from Camp Lejeune.
Unfortunately, that news is outdated since later that same day more casualties from the Helmand province were announced, and two more Marines from Camp Lejeune are now listed among the fallen.
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Lance Corporal Adam Peak
Adam Peak was born in August of 1984. Two years later, his brother Sean was born and the two boys were extremely close. Adam went to Kentucky's Boone County High School and graduated from Thomas More College.
Adam and Sean Peak joined the Marine Corps and were in the same unit, as members of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. When his brother Sean, married Robyn two years ago, Adam was there. The three lived together at Camp Lejeune.
Both men served together in Iraq in 2008. In October of 2009, both left for Afghanistan. The two were stationed at different camps, and were expected home later this year.
While in Afghanistan, Adam served as a mortarman. On February 21st, Lance Corporal Adam Peak was walking patrol on the outer perimeters of the camp in Afghanistan during a sand storm. Visibility was poor, and he stepped on an explosive device (IED). Peak was 25 years old.
Cincinnati's WLWT news talked with Adam's sister-in-law:
The loss is especially difficult for Peak's brother Sean. They were born two years apart but were twins in every other way. They even joined the Marines within one week of each other. Both served one tour in Iraq. Since October, both brothers were in Afghanistan.
"Sean and Adam were legendary on base. They were the Peak brothers. ... They didn't know them separately. They know them together," said Robyn Peak, Sean's wife and Adam's sister-in-law.
Adam Peak's body will arrive at Dover Air Force Base Tuesday night. Sean Peak will accompany his brother's remains as they are brought back to the Tri-State.
At the Peak home in Florence, Kentucky, the family Christmas tree was waiting with gifts for Adam and Sean under it. Their parents wanted the brothers to open their presents before the tree was taken down.
Lance Corporal Peak's awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal.
In addition to his brother, Lance Corporal Adam Peak is survived by his parents, Bruce and Diana Peak, and two sisters Sara and Angela. A scholarship fund has been set up at Thomas More College in Adam’s name. The Cincinnati Cyclones recently held a game in honor of Lance Corporal Adam Peak. Part of the ticket proceeds are going towards the scholarship.
Governor Beshear has ordered flags at state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Peak's funeral. Details of the services have not been released, but the Patriot Guard Riders will be attending.
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Lance Corporal Eric Ward
Eric Ward graduated from Washington State's Mount Si High School in 2008. He enlisted right after graduation, to become part of the fourth generation of Marines in his family.
Ward, a machine gunner, joined the Marines in July 2008. He was promoted to the rank of lance corporal on January 2, 2009. Ward was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, which is based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In October of last year, the Lance Corporal deployed to Afghanistan.
According to a story in the Seattle Times:
"He was always the person to make you laugh no matter what happened," said Trey Hoover, 19, a fellow Marine who was Ward's roommate in Afghanistan. "No matter what happened, where we were at, even if we were sleeping in the field getting a torrential downpour rained on us, he'd always make it funny."
Besides his humor, Lance Cpl. Ward was known for his athletic talent and unusual generosity, said his father, Steven Ward. Every year while he was a student at Snoqualmie Valley Public Schools, Eric Ward would buy extra sets of school supplies to give to those who were less fortunate.
A fourth-generation Marine, Lance Cpl. Ward had dreamed of joining the Corps from an early age, his father said.
Ward died on February 21st in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. He was 19 years old. Ward’s death was listed as happening while "supporting combat operations" in a "hostile incident."
His battalion is engaged as part of Operation Moshtarak, a joint NATO-Afghan drive to retake the city of Marjah, in the southern province of Helmand, from Taliban control. About 15,000 troops are involved in the operation. It is the largest offensive operation since the US invasion in late 2001. The operation has resulted in the deaths of many American soldiers, Taliban fighters and Afghan civilians. At least seven Marines in Lance Corporal Ward's regiment alone have died since February 1st.
Lance Corporal Ward's awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal.
The Lance Corporal is survived by five brothers and sisters. His family hopes to bury him at Arlington National Cemetery, but will have a memorial in King County, Washington.
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Staff Sergeant Christopher "Chris" Eckard
Christopher Eckard was in the Army National Guard in high school. He was a 1998 graduate of St. Stephens High School in his hometown of Hickory North Carolina. He became a Marine in 2001. In 2004, 2007 and 2008, he deployed to Iraq. He was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant in July 2007.
Most recently, Staff Sergeant Eckard served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2009.
Several Camp Lejeune-based Marines have died in the fierce fighting under way in Afghanistan's Helmand province recently. Marine Staff Sergeant Christopher Eckard was killed there on Febrary 20th. He was 30 years old, at the time.
Some comments about the Staff Sergeant are found in the Hickory Record:
"He was a super-cool dude," said Gary Whitener, who remained friends with Eckard after graduation.
"He was a role model, never in trouble," said Whitener, owner of Air Force One Heating and Cooling in Hickory.
"There are several of us who stay in touch. We've been sharing our memories on Facebook. It's sad. It's terrible. He was great, just great."
Eckard's awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, a Navy Unit Commendation, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Kosovo Campaign medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and a NATO Medal.
Some of the formal military schools attended by Staff Sergeant Eckard included Marine Combat Training, Combat Engineer Course, Breacher and EOD technician training, Sergeant’s Course, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Advanced Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy.
Eckard is survived by his mother, his wife, two sons, ages 4 and 18 months, and a brother.
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Lance Corporal Matthias "Matt" Hanson
Matt Hanson was from Greenville, Michigan but moved to Kentucky in 2005. Hanson graduated from Hodgenville, Kentucky's Larue County High School in 2008. Hanson was on the football team, and in the technology club while at the school. He joined the Marines in 2007.
Matt's father had served in the Gulf War, his stepfather in Vietnam. Both brothers also are in the service. The family has relatives who served in both World Wars. He became the first member of his family to be killed in combat when he was shot in Afghanistan, according to his uncle, Max Watts of Greenville.
According to Louisville's WHAS station:
The entire Larue County community is continuing to mourning the death of Matt Hanson.
All of the flags throughout the county have been placed at half-staff in his honor, as everyone prepares to say good-bye.
Matt Hanson was many things to many people; a son, a brother, a friend and a Marine. The goal of his life, set when he was very young, was following in the footsteps of decades of family members who had also served in the military.
"Our family has a sense of strong dedication and love for the country and we were always brought up to believe that we should serve the country at some point in time, so we did," said Larry Huff, Hanson’s stepfather.
Hanson was a rifleman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
The Lance Corporal had only been in Afghanistan for about three weeks when his mom and stepdad got a knock on their door. A Marine notification team told the family that Matt was killed by enemy fire on February 21st. Hanson was 20 years old at the time of his death.
Among those Lance Corporal Hanson have left behind are his father, mother, stepfather and stepmother, as well as three sisters and two brothers. His brother, Lowell Hanson III, who is stationed in Germany, is flying back for the funeral.
Services will be conducted by the Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in Hodgenville Kentucky. The Patriot Guard Riders will be in attendance.
There is a photo blog with pictures of Matt Hanson and his family. The following picture (but much larger) and verse are found there. It is a wistful reminder of his last journey home:
"When tomorrow starts without me,
Don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart."
Original at EmRosePhoto blog
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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, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, Ministry of Truth, and CalNM. 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 diaried 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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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.