Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
The beautiful forget-me-nots were created by llbear.
Since 2003 there have been 4486 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 2155 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Rayvon Battle Jr., 25, of Rocky Mount, N.C., died Nov. 13, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Staff Sgt. Rayvon Battle Jr.
Lewis-McChord Stryker unit sustains first fatality in Afghanistan
Battle was a squad leader in the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. His unit, the 38th Engineer Company, is charged with clearing roads of enemy mines so convoys can drive safely in dangerous territory.
Battle died on his third combat tour, having twice deployed to Iraq. He joined the Army in June 2005 and arrived at Lewis-McChord later that year. He was first assigned as a gunner for the 1st Special Forces Group support battalion and deployed with that unit in 2008-09, records show. Seven months after his return, he transferred to the 4th Brigade and went back to Iraq in 2010.
More from the Department of Defense
According to unit records, Staff Sgt. Battle entered the Army in June 2005 and reported to Fort Leonard Wood, MO for Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training MOS 12B (Combat Engineer). Upon graduation from AIT, he arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Nov. 2005. He was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group Support Battalion, as a gunner. He deployed with the unit to Iraq from May 2008 to February 2009. In September 2009, he was assigned to the 38th Engineer Company as a team leader. He deployed to Iraq from February 2010 to September 2010. In November 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan, this time as a squad leader.
Staff Sgt. Battle’s civilian and military education includes a high school diploma (2005), Military Occupational Specialty 12B: Combat Engineer (2005), Combat Lifesaver and Tactical Combat Medical Care Courses (2006), Airborne School (2007), Combatives Level I (2007), Bus Drivers Course (2007), Warrior Leaders Course (2011), Information Assurance Certification Program (2011), Short Range Marksmanship Course (2011), Combatives Level 2 (2011), and the Advanced Leaders Course (2012).
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral “2”, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral “2”, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Driver’s Badge.
On behalf of the 7th Infantry Division and the entire Joint Base Lewis-McChord military and civilian community, we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Staff Sgt. Battle.
Click here to read the series as begun by i dunno, and maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, Twilight Falling, Sis Two, Spam Nunn, CalNM, Wide Awake in KY,
maggiejean, Jaxdem, Kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings, and Ekaterin
If you would like to contribute to the series, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal or noweasels.
To see what these tributes mean to those who have lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, please read Sandy on Signal’s story about meeting the father of a soldier at NN10.
The IGTNT logo was created by Timroff.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.