Gerald B H Soloman Saratoga National Cemetry, Schuylerville, New York
In the United States there are currently 146 cemeteries that carry the designation "National Cemetery". This designation indicates that the cemetery is generally a military cemetery and contains the graves of U.S. military personnel, veterans and their spouses, but not exclusively so. There are also some state veteran cemeteries.
Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington, D.C. is the best known of all national cemeteries and along with others, contain the graves of important civilian leaders and other important national figures. Some national cemeteries also contain sections for Confederate soldiers.
The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains 130 of the 146 national cemeteries, while the Department of the Army maintains two - Arlington and the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home National Cemetery. The National Park Service maintains 14 cemeteries that are associated with historic sites and battlefields and the American Battle Monuments Commission maintains 24 American military cemeteries overseas.
Honoring and Remembering:
Lance Cpl Anthony J. Denier
Sgt 1st Class Darren M. Linde
Spc Tyler J. Orgaard
I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which began in April of 2004, is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos and provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died. |
Since 2001 we have lost
2164 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3236 American and coalition forces.
Amazing Grace and Taps
Performed at Arlington National Cemetery
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
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The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Denier, 26, of Mechanicville, N.Y., died Dec. 2, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. ~ DoD News Release
Lance Cpl Anthony J. Denier, 26 of Mechanicville, New York
Mary Morgan, Lance Cpl Anthony Denier's mother, woke early on Sunday morning to wait for a phone call her son had promised to make. An hour after the expected call time, she answered a knock at her door to find two uniformed officers on her doorstep and she knew. She knew she was getting the knock that every military family fears, the news that her son had died. Lance Cpl Denier was shot by enemy fire while on patrol in southern Afghanistan.
Anthony Denier graduated from Mechanicville High School and then worked as a painter for two years before enlisting in the Marine Corps in March 2011.
Mary Morgan said her son was very protective of his two older sisters, had a quiet demeanor and loved going to the shooting range with friends. She added that Anthony always wanted to be a Marine and had worked hard to enter the Marine Corps overcoming every obstacle in his way.
He fought for what he got and I am extremely proud of my son.
Sister, Maria Betts of Gloversville, said the Marine Corps turned her brother into a wise and strong man.
My brother's motto was "Go hard, or go home".
Lance Cpl Denier deployed to Afghanistan in October and this was his first deployment.
The family plans to bury Lance Cpl Denier in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery with the full military honors he earned and deserved.
Lance Cpl Anthony J. Denier is survived by his mother, father and two sisters.
~ Source ~ Source
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The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Dec. 3, in Lashkar Gah City, Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 818th Engineer Company, 164th Engineer Battalion, Williston, N.D. Killed were:
Sgt. 1st Class. Darren M. Linde, 41, of Sidney, Mont., and
Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard, 20, of Bismarck, N.D
~ DoD News Release
Sgt 1st Class Darren M. Linde, 41, Devil's Lake, ND
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Spc Tyler J. Orgaard, 20 Bismark, ND
Spc. Ian Charles Placek, 23, of Bismarck, was wounded in the same incident and is listed in stable condition at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany with burn injuries to his chest, lungs and legs, according to a North Dakota National Guard media release.
Today is a sad day for North Dakota as we mourn the loss of Sgt. 1st Class Linde and Spc. Orgaard who were killed in action while serving our state and nation. Our hearts and prayers are with their families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones. Our thoughts are also with Spc. Placek as he recovers from his injuries. We will never forget these heroes or the last full measure of devotion they gave in defense of our homeland and our way of life. ~ North Dakota Governor, Jack Dalrymple
Major General David Sprynczynatyk, state Guard commander released this statement:
We are extremely saddened by the loss of two of our soldiers and extend our most sincere condolences and prayers to their family and friends during this time of sorrow. We also wish Spc. Placek a speedy recovery. We will always remember our brave Soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Sgt 1st Class Darren M. Linde was a 1989 graduate of Sidney High School, Sidney, Montana.
Linde served with the Montana Army National Guard from 1998 through 2002 and from 2005 through 2006.
Sgt 1st Class Linde enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1990 and returned to the North Dakota Guard in 2006. Since 2009, he served as a full-time instructor with the North Dakota National Guard’s 164th Regional Training Institute, Camp Grafton Training Center in Devils Lake, N.D.
Fellow Camp Grafton Training instructor, 1st Sgt Kurt Schwind said the most important titles Linde earned were "Grandpa" and "Papa Bear". Nicknames for being older than most of the soldiers he served with and trained, but also for putting his own personal safety after that of his comrades.
Those are terms of endearment that he did not take lightly . Not everyone gets a nickname. Sgt. Linde would think of himself last. It’s a very rare thing to be as selfless as Sgt. Linde.
Sgt 1st Class Darren M. Linde received numerous awards and decorations. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Award. He has also received the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and many more.
Sgt 1st Class Linde received several state awards, including the North Dakota Legion of Merit, North Dakota National Guard Commendation Ribbon, North Dakota National Guard Achievement Ribbon, North Dakota National Guard Service Ribbon, North Dakota National Guard Basic Training Ribbon and the Montana National Guard Campaign Ribbon.
Four months ago, Linde's teenage daughter, Alexis had a chance encounter with a female soldier that prompted her to write, sing and record a tribute to her father. In that tribute she asks, "What would we be without a man like you?" Here is a link to that YouTube Video by Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde's daughter, Alexis. I hope you will watch it and click the "like" button as well.
Sgt 1st Class Darren M. Linde is survived by his wife, Adrienne, of Devil’s Lake, and four children.
Spc Tyler J. Orgaard: joined the National Guard shortly before graduating from Century High School in 2011 where he was a member of the Century Patriots wrestling team and began competition in the Impact Fighting Championships while still in high school.
Chad Kurle, owner of Bismarck Combat Sports, began training Orgaard when he was 16 years old and said:
Tyler was a tall, lanky kid, six-foot-one and about 145 pounds. He was all arms and legs. He embodied the saying 'you can't judge a book by its cover'.
All arms and legs, and no quit. He had a passion for the sport ... he took on all comers and threw himself into it completely.
Kurle said Orgaard’s dedication to the sport was a genuine snapshot of him as a person.
Tyler would train against pros with 15 or more fights (of) more experience ... he pushed them harder than anyone else in the gym and he made everyone else in the gym better.
Kurle said he met with Tyler’s parents Tuesday morning when he got word of his death and said:
It’s amazing. Even through this, it’s amazing how proud they are of Tyler.
Orgaard completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and this was his first deployment.
Spc Tyler J. Orgaard is survived by his parents, Josephine and Jesse Orgaard, of Bismarck.
~Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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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, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Ekaterin and me, JaxDem.
These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them. 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.
Sgt Bowe R. Bergdahl
The only known current Prisoner of War is Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 26 who was captured by the Taliban in June of 2009. Five propaganda videos featuring Bergdahl have been released by the Taliban. A website has been established with the most up-to-date information on Sgt. Bergdahl.
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.
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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.