I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is among the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, 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.
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Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel
Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad
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Since 2001 we have lost 2189 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3269 American and coalition forces.
The Department of Defense announced today the death two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died March 11, in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when they were attacked by small arms fire. Killed were:
Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Florida. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Oklahoma He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. ~ DoD News Release
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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Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Florida
Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel was a native of Madison, CT and graduated in 2002 from the private all-boys school Avon Old Farms School, where he was known as "P-K". He was on the Dean's list, editor of the school newspaper, dorm monitor and a true leader on campus. In addition he was a tri-sport athlete playing football and lacrosse and was also a wrestler. The school flew its American flag at half staff over the Diogenese dorm where Andrew lived while attending the school.
He was remembered as being a humanitarian, athlete, positive, brother, charismatic, honorable, patriotic and much more.
Avon Old Farms Headmaster Kenneth H. LaRocque said:
“Obviously, my heart sank. It’s just so different when you know someone. His eyes were just full of energy and life and that’s just who P-K was."
In his senior yearbook his mother wrote:
"I love you, son. I am so proud of you, and so thankful to the years that have given me so much to be thankful for. You are my adored son, and also my friend. Love, Mom."
Avon Old Farms will honor Pedersen-Keel at a memorial service on May 18 during Alumni weekend.
Capt. Pedersen-Keel was a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. The inscription next to his picture in the yearbook reads:
"I would like to thank my family for all of their support throughout my life and especially over the last few years. Mom, if not for you, I would have never had this opportunity. Dad, thanks for helping to open all the doors. Dean and Chris, you will always be infinite to me. Celeste, I am endlessly grateful for having you in my life. Thanks to all my family and friends, you are always with me. Thanks to Army Gymnastics, and especially Doug, for all of the good times."
In his military career, Pedersen-Keel was a Special Forces Detachment Commander assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, N.C., according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
According to his Army biography, Pedersen-Keel was first deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 for a 12 month tour, serving as a company executive officer and platoon leader. Following that deployment he began Special Forces training, which he completed in 2012. He had been in Afghanistan for his first tour as a Special Forces commander for less than a year.
Madison First Selectman Fillmore McPherson who is a U.S. Navy veteran ordered the town flags to be flown at half staff:
"With deep regret and great sadness we learn of the death in Afghanistan of Capt. Andrew Pedersen-Keel, United State Army, whose parents live here in Madison. It is always sad to hear of such a loss, and doubly so when there is a local connection. On behalf of our entire town, our hearts go out to the parents in this tragic time."
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy ordered U.S. and Connecticut flags to fly at half-staff to honor Army Capt. Andrew Pedersen-Keel:
“Captain Pedersen-Keel made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our state and our nation. Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and his unit during this very difficult time. We pray for a safe homecoming for our troops who are stationed around the world, and thank them for their bravery and service.”
Connecticut Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman released this statement:
“This is a tragic and sad reminder that even as the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down there are still hundreds of Connecticut soldiers in harm’s way. Captain Pedersen-Keel and every one of the other 63 brave men and women from our state lost in Afghanistan and Iraq died defending us and our freedom, and that sacrifice must never be forgotten.”
Captain Pedersen-Keel's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2), the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Air Assault Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab.
Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel is survived by his parents and his sister.
No funeral arrangements have been announced.
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Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Oklahoma
Rex Schad and his family moved from Stroud to Edmond, Oklahoma in 1995 where Rex attended Edmond Memorial High School. He graduated in 2005 after having taken accelerated classes through Boulevard Academy. During high school Schad taught himself to play the guitar and developed a love for running.
Mother, Colleen Whipple said her son mastered in everything who was never a quitter and seemingly had no "off-switch". Colleen said her son always looked out for the underdog.
“He took on his first bully in third grade, a group of boys teasing a child with special needs.”
Rex came from a family steeped in military service. His mother, an uncle and his grandfather all served in various branches of the service. His brother, Max is a Specialist in the Army and currently stationed in Alaska. So it was of no surprise that following September 11, 2001 that Rex's patriotism rose and he began to plot a course to serve in the Army.
Staff Sgt Schad enlisted in the Army in February 2006 and arrived at his unit in March 2011. This was his second tour in Afghanistan, the first had been from July 2009 to July 2010. Schad deployed in November on election day and was due home in July.
Grandfather, Harold Whipple had been very close to Rex and spoke with him the day before he died.
“I spoke to him at 11:30 on Sunday morning.”
Harold displays a flag in the window of his home which had displayed two blue stars which represented his two grandsons who were serving in the military. Now he will switch out one of those blue stars for a gold one, to honor his fallen grandson, Rex.
Whipple spoke about sending his grandson care packages:
“He was laughing and telling me that, one of the things I sent him was a box of 100 sticks of beef jerky, and he said all the rest of them only get five or six sticks in their packages and he gets 100!”
Rex also sent presents back to his grandfather from his time overseas; those gifts are now treasured.
“He’s been to Korea, I’ve been to Korea. He brought me a gift that the Korean government had given him. The old rusty barbed wire from the original DMZ.”
Mother, Colleen Whipple said that just last month her son was discussing his future, thinking he would like to be a teacher and perhaps pursue politics as well.
U.S. Rep. James Lankford, R-Edmond, said:
“Our Oklahoma military community honors and mourns a brother who has given his last full measure of devotion in defense of freedom. My thoughts and prayers extend to the Schad family for their loss and to all our military families whose brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, fathers and mothers have been taken too soon. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. May his family find comfort in their time of deep need and wisdom to know how to navigate this trying time."
Army Spc. Max J. Whipple, who is stationed in Alaska, flew into Dover and met with his mother to witness his brother's dignified transfer. He will escort his brother's body home to Edmond.
The family expects to lay his remains to rest at Fort Sill National Cemetery.
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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, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, 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.