I Got The News Today (IGTNT), which is one of 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, Afghanistan, in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and in Operation Inherent Resolve. The IGTNT title is a reminder that far too often the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Sgt. Maj. James G. Sartor, 40, of Teague, Texas, died July 13, 2019, in Faryab Province, Afghanistan, as a result of injuries sustained from enemy small arms fire during combat operations. This incident is under investigation.
Sartor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado.
Born on Sept. 23, 1978, Sartor first joined the Army in June 2001 and was assigned as an infantryman with the 3rd Infantry Division. After he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, Sartor was assigned to 10th SFG (A) in 2005.
Sartor had deployed seven times, according to a release from U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He first deployed to Iraq as an infantryman in 2002. As a Green Beret, he was deployed in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 with 2nd Battalion, 10th Group. He also deployed with the 10th to Afghanistan in 2017 and 2019.
Col. Brian R. Rauen, commander of 10th Group, said:
“We’re incredibly saddened to learn of Sgt. Maj. James ‘Ryan’ Sartor’s passing in Afghanistan. Ryan was a beloved warrior who epitomized the quiet professional. He led his soldiers from the front and his presence will be terribly missed.”
Sartor's mother, Terri Pryor, from San Angelo, said simply:
"Everybody has a hero ; I raised mine."
Sgt. Maj. Sartor’s many awards include:
- The Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
- Army Achievement Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation Award
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Valorous Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
- Meritorious Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster
- Army Good Conduct Medal with six knots
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
- Iraq Campaign Medal with 4 Campaign Stars
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 5
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2
- NATO Medal
- Special Forces Tab
- Ranger Tab
- Combat Infantryman Badge
- Senior Parachutist Badge
- Special Operations Diver Badge.
His posthumous awards include the Purple Heart Medal and Bronze Star Medal.
Sartor is survived by his wife and three children.
Doug Dunbar, a news anchor on CBS 11 out of Dallas/Fort Worth, wrote the following tribute. It’s a reminder for all of us of the ultimate price paid by so many in our military:
Rest peacefully Sgt. Maj. Sartor, millions never met you, yet you held the line for us.
Yet another paying the ultimate price.
Think of what you’re doing right now as you read this, then think of this. As I post this, there is a family whose life has now been altered beyond what they could have even conceived.
There is raw emotion pouring out in a room that we will never see.
There are loved ones grief stricken, wondering how they will even carry on, after such a loss.
That’s the burden and the price not only our military members pay, but their families who without their support, that service would be terribly difficult at best.
God bless the Sartor family, and those close to him.
Thank you Sgt Maj, God speed..
DoD News Release
News Source
News Source
News Source
Rest in peace, Sgt. Maj. James G. Sartor, you have served with honor and will be greatly missed.
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 in 2004 and now is maintained by Sandy on Signal, i dunno, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, JaxDem, Joy of Fishes, SARBill and me, Ekaterin. 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.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service member(s) mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.