(THANK YOU TO JAXDEM FOR WRITING THIS BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE!)
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 and Afghanistan as well as in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Resolute Support, Operation Joint Guardian and Operation Octave Shield. 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 deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Both soldiers died February 8, 2020 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, as a result of wounds sustained while engaged in combat operations. The incident is under investigation. Both soldiers were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The deceased are: DoD News Release
Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas
Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, 28, of Las Cruces, New Mexico
Both men were posthumously promoted to Sgt 1st Class.
Current reports indicate a person in an Afghan uniform opened fire on the combined US and Afghan forces with a machine gun at the Sherzad district center, said Col. Sonny Leggett, spokesman for the US forces in Afghanistan. “We are still collecting information and the cause or motive behind the attack is unknown at this time. The incident is under investigation,” Leggett said, according to the statement. The US military has not determined whether the attack was an Afghan soldier or someone wearing a military uniform, a US official told CNN. Six other soldiers were wounded in the attack.
Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez
Javier J. Gutierrez was born in 1991 in Jacksonville, NC. He enlisted in the Army in 2009 and served as an infantryman at the 2nd Battalion, 304th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg. He was deployed with that Regiment to Iraq.
Gutierrez graduated from special forces training in 2015, qualifying as a Communications Sergeant and was then assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Sgt 1st Class Gutierrez is a graduate of Basic and Advanced Leader Courses; U.S. Army Airborne School; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School; and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
Col. John W. Sannes, 7th Special Forces Group Commander, said:
"Sgt. 1st Class Gutierrez' was a warrior that exemplified selfless service and a commitment to the mission, both values that we embody here in the 7th Special Forces Group. Our priority now is to take care of his family and teammates, we will provide the best possible care possible during these trying times."
Sgt. 1st Class
Gutierrez’s awards include the Army Commendation Medal (1OLC); Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 2); Army Service Ribbon; Expert Infantry and Parachutist Badges; and the Special Forces Tab.
Sgt. Gutierrez is survived by his wife and four young children.
Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez
A native of Las Cruces, Sgt 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez enlisted in the Army soon after graduating from high school in 2009. Following his basic training, Rodriguez completed airborne and ranger assessment and selection and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Rodriguez then re-classified as a Spanish cryptologic linguist.
He deployed a total of 8 times with the 75th Ranger Regiment and twice with 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group.
Rodriguez was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
Col. John W. Sannes, 7th Special Forces Group Commander, said:
"Sgt. 1st Class Rodriguez was selfless and served honorably; he was certainly among the best in our unit. Here at the Red Empire, we take care of our own, and Sgt. 1st Class Rodriguez' family will forever be a part of us, we will assist them in any way we can to help them through these trying times."
~ News Source
~ News Source
Rest in peace, Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez and
Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez.
You have both served with honor.
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.
