Two more families got the news this week.
Two more families, two more communities and two more sets of brothers and sisters in arms are mourning Lance Cpl. David R. Baker, 22, of Painesville, Ohio and Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, 26, of Mission, Texas. As you read about these men, please spare a thought for all those who miss them so much--for the tears they cry now, as well as those days ahead with an empty seat at the holiday table, for those sleepless nights of memory. For the suddenness and the depth of their loss. For what we all lose with the death of good men.
As David Baker's father told a local reporter, "They just grow up before your eyes and then, and then they're gone."
On Wednesday, the Department of Defense reported the death of Lance Cpl. David R. Baker, 22, of Painesville, Ohio and of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
He died Oct. 20 in Helmand province, Afghanistan "while supporting combat operations," says the DoD.
David Baker's dream of joining the Marine Corps started in elementary school, his father, Mark C. Baker, told the North County Times. "I remember they had asked what kids wanted to do and it was always his ambition to be a Marine," he said. "It's something David always wanted to do." In 2006, a few months after graduation from Riverside High School in Painesville Township, Ohio, he realized his ambition. Riverside has a page up in his honor and several of his former teachers have shared their memories of David there:
What I remember most about David is his personality. He always had a smile on his face and brought joy to those around him. He was just a genuine student who brought a lot to the baseball team with his personality and effort.
Principal Bill Wade
former coach and science teacher
He was so respectful, interested in learning, and happy to help out others in labs.
Karin Pennock
school counselor
former science teacher
He was an extremely bright person who was very much a leader in my class who would help anyone in need of it. He really was a great person. I hate the fact that we teach these kids, send them out into the world and then something like this happens. It just seems like such a waste of such a good person with such enormous potential. This one hit way too close to home.
Jeff Eckles
history teacher
His leadership and willingness to help showed through during his tour of Afghanistan. Mark Baker told cleveland.com that his son, a mortarman, "was the guy who always volunteered to be point," the first of a dozen patrol soldiers. When his parents brought up their worries about his decision, the article adds, he told them why he went first: "'Dad, that's my job. I can control the pace. I can be more careful for everybody.'"
He was on foot patrol when a roadside bomb went off. He died of his injuries. He was only a few weeks away from being finished with his tour of duty.
In a comment left on one of the Patriot Guard's forums, eestettler writes "My condolences and prayers with the baker family. i graduated with david baker and this is a big loss. david was an amazing young man and fellow armed forces member. i thank you david for your work and protection and you will be greatly missed." A little earlier in the thread, Paula Donoho-Sielken contributes her memory: "It is with such a heavy heart to hear this news this morning. David was such a sweetheart and his eyes and smile would light up any room. God Bless your family and all his brothers he left behind. I am sure my son is devastated to lose his friend."
According to the Village News, his "awards include a National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon." In California, flags at the state capitol will fly at half-staff in memory of Baker.
He is survived by his father; his mother, Laurie Lewkowski; his brother, Mark Baker Jr., 23; and "19-year-old twin sisters -- Taylor, a student at Lakeland Community College, and Lauren, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve." The family flew to Dover, Delaware to meet the casket at Dover Air Base on Wednesday. Memorial services are planned for his hometown and Baker is to be be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
I will let Baker's father have the last words: "They just grow up before your eyes and then, and then they're gone."
Godspeed, Lance Cpl. David R. Baker.
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Also on Wednesday, the Department of Defense reported the death of Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, 26, of Mission, Texas and of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
He died Oct. 19 in Qwest, Iraq, "of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device," says the DoD. Note: According to one report, he died "while attempting to disarm an improvised bomb."
Maggie Espinoza thought that the uniformed casualty officers were lost in her neighborhood. But then she got the news about her son, Bradley.
(Family friend Rebecca) Cantu said her friend wept uncontrollably throughout the day as she mourned the death of her son, whom she had last spoken to a few days ago. The bereaved mother got sick upon hearing the news from the government employees who came to her doorstep. ...
"She’s devastated," Cantu said. "She’s calm, then she cries."
She has made that long trip to Dover Air Base and is now sending her son's casket home to the Rio Grande Valley. He had been away from home a lot over the last few years; when he died, he was on his third tour in Iraq, where he served as a bomb disposal specialist. He would have been back in Texas in December, his uncle Ralph Solis said.
Little information about Bradley Espinoza is available at this time, but this small observation from Cantu speaks to the depth of grief that the Espinoza family is dealing with right now:
Bradley Espinoza’s 3-year-old son still seems confused about his father’s death, Cantu said. The boy had been staying with his grandmother in Alton while his parents were away on duty.
"The little boy doesn’t comprehend," Cantu said. "At first, he was just happy a lot of kids were there. Then he saw his grandma cry, and he was like, ‘What’s wrong?’"
The Mission High School Class of 2002 graduate entered the Army in July of that same year as a combat engineer. According to The Monitor, his awards and decorations include: the Army Commendation Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; and the Overseas Service Ribbon.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife (a soldier stationed in San Angelo, Texas) and two children, a daughter, 6, and a son, 3. Funeral and vigil arrangements are pending.
Several veterans, representing the Last Patrol, a group of Valley veterans, have already expressed interest in honoring Espinoza in a public ceremony. "He's our hero. He's our son. He's the Valley's son. He's the US's son. We want to honor him for his bravery," says Commander Jose Vasquez of the Last Patrol.
In his final mood update to his page on myspace, Espinoza wrote these words: "Remember me."
Godspeed, Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza.
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About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. 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.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, twilight falling, joyful, roses, Chacounne, JeNoCo, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma and True Blue Majority.
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.