Tonight, we honor a soldier from west Tennessee, killed during combat operations in Iraq. He was the star football player and voted Most Valuable Player for Humboldt High School in 2005. He was dearly loved by his beautiful bride, and a hero of his town. Please take a moment to honor his service.
Since 2001, there have been 1437 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4429 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 14 killed in Operation New Dawn. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
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.
DoD Announces Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn.
Pfc. David D. Finch, 24, of Bath Springs, TN, died Dec. 8 in Wasit province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
Heather Finch married Dustin Finch almost a year ago, on December 20, 2009. Instead of enjoying their first anniversary, the beautiful bride is grieving the loss of her husband and making funeral arrangements.
"Many people don't believe in love at first sight, but I still remember everything about that night, walking into the room and seeing him standing there," she said. "I was just a 16-year-old kid, but the first moment I started talking with him, I knew. I fell in love with him — I will forever be in love with him."
She also expressed her love for him on her Facebook page:
They look ordinary, they lace up just the same, but it's not the boots that matter, it's my soldier in the boots that means the world to me.
Pfc. David "Dustin" Finch graduated from Humboldt High School in 2005. He enrolled at Bethel University and studied Civil Engineering from 2005-2009. He decided to complete his studies, while in the Army. He wanted to join and work out of the field. This was Pfc. Finch's first tour of duty.
Heather told the Jackson Sun
"I opened the door and I knew what they wanted," Heather Finch said.
relaying to the Jackson Sun, what happened when she was given the terrible news.
The couple spoke on the phone the day before he died and he told her that he would be going on a special mission.
Heather said he was proud to serve his country, but they both knew what he faced. She told the Jackson Sun:
"It was something he really wanted to do — his two best friends were in the military — and we talked about it a lot," Heather Finch said. "We knew something like this could happen, but he wanted to join. He was an amazing person and touched so many lives."
His high school coach spoke with the paper:
"Dustin was built to be in the Army," Bethel Assistant Coach Chris Elliott said. "He was really happy with the decision he made. Dustin was the kind of guy who would do anything we asked him to do and do it with a smile on his face."
Funeral arrangements are pending for Pfc. David "Dustin" Finch. Deepest sympathy to his widow, Heather, parents and friends.
Chattanooga National Cemetery. Photo by Tracy Knauss- friend and photo doctor
Rest in Peace, Pfc. David "Dustin" Finch.
Source- Jackson Sun,
Tracy Knauss
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. 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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, racheltracks, csas, and me, Sandy on Signal.
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.