I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which began in April of 2004 making it 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. 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.
~ Image Credit to llbear with gratitude
.
Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of Heaven,
Blossom the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in Evangeline
.
Honoring and Remembering:
Sgt. James W. Harvey II
Pfc. Brian J. Backus
Pfc. Gustavo A. Rios-Ordonez
Spc. Scott D. Smith
Pfc. Josue Ibarra
Since 2003 we have suffered the loss of 4463 American lives and a total of 4781 Coalition Forces in Iraq.
Since 2001 we have suffered the loss of 1634 American lives and a total of 2543 Coalition Forces in Afghanistan.
Many thanks to dear CalNM for writing up Pfc. Backus, Spc. Smith and Pfc. Ibarra
Sgt. James W. Harvey II, 23, of Toms River, New Jersey
Sgt. James W. Harvey II, 23, of Toms River, N.J., died June 20 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.
~ DoD News Release
Sgt. James W. Harvey, the youngest of four children previously lived in Clark, New Jersey. He was a 2005 Arthur L. Johnson graduate where he played lacrosse for two years. The family moved to Toms River in 2007l
He enlisted in the Army at age 21. He went through basic training in Kentucky and was deployed to Andar province in January.
Harvey, known as "Jimmy" by family and friends, enlisted in the Army in January of 2009 and would have celebrated his 24th birthday on July 21st.
Harvey’s sister, Tracey said her brother treated her as if he were an older brother.
He took care of me, and I took care of him. I didn’t want him to go into the Army, but it was for selfish reasons. But I knew it would be good for him.
Sister Christine said the sisters agreed that Jimmy was all you could ask for in a brother:
He was always there for us. Sure, he’d moan and complain the way brothers do when you’d call him to come help you fix a flat, but he’d always show up.
He was a member of the Ragnarok Paintball Team for 2 years before deploying. There was a posting on their website where members could offer condolences.
Ragnarok Co-Captain Paul "Berserker" Kolterjahn said it best.... All give it some... and some give it all. Jimmy has given his all for his country.
Harvey's father, also named James Harvey said:
He came home in May and he was very despondent. He had lost a couple of friends, and he took it very hard. The first thing he did was lower the flag, and then a few days later he put it back up.
James said he and his wife picked out cemetery plots and a funeral home for their son on Tuesday.
This was something that we had not even done for ourselves. We moved here four years ago for our retirement, to enjoy things a little and enjoy our family. Not this.
Sgt Harvey will be awarded posthumously a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Sgt James W. Harvey is survived by his father, James; his mother, Susan; a sister, Robin Faffaele; a sister Christine Douglas; and a sister Tracey Harvey.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
.
Pfc. Brian J. Backus, 21, of Saginaw Township, Michigan
Pfc. "Doc" Backus died June 18, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, after being wounded in action from small arms fire. Backus was a combat medic assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based in Fort Drum, New York.
Brian Backus grew up in the Thumb community of Harbor Beach near Saginaw. A popular student, Brian was senior class president of his 2008 graduating class at Harbor Beach High School.
Brian was considering a career in health care and had joined the Army as a medic. Called "Doc" by their men, combat medics have the dangerous job tending to injured troops during combat.
"He was a high achiever, a smart young man," said the pastor at his family's church that he attended.
"Brian was a beautiful young man, and this is really hitting us hard," Rev. Timm told the Saginaw News.
Brian was also young father, with a two-year-old son named Jack to support. He joined the Army in June 2010.
Pfc. Backus deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in March 2011. He was 21 years old when he lost his life to hostile gun fire.
"We're all in shock," said library clerk Cindy A. Stevenson.
Before his deployment, "I told him to be safe," she said. "He said he was going to try."
Among those Pfc. Backus leaves behind are his young son, his brother, parents, and other family and friends back home in Michigan.
Pfc. Brian J. Backus is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
.
.
Pfc Gustavo A. Rios-Ordonez, 25 of Englewood, Ohio
Pfc. Gustavo A. Rios-Ordonez, 25, of Englewood, Ohio, died June 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
~ DoD News Release
Pfc Rios-Ordonez was born in Columbia and moved to the United States in his early 20's. He wanted to become an American citizen so he joined the U.S. Army to fight for this country. His daughters, two daughters, ages 2 and 7 months, were born in the United States and Gustavo wanted to make them proud as well as provide financially for them.
Rios-Ordonez trained at Fort Benning, Ga., and then was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He deployed to Afghanistan in February, and received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
Tiffani Rios, 22, wife of Army Pfc. Gustavo A. Rios-Ordonez said this:
He is really an amazing person. He’s nice to everyone, and he didn’t have any problems with anyone. He loved soccer and his girls most of all.
His mother-in-law, Diane Salisbury said:
He was the best father, husband, man and friend anyone could have asked for. I couldn’t be more proud of him.
and speaking of his marriage to her daughter, Diane said this:
This was the love of her life. They were just awesome together.
Rios-Ordonez leaves behind his wife, Tiffani Rios; two daughters; and his parents.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
.
Spc. Scott D. Smith, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana
Spc. Smith died June 17 at Khowst province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.
Spc. Smith was assigned to the 81st Troop Command of the Indiana Army National Guard, based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Scott Smith grew up in Mooresville and lived with his wife Kristi, and three daughters --- Brittany, 12, Cami, 10 and Delaney 3, on Indianapolis' southwest side. Neighbors and friends described them as a wonderful family.
The military is still investigating Spc. Scott's death, and the family had nothing more to say publicly about the incident. Unfortunately, no other information was found regarding this guardsman and father who gave everything.
Among those Spc. Smith leaves behind are his wife and daughters, and other family and friends in Indiana.
Spc. Scott Smith is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
Source Source Source
Pfc. Josue Ibarra, 21, of Midland, Texas
Pfc. Josue Ibarra died June 19 from combat wounds received from an IED explosion in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Ibarra was a provisional infantryman and field artilleryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Josue Ibarra is the youngest of six children in his family from Midland, Texas.
Known as "Yoshi" to his family, friends and church community, Ibarra graduated from Midland High School in 2009.
Yoshi also attended Midland College for two semesters before leaving to join the Army. Midland College is flying the flag at half staff in Pfc. Ibarra's memory.
"It's just heartbreaking for the family and for the community. It's a real shame that we lost a good kid," said Midland College President Steve Thomas.
Rev. Abel Torres, pastor at his family's church, added, "We mourn the fact that Josue never will have the chance to make things better or to make a difference in this world.
We need more young men like Josue, who thought of others before themselves."
"He was always wanting to serve."
Josue Ibarra joined the Marine Corps in June 2010. Pfc. Ibarra was stationed in Hawaii before being deployed; it was there that he met President Barrack Obama and First Lady Michelle.
Pfc. Ibarra was less than three months into his first deployment to Afghanistan when he encountered a deadly roadside bomb while on a foot patrol. His loved ones said the Marine's personality and character will never be forgotten.
"I want to believe that it's a mistake. Maybe they're going to call and they're going to say sorry we made a mistake," said Dahlia Torres, the wife of Pastor Abel Torres.
"I know I'm hurting, but I know I can't be hurting as much as his mother is right now," Dahlia said.
"His mom took it pretty hard, he was the youngest one. She keeps repeating 'He said he was coming back, he said he was coming back.' It’s still hard to believe,” Abel said.
"We still love him and he's left a void in out hearts."
Among those Pfc. Josue Ibarra leaves behind are his brothers, mother, father, and other family and friends in Midland.
Pfc. Josue Ibarra is missed. May He Rest in Peace.
Source Source Source Source Source Source
.
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, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, racheltracks, Kestrel9000 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.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner.
.
.
POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41
and
Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23
Never forgotten - please keep good thoughts and prayers for these two men.
On December 8, 2010 new photos were published of Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl in captivity. The article and images can be seen here.
The father of Bowe R. Bergdahl released this video on May 6, 2011 in which he appeals for the release of his son.
The Army promoted Bergdahl to the rank of sergeant effective June 12, 2011. This is his second promotion since he was listed as Missing-Captured on June 30, 2009.
.
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.