Tonight, we honor a Marine from California. He was a husband and father to an 18 month old son. Family and friends are heartbroken. Please take a moment to read about him and honor his service.
So far in 2011, 190 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan. Since 2001, there have been 1634 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4463 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 45 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 Marine Casualty
Lance Cpl. Jared C. Verbeek, 22, of Visalia, Calif., died June 21 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Jared Verbeek graduated from Mount Whitney High School in 2007 and shortly after enlisted in the Marines. Ever since he was a little boy, Jared, wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Marine. Family members told the Visalia Times-Delta:
"He comes from four generations of service members," said his aunt, Marilu Sisto, of San Jose.
She and Wallace recounted a family story of how Jared would dress in his father's fatigues and combat boots as a boy, when the elder Verbeek was a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton.
Jared's cousin, Wallace, recalled how as a child, he asked his mother to shrink his father's clothes, so they would better fit him. She said once he was stopped by an Officer while dressed up and pretending to be a Marine.
Wallace said an officer stopped 7-year-old Jared in the outfit and asked playfully if he was a sergeant.
"He said, 'No sir, I'm a general,' " and received a salute from the officer, Wallace said.
Jared's wife, Vanessa, and their 18 month old son had moved back to Visalia from Camp Pendleton to be with her family while he was deployed in Afghanistan. LCPL Verbeek deployed for Afghanistan in March. He was in the Military Police with the Corps. They were involved in training Afghani police.
Verbeek had planned to take his wife and son on a cruise in October when he returned from Afghanistan. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan and did not display any worries or concerns over his orders. His cousin Wallace told the Visalia Time-Delta
"Jared was really private, and he never, ever, would have said anything like that," he said.
His mother, Rosalia, is devastated. Her worst fears have been confirmed. The Visalia Times-Delta spoke with his mother's sister and she related Rosalia's words"
"I hope that this country appreciates my son's sacrifice."
Lance Corporal Jared Verbeek earned the following awards and decorations: the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Award, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Check with the Patriot Guard Riders if you would like to show and pay your respects.
Semper Fi, Lance Cpl. Jared Verbeek.
In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McRae, MD, (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
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, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings, 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.