I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is among 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.
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Captain James Michael Steel
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Since 2001 we have lost 2198 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3279 American and coalition forces.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Capt. James Michael Steel, 29, of Tampa, Fla., died April 3 in the crash of an F-16 near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. ~ DoD News Release
Amazing Grace performed by the US Air Force Band and Taps sounded on an original Civil War era clairon at Arlington National Cemetery
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
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Captain James Michael Steel, 29, Tampa, Florida
James Michael Steel, a 2006 Air Force Academy graduate, was born in Tampa into a distinguished Air Force family.
His father, Robert P. Steel is a retired Major General and his mother, Dee Steel was also a graduate of the Air Force Academy. The Steels had five children, four of whom followed in the Air Force tradition including James' twin brother, Jonathan.
In a 2009 story published in the Thunderbolt, an Air Force publication, Captain Steel's father said:
James and Jonathan, who are our first set of twins, both went to the academy, one year apart. James is ahead of Jonathan by one year, who is at Laughlin finishing up his undergraduate pilot training. Their younger brother, Christopher, graduated the academy as well and is going to medical school at the Uniform Services University in Bethesda, Md. Out of our youngest set of twins, Paul is in basic training wanting to be a (joint terminal attack controller). And our oldest son, Bob, is in the process of applying for an officer training school slot.
Captain James M. Steel was serving as Chief of Mobility for the 77th Fighter Squadron, known as "The Gamblers", who were on a six month deployment to Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan. The squadron's primary mission is to provide close-air support for US and Coalition troops on the ground.
On Wednesday, April 3rd, Capt Steel was returning in his fighter jet, a Fighting Falcon, from a routine mission when on final approach Steel, the sole crewmember, lost contact with his wingman and the control tower. The aircraft crashed 10 miles south of the runway and no enemy activity was in the immediate area.
Air Force Central Command spokesperson, Capt. Natassia Cherne said preparations for an investigation was underway.
In April 2009, Major General Robert Steel, then commander of the National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, DC was at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona preparing to be the guest speaker at the 63rd Fighter Squadron graduation. It just so happened that his son, 1st Lt. James Steel was a member of that graduation class. The Air Force publication,
Thunderbolt covered the story.
Two days prior to the graduation, father and son had a rare opportunity to fly through the skies together when the pair flew in a four-ship of F-16 Fighting Falcons, Lieutenant Steel flying solo in the number four jet and his father in the backseat of the number three, acting as his son's flight lead.
Major General Steel said:
It was exciting to be up there with James. I last flew in June of 2007, when we gave up command of the 48th Fighter Wing in RAF Lakenheath. It seems just like yesterday. To be back here at Luke after so many years and to be flying in a four-ship with my son, it is a special day. It is one of the rare opportunities in any career, especially in fighter aviation, where a father and a son can be in close proximity to one another.
1st Lt. Steel said:
Since I was little, I got to watch my dad take off and see him come back from deployments. It is cool to actually be doing what he used to do.
I try not to tell people who my dad is when I get into training situations, but it is kind of hard to keep it a secret when he comes out for my graduation. Once people find out, it's tough to get out of that shadow because he has done so much and gone so far. But I try to keep up and out of that shadow as much as possible. It is a big one to fill.
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Shaw Air Force Base Facebook page has numerous tributes to Captain Steel. There is a detailed history of the 77th squadron there along with a number of photos and news articles honoring Steel.
The 77th Fighter Squadron, The "Gamblers" facebook page has a number of tributes to Captain James M. Steel as well.
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~ Source ~ Source
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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, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Ekaterin 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. 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.
Sgt Bowe R. Bergdahl
The only known current Prisoner of War is Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 26 who was captured by the Taliban in June of 2009. Five propaganda videos featuring Bergdahl have been released by the Taliban. A website has been established with the most up-to-date information on Sgt. Bergdahl.
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.
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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.