Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved oneI Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which began in April of 2004, is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos and 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.
The beautiful forget-me-nots were created by llbear.
Since 2003 there have been 4486 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 2286 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Oct. 6, in Zhari District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.
Killed were:
1st Lt. Jennifer M. Moreno, 25, of San Diego, Calif., assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Sgt. Patrick C. Hawkins, 25, of Carlisle, Pa., assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.
Sgt. Joseph M. Peters, 24, of Springfield, Mo., assigned to the 5th Military Police Battalion, Vicenza, Italy.
Pfc. Cody J. Patterson, 24, of Philomath, Ore., assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning, Ga.
According to fox5 in San Diego army nurse Jennifer Moreno was one of those killed when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device in Zhari, Afghanistan, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
She graduated from San Diego High School and the University of San Francisco, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She deployed to Afghanistan in June as part of a cultural support team assigned to the Army Special Operations Command.
“We are extremely sad,” said one of her high school teachers, Ms. Reese, “she was quality person. A quality young women.”
Looking through their San Diego High School year book, two of her former teachers talk about Moreno and remember a young women they describe as a great leader, a member of the ROTC and someone who was kind.
“She always wanted to be a nurse,” said teacher, Jennifer Harden, adding, “it was her goal from the time she left for college.”
Moreno was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.
California Gov. Jerry Brown said Moreno “bravely gave her life in service to our state and nation,” and ordered that flags be flown at half- staff at the Capitol in Sacramento in her honor Tuesday.
The republic.com quotes Command Col. Ramona Fiorey as saying:
"We've lost a superb officer and a caring nurse who served with marked distinction and honor throughout her career." We are all deeply saddened by the tragic loss of this great American solider."
Moreno is survived by her mother, Marie V. Cordero, and her sisters Jearaldy Moreno and Yaritza Cordova of San Diego, and her brother, Ivan F. Moreno, currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Philly.com reports that the remains of a Pennsylvania Army Ranger killed in Afghanistan were returned October 9 to Dover Air Force Base.
Sgt Hawkins was killed while moving to aid a wounded soldier, Lt. Col. Patrick Ellis, commander of Hawkins' battalion, said in a statement.
"Sgt. Patrick Hawkins was a brave and incredibly talented Ranger," Ellis said. "His actions that night were in keeping with the epitome of the Ranger Creed: 'I will never leave a fallen comrade.'"
He enlisted in the Army February 2010 and was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.
Hawkins has received numerous military honors, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Presidential Unit Citation.
Posthumously, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart.
The Patriot News states that:
Patrick Hawkins was the type of guy you could not see for a long time, suddenly cross paths and pick up where you left off, said Stefanie Ritchie, who met Hawkins during their freshman year at Carlisle High School.
“He was a great person to know, and a great person to grow up with,” said Ritchie, now a staff sergeant with the Pennsylvania National Guard. “I will miss how he had the ability to brighten up a room, and make people laugh.”
Those who knew the 2007 Carlisle High School graduate described him as caring, funny and upbeat.
During high school, Pat enjoyed skateboarding, and Ritchie fondly reflected on days hanging out with him and other friends at the skate park on the grounds of the Carlisle Barricks.
He is survived by his wife, Brittanie Hawkins, of Lansing, Kan., and his parents, Roy and Shelia Hawkins, of Carlisle.
According to the policeone staff Sgt. Joseph M. Peters was killed just two weeks from the end of his deployment in Afghanistan.
“Special Agent Peters was a highly respected agent and soldier who sacrificed his life in the defense of this nation. We are extremely proud of his service and what he accomplished as a CID Special Agent and as a soldier. His death is a reminder to all of us of the unequaled contributions our military members and their families make on a daily basis in the defense of the freedoms that we all enjoy and value so dearly,” said Major General David Quantock, the Provost Marshal General of the United States Army and Commanding General of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command.
11alive.com further reports that:
Col. Christopher S. Vanek, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, called Hawkins a "man of character and commitment" and said Patterson, "had a limitless future."
Hawkins was moving to the aid of a fallen comrade when he was killed, Col. Patrick J. Ellis, commander of 3rd Battalion, said in a statement.
"Sgt. Patrick Hawkins was a brave and incredibly talented Ranger," Ellis said. "His actions that night were in keeping with the epitome of the Ranger Creed: 'I will never leave a fallen comrade.' Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hawkins family during this difficult time."
Hawkins had turned 25 five days before he was killed and was on his fourth deployment. He served as a rifleman, gun team leader and Ranger team leader with Company B.
His father, retired Army Lt. Col. Roy Hawkins, told the Patriot-News, that he and his wife never expected their son Patrick would join the Army.
But Hawkins followed in the footsteps of his father, who retired from the U.S. Army War College after 30 years in the service in 2008 - and his parents supported him in the decision.
"He sort of got motivated to join the service. It was sort of a surprise," Roy told the Patriot-News. "Of course, we supported Patrick in his decision."
His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart.
He is survived by his wife, 20 month old son and parents.
According to katu.com an Oregon soldier was among four who died Sunday while stopping a suicide bombing when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan.
The victim was identified Tuesday as 24-year-old Pfc. Cody J. Patterson of Philomath.
“He was on a night combat mission and the goal was to interdict a high-profile suicide-bomber attack that was going to take place in Kandahar City,” said Lt. Col. Brian DeSantis, the regiment’s spokesman. “The mission was successful.”
Patterson was born in Corvallis and graduated from Philomath High School in 2007.
Assistant Principal Jon Barlow said he can still see Patterson's smiling face walking down the hall in his football uniform.
"The kids wear their uniforms before the games," Barlow said. "I can just see him, I can just see him, and he's not here, so that's the hard part, he's not here."
He joined the Army as an infantryman on Jan. 3, 2012, and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Fort Benning, Ga. in November 2012.
KGW.com goes on to describe Patterson as a wonderful kid . . . a genuine leader" and captain of the football team, Bartlow said. He was also a counselor to sixth graders in an outdoor program.
A 2007 story in the Corvallis Gazette-Times lists Patterson as one of several contestants for "Mr. PHS." The event was a fundraiser for Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Each contestant raised money for several weeks before entering a talent competition that included dance and karaoke, for which Patterson mimicked Jimmy Buffet singing "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Other events included a doughnut sale, car wash and barbecue lunches.
Patterson won the competition. He and classmates raised $3,500 for the hospital, according to the newspaper. The theme for "Mr. PHS" that year was "Your Everyday Superheroes."
His commanders had high praises for the four soldiers killed. Patterson was called out for his "limitless future" and was described as "a poster child" for the 75th Ranger Regiment.
"Pfc. Cody Patterson had a limitless future," Col. Christopher S. Vanek, 75th Ranger Regiment commander said in a prepared statement. "He would have been successful in whatever path he had chosen in life. He chose to serve his country by volunteering for the most difficult and challenging duties of a United States Army Ranger. His loss is devastating to his fellow Rangers, our Army and our nation. Our country was fortunate that he chose to serve in our ranks. Our thoughts and prayers are with this young Ranger's family."
Patterson was posthumously awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart and NATO Medal.
His other awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.
Patterson is survived by his mother, Nancy R. Wilson of Corvallis, and his father, Randy L. Patterson, and his sister, Taylor, both of Philomath.
h/t to JaxDem for the links used for Pfc Patterson.
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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.
Latest news report from June 20, 2013 Afghan Taliban offers to swap captive U.S. solider Bowe Bergdahl for 5 Guantanamo detainees.
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