“Long before morning I knew that what I was seeking to discover was a thing I'd always known. That all courage was a form of constancy."
― Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses
I 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. ~ image credit llbear
Spc. Cody Dalton Suggs
DOD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Cody D. Suggs, 22, of West Alexandria, Ohio, died March 7 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, as a result of a non-combat incident that remains under investigation. He was assigned to the 1487th Transportation Company (Piqua, Ohio), which is part of the 371st Sustainment Brigade (Springfield, Ohio).
“Everybody liked him. He was a pretty level-headed kid. He was intelligent. He’d never been in any trouble … I’ll miss him.” This is the way Robert Suggs remembered his grandson, Spc. Cody Dalton Suggs, 22, who died at Kandahar Airfield Field, in Afghanistan, on March 7th. The Pentagon is investigating the “non-combat incident”.
Spc. Suggs was with the Ohio National Guard, as a truck driver in the 1487th Transportation Company, part of the 371st Sustainment Brigade. The Company is based in Springfield, Ohio, and deployed to Piquoa. He joined the Guard in February of 2009, and was sent of his first deployment in November of 2012.
Ohio National Guard spokesman, James A. Sims, said of Spc. Suggs loss, “Anytime we have a loss in the Ohio National Guard, it’s tough for all the members. We are all part of this family. The soldiers. Airmen. Employers. Family. We all feel the loss when something like this occurs, “ Sims said.
Spc Suggs joined the Guard to pay for college, and also worked as a night manager at a local Marsh Supermarket, together with several of his fellow guardsmen. “He was an excellent young man and he will be deeply missed by everyone here at the store,” remembered Jeff Sutherland, a manager at the store. “He was a good kid. He was one of those guys who you could count on to do anything. We were holding a spot for him (at the store).”
The National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Ohio Basic Training Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and an Ohio Award of Merit were some of the awards Spc. Scruggs received during his time in the Guard.
Along with his grandfather, Spc. Scruggs is survived by his father and mother, Brian and Wendy Scruggs, and his younger sister, Taylor, and other family and friends and loved ones.
On his Facebook memorial page, Taylor made a promise to her brother:
“For you Brother, I promise you this, I will go on with my life and make you proud. I will always hold you in my heart. I promise you I will be missing you everyday till the end of time, but this is not my end and I can’t hold my head under water I need to breathe. I need to love and miss you, but I also need to live because through me you will live.”
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, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Ekaterin, JaxDem, and me, Chacounne.
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.
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. yhe return safely.
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.