I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is 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.
.
.
Staff Sgt. Thomas A. Baysore, Jr.
|
Since 2001 we have lost 2280 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3383 American and coalition forces.
.
The Department of Defense announced today the death a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Thomas A. Baysore, Jr., 31, of Milton, Pa., died Sept. 26, in Paktya Province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire during combat operations.
He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky ~ DoD News Release
|
Taps
Performed by the U.S. Army Ceremonial Band
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh
.
.
Staff Sgt. Thomas A. Baysore, Jr., 31, of Milton, Pennsylvania
Thomas Baysore began his Army career in 2001 where his first duty station took him to Camp Ederle, Italy, where he had a variety of assignments, including vehicle driver, rifleman, automatic rifleman, and fire team leader. Later in his career he was assigned to the Harrisburg Recruiting Battalion in Harrisburg, PA, as a recruiter. Baysore deployed to Iraq in March of 2003 and in 2005 he made his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt Baysore arrived at Fort Campbell in August 2010 and was assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), better known as 4 BCT “Currahee”. He deployed for the second time to Afghanistan in 2010 and this was his third Afghanistan deployment and 4th overall deployment.
Activated as the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa, Georgia in July 1942, the regiment was bestowed the motto "Currahee", a Native American Cherokee word which means "stands alone". This motto perfectly describes the team's history. When, in March 1945, the 506th was assigned to the newly formed 101st Airborne Division, their first commander, Major General William C. Lee observed that “the 101st has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny.” The 506th Infantry was destined to write its history in places such as Normandy, Arnhem, Bastogne, the Central Highlands of Vietnam and Cambodia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Over the years the regiment has be deactivated and re-activated a number of times, the most recent being in 2005 at Fort Campbell as the 506th Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07 and then in 2008 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of Task Force Currahee. During its relatively short history, the 506th has fought in three wars on two continents, participating in sixteen campaigns. Each of these honors serves as a district reminder of the unit’s proud heritage, and its dedication to the preservation of freedom.
SSgt Thomas Baysore also served as a contact for Any Soldier which is a charitable organization begun in 2003. This group provides the names and addresses of deployed contacts in each of the five branches of the U.S. military to which care packages can be sent. The contact then ensures the packages are distributed among those troops who receive little or none from back home. SSgt. Baysore was the 100th Any Soldier contact to die in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt Thomas A. Baysore, Jr.'s awards and decorations include three Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, one Valorous Unit Award, one Army Superior Unit Award, four Army Good Conduct Medals, one National Defense Service Medal, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, one Iraq Campaign Medal –with Arrowhead, one Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, one Army Service Ribbon, one Overseas Ribbon, one NATO Defense Medal, one U.S. Army Basic Recruiter Badge-Silver with two Gold Achievement Stars, three U.S. Army Basic Recruiter Badge-Gold with three Star Sapphires, one Combat Infantryman’s Badge, one Expert Infantryman’s Badge, one Air Assault Badge, one Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Badge with Distinguished Device, Bronze Service Star, and one Expert Marksmanship Badge
SSgt Thomas Baysore is survived by his wife, Jamie; his son, Jamie (age 5); his mother, Sandra Hackerberg; and his father, Thomas Baysore.
~ 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 in 2004 and now is maintained by Sandy on Signal, i dunno, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Ekaterin, TheFatLadySings, Joy of Fishes, 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.
Latest news report from September 6, 2013: Terrorist involved in Bowe Berghdahl capture killed by drone
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.
.
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.