I Got The News Today (IGTNT), 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.
Tonight, we remember three men who lost their lives in Afghanistan:
Sgt. Charles C. Strong
Maj. Michael J. Donahue
Navy Reservist Stephen Byus
Sgt. Charles C. Strong
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Charles C. Strong, 28, of Suffolk, Virginia, died on September 15, 2014 in Herat province, Afghanistan while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Sgt. Charles C. Strong
DoD biography
Guard those heavenly gates Marine. Semper Fi
~ Katrice McConnico
Sgt. Charles C. Strong was a critical skills operator assigned to 2d Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) at Camp Lejeune. Capt. Barry Morris, MARSOC's public affairs officer, said "It is with a heavy heart that MARSOC announces the passing of one of our Marines. He was a consummate professional, who upheld our warrior ethos each and every day. Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers are with his family as they mourn the loss of their loved one."
Strong grew up with his older brother in Suffolk, Virginia, and their father was retired from the Navy. Neighbors told of the boys as active and close, outside working out, watching their father fly his remote control helicopters, or working together on a truck they were fixing up.
Thomas McLemore, the principal at Nansemond River High School, recalled Strong as focused on his career even in high school, spending every afternoon of his junior and senior years studying auto mechanics at The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology in Suffolk. Strong joined the Marines in 2003, and he deploying to Iraq as a motor transport operator in 2005. He received specialized training and was the sole vehicle recovery operator for his Marine battalion on his second deployment to Iraq in 2006.
Strong was promoted to sergeant in 2007, and he served as a team leader and navigator for all logistical mounted patrols in 2011. Over his career, Strong earned both a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. He joined the Marines' Special Operations Command last year, where he became a critical skills operator.
Strong and his brother, Jason, were deployed in Afghanistan at the same time. Jason escorted his body home.
Sgt. Strong is survived by his wife, Taylor. Their baby girl is due to be born in December.
Tributes via Facebook
God rest his soul and praying for the family... Gone but not forgotten, Semper-Fi bro. ~ Ira Harris
Fair weather and following seas... Semper Fidelis ~ David Mitchell
Semper Fi and may God bless your family during this time, thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice. ~ Sarah N Kirk Courville
Rest in Peace Sarge.... Another Marine at the Gates of Heaven. Semper Fi. ~ Uswin P Wood
Semper Fi Marine! Prayers to his family, thanks for his service to our Nation an to our Marine Corps. Reporting to heavens gate for duty. ~ Jack Ruark
May god be with his family. Another fine Marine to watch over heaven. Semper Fi my brother. ~ Jon Mariz
May Marine Sergeant Charles Strong rest in eternal peace in The Father's Heavenly Home and may the perpetual Light shine upon him. Well done good and faithful servant.........enter thou into the joy of The Lord. Semper Fi Sergeant Strong see you on the other side. Charles L. Cameron, Sgt., USMC 1964-1968 ~ Charles Cameron
May God give his family and loved one's peace and strength in their hour of bereavement! Rest in peace. Thank you sir for serving! ~ Lenora Monigan
One of the greatest Marines I ever knew, it was an honor brother! Watch over us!! ~ Dan Clancy
DoD, WCTI, PilotOnline, WUSA, Marines Facebook
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Maj. Michael J. Donahue
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Maj. Michael J. Donahue, 41, of Columbus, Ohio died on September 16, 2014 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an enemy attack. Navy Reservist Stephen Byus also died in this attack.
Major Michael J. Donahue
Fort Bragg
“You can read a lifetime of dedication in those ribbons, badges and
insignia of rank and branch. God bless you and your family.”
~ Joel Darrow, via Facebook
Maj. Michael J. Donahue, a Paratrooper from Columbus, Ohio, was an operations support officer with C Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps. Donahue’s battalion commander, Lt. Col. Gabriel Barton, said "The Dragon Family has suffered a great loss today, and we would like to express our deepest condolences to the Donahue Family. Maj. Michael Donahue was an exceptional officer and a huge part of our team and our family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time. We will never forget him."
Donahue earned a degree in electronics from DeVry Institute of Technology in Columbus prior to joining the Army in February 1996, where he served as a military policeman before being commissioned through the Officer Candidate School in April 2000. As an officer, Donahue served in several Fort Bragg units, including the 82nd Signal Battalion and the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team.
He also earned a degree from Campbell University in July 2003, graduating magna cum laude, according to his biography. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 with the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and later commanded the brigade's CCompany, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, leading his soldiers on a deployment to Iraq in 2007. After Iraq, Donahue served as an assistant professor of military science at Liberty University, where he also worked with the Army ROTC. In 2012, he was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps.
Donahue served three combat tours of duty. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal sixth award, the National Defense Service Medal second award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Iraqi Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon fourth award and the NATO ISAF Medal. His qualifications include the Combat Action Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge.
He is survived by his wife, Sherri and children, Victoria, Seamus and Bailey.
Tributes via Facebook
RIP Mike. You were larger than life and loved by all. You made an indelible mark on everyone with whom you served. Love and prayers to the Donahue family. We're sorry beyond words. ~ Keith Garwold
The dragon family has suffered a great loss god bless you Michael god bless your family. ~ Robert Davis
Another hero lost. I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with him. The world will miss him, and all the other soldiers before him. ~ Mackenzie Rudolph
Stand up, hook up, and Godspeed Sir. ~ Robert May
Rest in Peace sir. I know my brother SFC Matt Leggett will look out for upstairs. My thoughts and prayers to his family as we know they with us a month ago. ~ Rod Leggett [See IGTNT: Army Paratrooper Stabbed to Death Near Kabul Airport]
Mike - See you on the other side. God Bless Airborne Trooper. ~ Darryl Hensley
I knew MAJ Donahue, from my time in 35th SIG BDE. My prayers and thoughts are with his family. ~ Derrek Hopper
I served with him. Rest in God's eternal peace, Sir. Prayers to your family. ~ Kelley Marie Pearson
See you on the other side trooper...may your family and friends be blessed by the creator and given strength to carry on. ~ Mark Engavo
DoD, Fort Bragg, Fort Bragg, XVII Airborne Corps, Fayobserver, Facebook
~ ~ ~
Navy Reservist Stephen Byus
The Department of Defense has announced the death of a civilian who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Stephen Byus, 39, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, died on September 16, 2014 in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an enemy attack. Maj. Michael J. Donahue also died in this attack.
Steve Byus was a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, although he was not serving in that capacity when he was killed. He worked for the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime in Columbus, Ohio as as a supply specialist, assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan.
Navy Reservist Stephen Byus
Facebook
"He lived for his family. He lived for his kids.
He was their coach. He was their volunteer."
~ WBNS
"God Speed Steve. You paid the ultimate price for your
country. You come from Jackson County, a place that is filled
with Warriors who stand up and say, 'Send Me, I Will Go.'
We are all proud of you and you won't be forgotten."
~ Facebook, as reported by the Newark Advocate
Steve Byus was one of four sons growing up in Jackson County, Ohio. “He was a good guy, and he always had a smile on his face,” Daniel Byus said of his brother. Friend Megan Sowers recalled childhood activities with Byus, including "whiffle ball games, football games, and going to look for crawdads in the creek that ran by our house.” Byus was a 1993 graduate of Wellston High School, where he played football, baseball and basketball.
Byus died on the day after his 12th wedding anniversary with his wife, Valerie. He also leaves behind a daughter, Alexandria, age 9, and a son, Jacob, age 6.
His family lives in Reynoldsburg, where he was very active at his children's school. Principal Jeremy Miller said, “He was part of our Watchdog Dads. He actually led that group in which we have male role models in the building, doing a lot of logistical work, working with kids, working with teachers…He was beloved by the kids. The kids loved him; teachers loved him. Today, we're having school with a very heavy heart."
A member of family Byus’s family said that he was expecting to be home at Thanksgiving. Instead, his wife and children travelled to Dover, Delaware to retrieve his body.
DoD, Facebook, Facebook, NBC4, Columbus Dispatch, Newark Advocate, WBNS
~ ~ ~
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.
The DoD news releases are here, and all of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. These men and women all had people who they loved and who loved them.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by i dunno, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, The Fat Lady Sings, Ekaterina, Sandy on Signal, and me, Joy of Fishes.
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.