He served in the Army for twenty years, following his high school graduation in 1973 until his honorable discharge in 1998, and then later in the National Guard until his death from an IED on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, in Bayji, Iraq.
Please join me below to learn more about Staff Sgt. Robin L. Towns Sr., a brave American who gave twenty years - and his life - in service to his country.
The Department of Defense reports:
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Robin L. Towns Sr., 52, of Upper Marlboro, Md., died Oct 24 in Bayji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He was assigned to the 275th Military Police Company, 372nd Military Police Battalion, Washington, D.C. National Guard.
For more information related to this release, the media may contact the D.C. National Guard public affairs office at (202) 685-9862/9861.
It seems lately we've been reading tributes for many military heroes who were merely days or weeks away from returning home when they were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, many who were barely of age, just beginning their adult lives with babies or young children at home. I wish I could find comfort tonight in a tribute that is almost completely opposite, but it's not to be found.
Staff Sgt. Robin L. Towns Sr. had been in Iraq just a week and a half when he was killed by an IED during combat operations, according to the Baltimore Sun. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Shelia Towns, as well as six grown children and four grandchildren.
"He was a wonderful father, husband and a wonderful brother-in-law," said Ms. Wise, who, along with her sister Catherine Grant, spoke for the family. "He loved the military. He loved serving his country. ... For him, serving in the service was part of who he was as a person."
The Rev. Anthony Maclin, pastor of The Sanctuary, where Sergeant Towns was an active member, said, "Robin was a committed, faithful man of God." He served with the church's military support ministry, Mr. Maclin said.
(Source)
Staff Sgt. Towns received a Certificate of Achievement for his unit's deployment for Hurricane Isabel in 2003; he received the Maryland State Active Duty Medal for his deployment for Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Tributes for Staff Sgt. Towns can be found at the Patriot Guard site and here, at Legacy.com. This man who gave so much will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, community, and fellow soldiers and guardsmen.
More Than Numbers
Iraq Coalition Casualties currently lists 3838 American military casualties, including 2 whose names have not yet been released. That's not just a number: it represents 3838 real people who had family, friends, hopes and dreams. They left the comfort and safety of their homes, the companionship of their loved ones, because they believed in service to their country. Forget for a moment the politics of the day, the politics of the Iraq occupation, and think of the grandparents, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandchildren, friends and others whose lives are forever changed.
For More Information:
The DoD news releases are here.
IGTNT, which stands for "I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by blue jersey mom, Chacounne, greenies, joyful, labwitchy, moneysmith, Monkeybiz, noweasels, roses, Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, sistwo, twilight falling, Wee Mama, and me, MsWings.