We Shall Keep the Faith
Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.
by Moina Michael, November 1918
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Townsend
From the Department of Defense:
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Townsend, 30, of Solvang , Calif. , died Jan. 16 in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan , of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg , N.C.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
The U.S. Army Special Forces Command Public Affairs Office reports that:
Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Townsend, 30, was discovered in his room Jan 16, unconscious and without a pulse. He was moved to the Tarin Kowt Field Surgical Team who attempted to revive him. After numerous attempts, Townsend was pronounced dead. The incident is under investigation.
From the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne):
He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in May 2008 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. This was his second deployment in support of the Global War on Terror and second deployment to Afghanistan. He was a Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha weapons sergeant.
Townsend, a native of Solvang, Calif., volunteered for military service and entered the Army in Aug. 2003 as a Special Forces trainee. After basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, N.C. in Jan. 2004 for Special Forces training. He earned the coveted "Green Beret" in 2005 and was assigned to 1st Bn., 7th SFG(A) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces weapons sergeant.
Townsend’s military education includes; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, and Special Forces Qualification Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
The LA-Times has this touching comment from a friend of Staff Sgt. Townsend:
Josh was a special friend to many of those growing up in the Santa Ynez Valley. His confidence an leadership ability was evident at an early age. He was a "hard charger", knowing what he wanted and knowing he would not be denied. He was also able to make connections that settled in ones heart. I have one of those places in my heart and I will always remember Josh.
From KCOY:
"If there was anyone I thought would come back in one piece it would have been Josh. He was that kind of guy. He was tough as nails," said Charlie Greenwald, who grew up with Townsend.
"If you look up "standup guy" in the dictionary that would be him. He always had your back in any situation. He would never back down from anything," said Greenwald...
On Tuesday, several people gathered at the flag pole on campus [Santa Ynez Valley Union High School] for a moving memorial for Townsend.
"It was a nice thing. Nice to see everyone out there in support of the family, and obviously he has a lot of good friends in the community, so that was something I'm glad I could be part of," said Greenwald.
Townsend is survived by his wife, Rachel, of Pinehurst, N.C.; mother Linda Townsend, of San Jose, Calif.; father, Daniel, and brother, Jordan, of Solvang.
Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight
From the Department of Defense:
Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight, 22, of Marrero, La., died Jan 17 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Balad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
McKnight described his son as a quiet, "easygoing kid," with respectful manners, a good head on his shoulders and an obsession with updating the photos on his MySpace page. He was also the baby of the family, the youngest of three boys, his father said.
"He was just a special person, always smiling," said his mother, Sheryl McKnight. "Anything he could do to help someone, he would."
...
"His whole life was the military," McKnight said. "He did four years in ROTC in high school. It was evident."
...
About a dozen family members gathered Monday at the Marrero home where Omar had lived almost his entire life. Both of his brothers had been notified and were trying to return to Louisiana, McKnight said.
"They're not taking it very well," he said, adding that the three boys had been especially close.
...
"We're just trying to bring his body home and bring closure," McKnight said.
(from The Times-Picayune)
legacy.com has a guest book for Senior Airman McKnight.
Staff Sgt. Carlo M. Robinson
From the Department of Defense:
Staff Sgt. Carlo M. Robinson, 33, of Lawton, Okla., died Jan. 17 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Kabul. He was assigned to 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, La.
From CBS 2:
CBS 2 spoke to one of his relatives Wednesday night, who says the family was stunned by the news.
"I feel sorry for him and his family, and hopefully this war ends," said Oswald Andrade, second cousin.
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What You Can Do
There are a number of wonderful organizations out there which could use your help:
* Anysoldier.com
* Operation Helmet
* Fisher House
* Books for Soldiers
* Operation Ensuring Christmas
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About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
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.
Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, greenies, blue jersey mom, chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, JeNoCo, mediaprof, and me, a girl in MI. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them.
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. We treat these diaries as a place to remember and reflect. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.