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Fallen Soldier Battle Cross
This image is known as the Fallen Soldier Battle Cross or the Battlefield Cross and sometimes simply Boots Rifle Helmet. Made up of the soldier’s rifle with bayonet attached and stuck into the ground with dog tags hanging, helmet on top and the boots of the fallen soldier beneath. The tradition began during the American Civil War as a means of identifying the bodies on the battlefield. Today it is used to show respect for the fallen and as a means to allow fellow troop members to mourn as attending a funeral or memorial service is not always possible for soldiers still in the fight.
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Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell
~anon
I Got The News Today (IGTNT)
This is one of the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos. It's purpose is to provide 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.
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The following five soldiers died November 14th in Kunar province, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked their unit with small arms fire. All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Spc Shane H. Ahmed, 31 of Chesterfield, Michigan
Spc Nathan E. Lillard, 26 of Knoxville, Tennessee
Spc Scott T. Nagorski, 27 of Greenfield, Wisconsin
Spc Jesse A. Snow, 25 of Fairborn, Ohio
Pfc Christian M. Warriner, 19 of Mills River, North Carolina
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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.
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Spc Shane H. Ahmed
Shane "Hasan" Ahmed graduated in 1997 from Bedford North Lawrence High School, where he played football and was on the wrestling team. Additionally, he was a member of the Spanish, math and pep clubs and did Bible study.
Ahmed graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He also attended Ohio State University.
Ahmed joined the Army in April 2007.
Bedford North Lawrence High School guidance counselor, Becky Sprinkle, now the director of counseling at the school, said Ahmed was an excellent student who was very conscientious and well-liked by all of his teachers and other students.
"Hasan was absolutely a brilliant young man," Sprinkle said. "He was very respectful and quiet. It is so sad to hear what happened to this young man who had a bright future.
"I especially remember him tutoring other students in our highest level math classes and our highest level English classes."
~ Source
His numerous awards included the Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
The Patriot Guard Riders have Shane on their pending mission list.
He is survived by his wife, Eva Vasquez; stepdaughter, Evita Vasquez; stepson, Evan Vasquez, of Lebanon, Tenn.; and his parents, Jamaluddin and Subra Ahmed, of Chesterfield Township and a brother Asif Ahmed.
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Spc Nathan E. Lillard
~ Additional photos of Nathan Lillard
Nathan Lillard grew up in nearby McMinn County but spent his junior and senior years at Lenoir City High School, where he graduated in 2003. He is the school's first graduate to die in the Afghan conflict.
Fellow soldier Spc. Doug Riggs served with Lillard in training at Fort Benning, Ga., earlier in their careers. When contacted about his friend's death via Facebook he recalled an incident in which he broke his foot during training at the fort but still had to march back.
I was having trouble keeping up with the platoon. Nathan told me to hold onto to the straps of his assault pack. He literally pulled me over the hills. He carried his weight and mine that day.
That is the way he was. That is how I'll always remember him. Self-sacrificing, strong, caring. A hero among men. My friend.
~ Source
Jamie Petty, a close high school friend remembers Nathan:
We met in school and hit it off and were good buddies. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet— always cutting up and everything.
Nathan loved the Army. He was all about it. He was proud of what he did in the Army. He was in infantry. He wanted to be on the front lines and signed up for the most dangerous job. He said, ‘If I am going to do it, I want to be in the mix. ‘ He knew it was dangerous, but he was brave.
~ Source
Below is a collection of comments from a few of Nathan's friends, teachers and co-workers.
"Whenever somebody mentions Nathan, I think of a huge guy like a teddy bear. He was a very respectful person."
"If you met him once, you wouldn't forget him."
"I knew Nathan personally and I know it was in Nathan's heart to serve his country."
"Lost my best friend."
"Jovial is a good word. He was always smiling and happy, just liked to kid around and have a lot of fun at work."
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
Lillard's awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
The Patriot Guard Riders have Spc Lillard on their confirmed mission list.
Spc Nathan Lillard is survived by his mother, Helen Hyatt of Athens, Tennessee.
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Spc Scott T. Nagorski
Spc Nagorski joined the Army in July 2006 and arrived at Fort Campbell later that same year.
News of Nagorski’s death hit veterans at the local American Legion post hard.
"He fought for our colors, our beliefs," said Army veteran Rudy Renteria. "This is a young man who had a goal in his life to be a soldier. He wanted to represent his country. He lost his life, and I know his parents and family are very proud of him.
~ Source
Spc Nagorski earned the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
The Patriot Guard Riders have Spc Nagorski on their pending mission ride list.
Nagorski is survived by his wife, Nadine M. Nagorski; daughter, Melodie A. Nagorski; father, Jeffrey Bignell of Friendship; and mother, Karen Jasinski of Franklin.
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Spc Jesse A. Snow
Spc. Jesse Adam Snow was a 2003 Fairborn High School graduate and participated in the ROTC program there. He enlisted in the Army in 2009 and arrived in Fort Campbell later that same year.
Major Tony Rulli with Fairborn High School’s ROTC program spoke about Jesse:
He was quiet, but he always worked hard for me and he always tried to do the right thing. I could see Jesse serving his country.
Rulli said Jesse Snow is the son of Senior Master Sgt. John Snow, who served at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and that the family has several military members.
I would say it’s a patriotic family.
~ Source
Jesse's brother, John W. Snow, released this statement:
Jesse Adam Snow is a beloved son, brother, and uncle. He is by far the most caring and selfless man I know. He wanted nothing more than to do what was right for his country. Jesse said he had witnessed evil. He stressed the importance of our role in Afghanistan. He accepted what could possibly be his fate in the hope of making the world a safer place to live.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his fellow soldiers of the 101st Airborne and all other US Military forces. There will forever be a painful void in our lives. We only hope that his noble sacrifice will never be forgotten and not have been in vain.
John W. Snow said Monday night that found out about his brother’s death late Sunday night, which was John’s 30th birthday. John W. Snow said the family will fly to meet his brother’s body during the escort home.
~ Source
Another of Jesse's brothers, Alex Snow who is an Army ROTC cadet battalion commander who plans to graduate next year from Wright State University, shared his thoughts on the sacrifices Spc. Jesse Snow made for his country.
My big brother Spc. Jesse Adam Snow is the most courageous man I have ever met and the best brother I could ever ask for.
He loved his family and equally loved the soldiers who he served with. He took pride in being with the 101st Airborne Division and serving with soldiers of the highest caliber.
~ Source
spc Jesse A. Snow's awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
The Patriot Guard Riders have Spc. Snow on their pending mission watch list.
Jesse is survived by his parents, John W. Snow Sr. and Janice Snow of Fairborn, and siblings.
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Pfc Christian M. Warriner
Christian "Kade" Warriner graduated from West Henderson High in 2009 where he was a member of the JROTC program, Future Farmers of America and the football team.
Kade and his high school sweetheart, Shelby Warriner were married on March 28, 2010.
The Falcons' current head coach, Paul Whitaker had this to say about Kade:
He was always the first one down on the field for practice. He took a lot of pride in the game. Anything you needed him to do, he'd do it. If you needed a running back, he'd go; if you needed a linebacker, he'd go; if you needed a wide receiver, he'd go. He was always the first to volunteer to do anything you asked him to do.
He was always well-liked by his teammates. You always knew that when times got tough, he was going to be one of those people who would be there for you. He played the game just like he did his job in the Army: With no fear.
~ Source
Pfc Warriner's father, Frank Warriner said this:
He just had a big heart. He just lived to serve other people.
I believe that he is more of a man than I ever will be.
~ Source
Pfc Warriner's awards and decorations include: Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal and Parachutist Badge.
Pfc Warriner is on the Patriot Guard Riders pending mission watch list.
Kade is survived by his wife Shelby of Arden, his mother Brandy Jurczyga of Burnsville, his father Norman Warriner of Arden and his sibling Zane Warriner.
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About the IGTNT series:
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"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, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, 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.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner.
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POW/MIA: Afghanistan & Iraq
Two U.S. soldiers are currently listed as captured or Duty Status -- Whereabouts Unknown as of December 1, 2009.
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41
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Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23
Never forgotten - please keep good thoughts and prayers for these two men.
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Retroactive Stop Loss Benefits submission deadline extended to December 3rd. Details available here.
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Helping Our Troops
There would be no finer way to honor the fallen than to contribute to programs that assist our active duty military. Here are a few suggestions:
Any Soldier - provides "contacts" for you to send greetings, care packages, etc. to any Soldier, Airman, Marine, Sailor or Coast Guardman.
Books for Soldiers - purchases and ships books to our troops deployed in war zones.
Fisher House - Provides a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitilization for an illness, disease or injury.
Guardian Angels for Soldiers' Pets - establishing a network of foster families providing a loving and healthy home environment for the pet(s)of deployed military personnel until they can be reunited with their owner.
Netroots For The Troops - raises money for the assembly, mailing and delivery of care packages to American military in war zones, and to provide assistance to military families in the United States.
Welcome Back Veterans - created to inspire Americans to give back to our returning veterans and their families and assist in particular with PTSD.
Wounded Warrior Project - To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.