Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson
I Got the News Today (IGTNT) is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
The beautiful forget me nots created by llbear.
Since 2003 there have been 4429 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 1417 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
Tonight we honor:
Cpl. Chad S. Wade, 22, of Bentonville, Arkansas
Sgt. Matthew T. Abbate, 26, of Honolulu, Hawaii
SFC James E. Thode, 45, of Kirtland, N.M
From noweasels:
Cpl. Chad S. Wade, 22, of Bentonville, Arkansas
Cpl. Wade died Dec. 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
When Cpl. Wade walked into a room "it was like everything stopped, it was like the king had arrived," his uncle said.
"I love his personality and I will miss his smile and I will miss his hugs," said John Gough, Wade's uncle. He is still trying to accept that his nephew is no longer with us.
"We were all hopeful that it was not true, hopefully it was a mistake, it's still not real," said Gough.
Gough said Chad just wasn't an American Hero, he was a hero to the entire family, especially his wife, mother and grandfather.
(snip)
Gough said Chad was one of the most loving, spirited people he has ever known. It may seem unusual for an uncle to look up to his nephew, but in this case it was true. "America's lost a great man but hopefully in everything he did, he stood for, hopefully we can learn a lesson from him," said Gough.
Source ~ KSFM
Video with family photos
Cpl. Wade graduated from Rogers High School in Bentonville in 2006 and became a Marine in October 2007. An only child, he had not been required to accept a second deployment in Afghanistan, but, family members said, he had volunteered, unwilling to leave his fellow Marines.
He was on his third deployment when he was killed.
Cpl. Wade married his wife, Katie, a little over a year ago.
Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor issued the following statement on December 4:
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Corporal Chad S. Wade from Bentonville, Arkansas, who gave his life defending our freedom. Corporal Wade was deployed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, a crucial region in the fight against terrorism. When his nation called, Corporal Wade was ready to serve.
Today I join all Arkansans in lifting up the loved ones of Corporal Wade during this challenging time. His bravery, valor, and love for his country will never be forgotten.
At the website of the Fallbrook Village News, Cpl. Wade was remembered by those who knew him and his family:
This was such devestaing news. Chad's mom and stepdad are my neighbors and I have met Chad a time or two. May God bless his wife and family at this difficult time.
Chad and his wife shared a wonderful love for each other. My heart goes out to her in this time. Rest easy, Marine.
Chadman, You will never be forgotten. We love you more than any words can express. Our hearts are hurting. We are so proud of the handsome, sweet, and brave young man you became......YOU, Chad S. Wade! You will always be in our heart and our memory. Rest In Peace Our Sweet Marine. We love you so much!
RIP Chad, you will be greatly missed. I am a co-worker of your mom and step-dad's, they will miss you so very much but i know you will be looking over them.
My husband is serving with Chad's unit in Afghanistan. The hearts of the entire 2/1 family are going out to his wife and family. You are all in my prayers. My God bless all of our heroes. Thank you Chad, for paying the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedom this great country enjoys. RIP.
Cpl. Chad Wade is survived by his wife, Katie and by his mother and stepfather. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Thank you, Cpl. Wade. Godspeed. Your mission is done.
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Sgt. Matthew T. Abbate, 26, of Honolulu, Hawaii,
died Dec. 2 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Abbate, who is listed as being from Hawaii, had attended Buchanan High School in Clovis, Calif. and he was the eighth former student of the school killed while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to The Fresno Bee.
Abbate's family remembers:
"It's surreal. No one believed it. ... It's something that happens to other people's families," said his half-sister, Valerie Binion, 17, of Fresno. But I think he'd be glad he died instead of someone else. That's why he did what he did, so someone else didn't have to."
Valerie, who was nine years younger than Abbate, had heard the family stories about his fascination with the Marines and how he would play Rambo with his G.I. Joe action figures.
"He just always figured G.I. Joe was a Marine. He was always running around in boots" playing soldier, she said.
Abbate left home at 18 "to go find himself," his sister said, doing odd jobs, living in Hawaii and working on cruise ships. By age 22 when he joined the Marines, "it was almost like he'd graduated from college. He'd grown up," Valerie said. Her brother wanted a career in the Marines or possibly the Merchant Marine, she said.
Abbate's mother and stepfather, Karen and James Binion, live in Fresno. His father, Sal Abbate, and stepmother live in the Bay Area. Abbate is also survived by half-sisters Valerie, and Kelly Binion, 16, of Fresno; sister Dominica Abbate of Washington; and half-brother Elliott Abbate of Santa Cruz.
Abbate was married to Stacie Rigall of Clovis. They have a 2-year-old son, Carson.
Source.
Abbate's service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy and Marine Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
May he rest in peace.
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SFC James E. Thode, 45, of Kirtland, N.M.,
died Dec. 2 at Sabari District, Khowst Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1457th Engineer Battalion, 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Thode's death saddened the community as news of the event was released Thursday.
"I can't even put into words how much he'll be missed," acting Police Chief Kyle Westall said in a phone interview Thursday.
A 14-year veteran of the police department, Thode was respected and beloved by his fellow officers, Westall said.
He joined the department in 1996, working as a patrol officer, field training officer and member of the SWAT team, Farmington Lt. Daryl Noon said.
Thode left the department in 2003 after he was deployed to Iraq but returned the following year where he was assigned to the detective's division.
Thode's death comes days before President Barack Obama's surprise trip Friday to visit Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan where he expressed the nation's gratitude for the troops and paid homage to fallen soldiers.
"We know their memories will never be forgotten," Obama said to the troops. "Their life has added to the life of our nation."
source.
Thode is survived by his wife Carlotta and 2 children, among others.
May he rest in peace.
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Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, a girl in MI, Spam Nunn, JeNoCo, Janos Nation, True Blue Majority, Proud Mom and Grandma, CalNM, Wide Awake in KY, maggiejean, racheltracks, kestrel 9000, JaxDem, and Cathy.
If you would like to contribute to the series, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal or noweasels.
To see what these tributes mean to those who have lost a loved one in Iraq or Afghanistan, please read Sandy on Signal’s story about meeting the father of a soldier at NN10.
The IGTNT logo was created by Timroff.
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.
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