Oh very young, what will you leave us this time
You're only dancing on this earth for a short while
Oh very young, what will you leave us this time
Tonight, we honor two Oklahoma National Guard soldiers. One was the first female and the youngest in the history of the ONG. One was a father to a three year old girl and only in his twenties. There have been 14 casualties of the Oklahoma National Guard brigade since it deployed earlier this year.
So far in 2011, 385 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan. Since 2001, there have been 1831 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since 2003, there have been 4480 American troops killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 52 killed in Operation New Dawn. Please take a moment to honor their sacrifice.
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.
DoD Announces Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Nov. 1, in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.
Killed were:
Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey, 26, of Ochelata, Okla.; and
Pfc. Sarina N. Butcher, 19, of Checotah, Okla.
"He was a fantastic father. He loved his little girl," Fugate said. "He loved to be outside riding four-wheelers and mudding with his friends."
"He was one of the best guys around," family friend Heather Fugate said. "He would do anything for you. That's the kind of guy he was."
Source- Tulsa World
Sgt. Gailey enlisted in the National Guard in 2004, a year before he graduated Caney Valley High School in 2005. Before he went to high school, he attended the Wentworth Military Academy. He always wanted to be a soldier. Gailey was on his second deployment having served in 2007 in Iraq.
The Principal of Caney Valley High School, Debra Keil, remembered him:
"Very outgoing kid, great family, great family. He literally did always have a smile on his face,"
"We are a small community. This is really going to hit us hard. Our heart, and as a school family, we are just really thinking about Chris's family," Keil said.
Source- news channel 9
Sgt. Gainey was awarded the following awards and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal and the Oklahoma Long Service Ribbon (5 years).
Thank you for your service. Rest in peace, Sgt. Christopher Gailey.
Pfc. Sarina Butcher joined the Oklahoma National Guard in April 2010. She was the first women killed in the ONG since they started allowing women in 1971. She is also the youngest soldier the Oklahoma National Guard lost. She was just 19, but had already accomplished much in her short life. Sarina was married and had a two year old daughter, Zoe. She joined the Army to follow in her grandfather's footprints and to provide a better future for her family.
Sarina Butcher lived part of her life in Crosset, Arkansas. She had a southern accent that many found delightful. Her brother and sister-in- law, spoke to the News 9
"She always said she didn't want to be forgotten. It wasn't forgotten, it was forgot ten. Her little accent," said Jami Butcher, former sister-in-law.
"She had a very, very strong accent. I just loved it. Grew on you real hard," said Tim Butcher, former father-in-law.
Pfc. Sarina Butcher will be promoted posthumously to Specialist. She earned the following medals and decorations: National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Oklahoma Good Conduct Medal.
Thank you for your service, Pfc. Sarina Butcher. Rest in peace.
In Flanders Fields
by Lt. Col. John McRae, MD, (1872-1918)
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved,
and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
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.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here and here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
Click the IGTNT tags to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings, Ekaterina, and me, Sandy on Signal.
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.