Tonight, we remember and honor a soldier from Indiana. He was a husband and a father.
Since 2001, there have been 1938 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since January 1, 2012 there have been 74 U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan. 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 Casualty
Staff Sgt. David P. Nowaczyk, 32, of Dyer, Ind., died April 15, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
Nowaczyk was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Staff Sgt. David Nowaczyk was on his third deployment to Afghanistan. He previously served in 2006 and in 2009. Staff Sgt. Nowaczyk grew up in and graduated high school in Munster, Indiana. He joined the Army in 2005 and received numerous awards and decorations. They include: two Bronze Stars, Two Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Award and a Purple Heart (post-humously).
A neighbor from Munster remembered him from the last time they saw each other nearly two years ago. Jim Kus told CBS Chicago:
“He’s been gone for a couple of years, but I remember I thanked him for what he was doing for us out there. It was kind of a shock when I heard,” said the neighbor, Jim Kus. “I mean, he came back last month before his daughter was born, and he was telling me a few stories about what was going on out there, and how he came a couple close calls already; I mean, he was out there. It’s just sad; I mean, the daughter’s only 2 years old. Now she has to go grow up without a father. It’s pretty sad.”
Photo from Facebook.
Staff Sgt. David Nowaczyk is survived by his wife Rachel and two children. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Rest in peace, Staff Sgt. David Nowaczyk.
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.