Tonight, we honor a soldier from Salinas, California. In the last week, there have been 3 soldiers killed in Afghanistan from Joint Base Lewis- McChord Washington. Since 2001, there have been 1991 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since January 1, 2012 there have been 127 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
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Vilmar Galarza Hernandez, 21, of Salinas, Calif., died May. 26 in Zharay, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Spc. Vilmar Glaraza Hernandez graduated in 2008 from Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, California. In 2009, he enlisted in the Army, where he reported to Fort Benning, GA., for Initial Army Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) for MOS 11B (Infantryman).
From Joint Base Lewis-McCord:
His company commander noted him as “the model Soldier,” said Capt. Brandon Wohlschlegel, Bravo Company Commander, 4-23 Infantry Regiment. “Under some of the most difficult conditions I have ever seen, Spc. Galarza Hernandez was always doing the right thing. He was a rock that we could all depend on in any situation. Spc. Galarza Hernadez was the kind of guy that I would follow anywhere knowing he was in the lead.”
Spc. Galarza's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Thank you for your service, Spc. Vilmar Galarza Hernandez. 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.