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 were created by llbear.
Since 2003 there have been 4486 US casualties in Iraq and since 2001 there have been 1998 US casualties in Afghanistan. Source.
Tonight we honor three soldiers:
Staff Sgt. Alexander G. Povilaitis, 47, of Dawsonville, Ga.
Spc. Kedith L. Jacobs, 21, of Denver, Colo.
Pfc. Leroy Deronde III, 22, Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Alexander G. Povilaitis, 47, of Dawsonville, Ga., died May 31, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when the enemy attacked with an improvised explosive device.
Povilaitis was assigned to 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Povilaitis first entered the Army in February 1984. He served three years as a Single Channel Radio Operator. He had a break in service until March 2008 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and in September 2008 he reentered the active duty army. In July, 2011 Povilaitis deployed to Afghanistan with his unit. It was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
His fellow soldiers said Povilaitis was "a soldier, a friend, a leader, a father, a husband, a grandfather, but most importantly a great man."
Povilaitis'is' awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge.
Povilaitis is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.
Source Source
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died May 27, in Chak-E Wardak District, Afghanistan, when their unit was attacked by enemy forces.
One of those killed was:
Spc. Kedith L. Jacobs, 21, of Denver, Colo
Jacobs, a radio and communication specialist, was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Jacobs leaves behind a loving family and friends.
Source
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died May 27, in Chak-E Wardak District, Afghanistan, when their unit was attacked by enemy forces.
The other soldier killed was
Pfc. Leroy Deronde III, 22, Jersey City, New Jersey.
In Afghanistan, Deronde operated a truck. He kept in touch with family members through Facebook and Skype video chats.
Videos posted online by Deronde showed the family joking with one another while bowling.
In another video, Deronde is dancing and singing with local Afghan residents.
In a telephone interview, Deronde's aunt, Ella Owen, of North Arlington, N.J., described her nephew as a good man.
"I was like a second mother to him," Owen said. "His mother died of cancer about seven years ago. So he'd stay for a week or two when he'd be here. And he was really close to my daughter."
Deronde leaves behind a loving family and friends.
Source
Click here to read the series as begun by i dunno, and maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, Twilight Falling, Sis Two, Spam Nunn, CalNM, Wide Awake in KY,
maggiejean, Jaxdem, Kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings, and Ekaterin
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.