Since 2001, 2003 U.S. troops have died while serving in Afghanistan, and since 2003, 4486 U.S. troops have died while serving in Iraq.
The IGTNT (I Got The News Today) series is a reminder that nearly every day, somebody gets the heartbreaking news that a friend, former classmate, or beloved family member will not be coming home from war.
The Department of Defense has announced the loss of Pfc. Vincent J. Ellis, 22, of Tokyo, Japan,Cpl. Anthony R. Servin, 22, of Moreno Valley, CA, Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, of Luthersville, GA, and Master Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Kessler Jr., 47, of Gulfport, FL.
This first tribute is from diarist CalNM.
The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier serving in Afghanistan:
Pfc. Vincent J. Ellis, 22, of Tokyo, Japan
Pfc. Ellis died June 4 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany from wounds suffered in a June 1 attack on Forward Operating Base (FOB) Salerno, Afghanistan.
Pfc. Ellis was an airborne cavalry scout assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Vincent Ellis joined the Army in 2010 and went to basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Pfc. Ellis was on his first combat deployment to Afghanistan. His brigade headquarters was at FOB Salerno, which also houses Taliban prisoners. The facilities came under attack with a truck bomb, explosive vests, and smalls arms fire during a June 1st jailbreak.
The attack at FOB Salerno injured several other US soldiers and killed two civilians, and damaged buildings.
Pfc. Vincent Ellis was hospitalized with grave injuries.
Sadly, the 22-year old soldier died from his wounds on June 4.
Among those Pfc. Ellis leaves behind are his men in the 4th Brigade Combat Team.
Pfc. Vincent J. Ellis is missed. May he rest in peace.
Sources KTUU and KTUU
* * *
Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
Other Photos by CalNM and linked Sources
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anthony Servin was a wonderful, ordinary, extraordinary young man. His aunt says he had many friends, that he loved to laugh, and that he really enjoyed playing video games. He graduated in 2008 from Canyon Springs High School, and joined the Marine Corps.
He loved the Corps. He was a field wireman in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and he recently reenlisted. He did this in the middle of a deployment to one of the most dangerous places on Earth, Afghanistan's Helmland Province.
His mother and his younger brother, Juan, who is also a Marine, traveled to Washington, DC, to bring his body home to California.
Anthony R. Servin is remembered, mourned, and loved by his parents, a brother, and family, friends, and neighbors throughout Marino Valley and the world.
Merciful and compassionate God,
we bring you our grief in the loss of Anthony R. Servin
and ask for courage to bear it.
--New Zealand Prayer Book
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Brandon Goodine grew up quickly.
Raised in McDonough and Luthersville, Georgia, he was surrounded by family who loved him. Before he was out of his teens he became a husband and a father, but he was worried about the kind of job prospects that were available, and wanted to be a good dad to three year old Kate.
He joined the Army, and even convinced his brother Christopher to join as well. He was serving as a scout, the eyes and ears of ground combat forces, in Bravo Troop, 4th Battalion, 73rd Cavalry Regiment
Brandon D. Goodine is remembered, mourned, and loved by his family, friends, and neighbors throughout Luthersville and the world.
Merciful and compassionate God,
we bring you our grief in the loss of Brandon D. Goodine
and ask for courage to bear it.
--New Zealand Prayer Book
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Master Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Kessler, Jr., enlisted in the Navy in 1984. He could already have retired, but chose to continue serving. He has been part of the USS Enterprise's last cruise since April 2011.
He led more than five hundred sailors in the supply mission, and was the top enlisted sailor in that section. Every sailor on the ship relied on him daily, and one of his officers said that on the ship everyone liked him.
Richard J. Kessler Jr. is remembered, mourned, and loved by family, friends, and neighbors throughout Gulfport and the world.
Merciful and compassionate God,
we bring you our grief in the loss of Richard J. Kessler Jr.
and ask for courage to bear it.
--New Zealand Prayer Book
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Material for these memorials from, among others, The Press Enterprise, The North County Times, 11Alive.com, Fort Bragg Patch, andThe Tampa Tribune.
Helping Our Troops
If you wish to assist our military and their families, please consider Fisher House, which provides a place to stay for families near the treatment centers for our wounded veterans.
When our veterans come home, many will need jobs. Please look at the programs of Veterans Green Jobs and Welcome Back Veterans to see if you can help out.
About the IGTNT Series
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our U.S. troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by monkeybiz, noweasels, 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, Sandy on Signal, CalNM, Ms Wings, maggiejean, racheltracks, ccasas, JaxDem, Ekaterin, TheFatLadySings, and Wide Awake in Kentucky. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community's respect for them.
Fallen service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diaried two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.