Tonight, we remember a father, husband, son and soldier. Spc. Rookey of Oswega, New York is remembered for being a kind, caring and thoughtful man.
Since 2001, there have been 2107 American troops killed in Afghanistan. Since January 1, 2012 there have been 243 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
Spc. Kyle R. Rookey, 23, of Oswego, N.Y., died Sept. 2, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Spc. Kyle Rookey
From Central NY: YNN.com:
"He always put himself last, put other people before himself. If he knew someone was upset about something or had a problem, most of the time they would come to him, just ‘cause they know what type of person he is," said Kyle's father, George Rookey.
Spc. Kyle Rookey grew up in Oswego, New York. He graduated from Oswego High School in 2007. He was a trumpet player in the school's marching band and worked on the tech crew in the theater department. Three years after graduation, he joined the U.S. Army.
Music teacher, Stephen Defren, told the Pall Times:
"Besides being a valuable member of our technical theater crew, he was a kid who walked in to the theater smiling. Every day," Bandla said. "Your spirits couldn't help but be lifted when he was in the room." Defren's said the fallen soldier was a young man who cared very deeply for his family, his friends and his country. "I am stunned and deeply saddened by this tragedy and offer my condolences to his family for their loss," the band teacher said. He recalled Kyle Rookey playing taps at the Oswego memorial in Gettysburg, Pa., during the annual marching band trip in 2006. "I remembered this moment, one of the most memorable of that trip. Now I have to hear someone play that at his funeral," he said. "Surreal ..."
Spc. Rookey is survived by a wife, Victoria, and 11 month old daughter, Flora. His mother, Carolyn Sue Akers, told the
Central NY YNN.com:
"The minute she was born, she was the light of his life, yes she was. He loved being a dad, it was hard to be away from her," said Akers.
In addition to his wife, daughter and parents, Spc. Rookey is survived by a brother and two sisters.
Spc. Kyle Rookey, with wife Victoria and baby Flora
Governor Andrew Cuomo directed flags be flown at half-staff on Friday in order to honor Spc. Kyle Rookey's service and sacrifice. Cuomo issued the following statement:
"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my condolences to the friends, family and fellow soldiers of Specialist Rookey," Cuomo said in a prepared statement. "We will mourn his death, but we will remember his service to our nation with pride."
Source:
Central NY.com,
Pall Times
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.