I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is among the oldest continuous series on Daily Kos, provides members of this community a venue to pay their respects to those who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The IGTNT title is a reminder that nearly every day the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
Honoring and Remembering:
Sgt Kyle B. Osborn
Since 2001 we have lost 2117 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3183 American and coalition forces.
Amazing Grace and Taps
Performed at Arlington National Cemetery
Day is done...Gone the sun
From the lake...
From the hills...
From the sky.
All is well...Safely rest
God is nigh.
Sgt. Kyle B. Osborn, 26, of Lafayette, Ind., died Sep. 13 in Muqer, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Vicenza, Italy. ~ DoD News Release
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Sgt Kyle B. Osborn, 26, Lafayette, Indiana
Kyle "Ozzy" Osborn was a 2005 graduate of McCutcheon High School where he was a standout on the football and wrestling teams. He was an individual state qualifier at 152 pounds as a senior and captain of the Mavericks’ 2005 regional championship wrestling team.
Kyle attended Minnesota State University-Mankato for two years where he studied civil engineering, then joined the Army in 2008.
McCutcheon Principal John Beeker anticipates that the school will do something to commemorate Osborn’s life and service.
We’re going to do something, but we’ve got to let the parents guide that a little. We’re going to do something when the time is right.
A few years ago Osborn returned to McCutcheon High for a visit and his teachers and coach fondly recalled that visit as they described Kyle
Football coach, Ed Tilley said:
He’s a short guy but, man, he played like he was 10 feet tall.
Tilley talked about the day Osborn visited the school:
He said, ‘Hey, coach Tilley,’ and (gave) that smile. I said ‘Just be careful. Keep your head down.’ You always want to make sure they’re safe. I’m sad he’s gone, but I know he died doing something he loved to do.
Ryan Walden, director of athletics at McCutcheon:
The McCutcheon Athletic Department is saddened by the loss of a great Maverick, outstanding leader from our community, and a true American. We are thankful for everything that Kyle has done for our community and country, and cherish the memories from when he wore a McCutcheon uniform.
Physics teacher, who Osborn once identified as his favorite teacher, Cheryl McLean said this about his return visit:
He was so enthusiastic about what he was doing. It was such a warm moment.
She recalled Kyle as brimming with contagious enthusiasm, inquisitive and mischievous.
I am a better teacher because of his input in my classroom, and I am a better person because I knew him.
I will forever share stories of Kyle in my physics class. He knew how to strike a perfect balance between the hard work of learning and having fun.
Creigh Osborn, Kyle's father said he would never forget the knock on his door Thursday morning:
They said are you the father of Kyle Bruce Osborn? I said yes I am sir. He said the United States of America and the Army regret to inform you that your son was killed today, this day, in a small arms gun battle in Afghanistan.
Creigh said he would cherish the memories of the times he shared with his son.
He lived life to the fullest. He got everything he could out of every second of every day and he charged head on into whatever he did. He was a true warrior in a lot of different ways.
If I was in that foxhole, I’d reach out and grab that kid in a heartbeat. He's the guy you wanted next to you. He was a warrior but he died loving what he wanted to do.
Osborn went on to become an army ranger and trained recruits into the role. The humble leader was about to start sniper school before he was deployed.
Kyle's father added:
He could have chosen any path in the military. That's what I was telling his friends, ‘Can you imagine him sitting around somewhere stirring soup in some kitchen?’ That's not Kyle Bruce.
I told him he didn't have to be a hero. He was already one to us. He will be missed, sorely missed.
Pastor Dwight Warden of Blackduck Evangelical Free Church in Blackduck where both Kyle and his mother attended church spoke on behalf of Miriam Osborn, Kyle's mother.
She was just devastated. This is a mother’s worst nightmare.
Nonetheless, she took honor in his decision to serve. She distilled in him an attitude of serving others. He wanted to serve, and that’s the way he chose to serve.
He truly loved what he was doing. He believed in what he was doing.
Kyle shared specific funeral requests with his wife in case he was killed while in action, according to Pastor Warden.
One such request was to have the Bible verse Luke 22:26 read at his funeral. “But not so with you brethren, let the greatest among you become as the youngest and the leader as one who serves".
That kind of summed up Kyle.
Editorial: Prayers for a fallen soldier appeared in Sgt Osborn's local paper on Friday. The moving tribute said in part:
Members of the U.S. military understand that they are in harm’s way, doing serious and dangerous business as leaders try to orchestrate and complete an orderly departure. That’s due in 2014.
Before Osborn, 11 other men with Lafayette-area connections have died due to combat injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2004.
As much as we’d like to wipe the slate clean and be finished in Afghanistan, with American personnel on home soil again, today is a moment to pause and reflect on just how personal this war is.
Kyle Osborn stepped up to serve his country. He paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Honor that service and sacrifice.
The family plans a funeral in Indiana with burial next to his grandfather.
Sgt Kyle B. Osborn is survived by his wife, Maggie; mother, Miriam and father, Creigh.
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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 US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings, Ekaterin and me, JaxDem.
These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them. 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.
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Sgt Bowe R. Bergdahl
The only known current Prisoner of War is Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 26 who was captured by the Taliban in June of 2009. Five propaganda videos featuring Bergdahl have been released by the Taliban. A website has been established with the most up-to-date information on Sgt. Bergdahl.
Please keep good thoughts and prayers for Sgt. Bowe R. Bergdahl.
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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.