Tonight, we light a candle of memory against the darkness of grief and loss. We remember.
This retrospective is a compilation of 2012's "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT) diaries from July through December. They are tributes to the American service members who died as a result of the war in Afghanistan.
When you click on the links, you'll find their stories--the details that their teachers and friends remember, the last phone calls home to parents, their Facebook messages to loved ones. These are not numbers or abstractions. They were husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, parents, children, friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters in arms. Their lives mattered.
If you are new to the series, please click on a date and read about a few of these lives. If you have been with us this year, please know how much your presence, witnessing and condolences mean. To the team--a special THANK YOU for your constant and compassionate efforts. Both end-of-the-year diaries are a team effort by the IGTNT members.
To the families and friends who may read this--we have not forgotten your loved one.
As is our tradition, we have chosen "We Remember Them," by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer, to help us reflect on these losses. Thank you for being here tonight to remember.
At the rising of the sun and at its going down
We remember them.
July:
1 1st Lt Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24 of Lexington, Virginia; Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Alabama
6 Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, 32, of Hamilton, Ohio; Sgt. Michael J. Strachota, 28, of White Hall, Arkansas; Pfc. Cody O. Moosman, 24, of Preston, Idaho
10 Capt. Bruce A. MacFarlane, 46, of Oviedo, Florida
11 Staff Sgt. Raul M. Guerra, 37, of Union City, New Jersey; Spc. Jonathan Batista, 22, of Kinnelon, New Jersey; Cpl. Juan P. Navarro, 23, of Austin, Texas
13 Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija, 31, of Tampa, Florida; Spc. Erica P. Alecksen, 21, of Eatonton, Georgia; Spc. Clarence Williams III, 23, of Brooksville, Florida; Pfc. Trevor B. Adkins, 21, of Spring Lake, North Carolina; Pfc. Alejandro J. Pardo, 21, of Porterville, California; Pfc. Cameron J. Stambaugh, 20, of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
17 Spc. Sterling W. Wyatt, 21, of Columbia, Missouri; Sgt. Michael E. Ristau, 26, of Rockford, Illinois
20 Staff Sgt. Carl E. Hammar, 24, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona; Sgt. Erik N. May, 26, of Independence, Kansas; Spc. Nicholas A. Taylor, 20, of Berne, Indiana; Spc. Sergio E. Perez Jr., 21, of Crown Point, Indiana
21 Sgt. Daniel A. Rodriguez, 28, of Baltimore, Maryland; Sgt. Jose J. Reyes, 24, San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
22 Spc. Krystal M. Fitts, 26, of Houston, Texas; Cpl. Joshua R. Ashley, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
23 Senior Chief Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Sean P. Sullivan, 40, of St. Louis, Missouri; Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) Second Class Joseph P. Fitzmorris, 31, of West Monroe, Louisiana
24 Pfc. Jeffrey L. Rice, 24, of Troy, Ohio; Spc. Darrion T. Hicks, 21, of Raleigh, North Carolina
25 Staff Sgt. Brandon R. Pepper, 31, of York, Pennsylvania
26 Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Brodsky, 33, of Tamarac, Florida; Pfc. Julian L. Colvin, 21, of Birmingham, Alabama; Staff Sgt. Richard L. Berry, 27, of Scottsdale, Arizona; Sgt. Eric E. Williams, 27, of Murrieta, California
27 Sgt. Justin M. Hansen, 26, of Traverse City, Michigan; Pfc. Adam C. Ross, 19, of Lyman, South Carolina; Spc. Justin L. Horsley, 21, of Palm Bay, Florida; Pfc. Brenden N. Salazar, 20, of Chuluota, Florida
31 Pfc. Theodore M. Glende, 23, of Rochester, New York
Pfc. Theodroe M. Glende was a newlywed; he and his wife Alexandra were just married on April 16. He died saving five other soldiers, by blocking a mortar with his own body.
August:
4 Lance Cpl. Curtis J. Duarte, 22, of Covina, California; Sgt. Kyle B. McClain, 25, of Rochester Hills, Michigan
5 1st Lt. Todd W. Lambka, 25, of Fraser, Michigan; Pfc. Jesus J. Lopez, 22, of San Bernardino, California
7 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell, 37, of Tyler, Texas; Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Sitton, 26, of Largo, Florida
11 Major Walter D. Gray, 38, Conyers, Georgia; Major Thomas E. Kennedy, 35, West Point, New York; Command Sergeant Major Kevin J. Griffin, 45, Laramie, Wyoming; Petty Officer 3 Clayton R. Beauchamp, 21, Weatherford, Texas; Spc Ethan J. Martin, 22, Lewiston, Idaho; Cpl Daniel L. Linnabary II, 23, Hubert, North Carolina
13 Master Sgt Gregory R. Trent, 38, Norton, Massachusetts
16 Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills, California; Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, 31, of Herndon, Virginia; Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote, 27, of El Dorado, California; Staff Sgt. Scott E. Dickinson, 29, of San Diego, California; Cpl. Richard A. Rivera Jr., 20 of Ventura, California; Lance Cpl. Gregory T. Buckley, 21, of Oceanside, New York
19 Staff Sgt Eric S. Holman, 39, Evans City, Pennsylvania
21 Pfc. Andrew J. Keller, 22, of Tigard, Oregon; Pfc. Michael R. Demarsico II, of North Adams, Massachusetts
21 Spc. James A. Justice, 21, of Grover, North Carolina
22 Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Florida; Chief Warrant Officer Suresh N. A. Krause, 29, of Cathedral City, California; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician 1st Class Sean P. Carson, 32, of Des Moines, Washington; Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, Maryland; Sgt. Richard A. Essex, 23, of Kelseyville, California; Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class David J. Warsen, 27, of Kentwood, Michigan
25 Staff Sgt. Gregory T. Copes, 36, of Lynch Station, Virginia; Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class Darrel L. Enos, 36, of Colorado Springs, Colorado
26 Sgt. Louis R. Torres, 23, of Oberlin, Ohio
28 Pfc. Patricia L. Horne, 20, of Greenwood, Mississippi
30 Sgt. Christopher J. Birdwell, 25, of Windsor, Colorado; Spc. Mabry J. Anders, 21, of Baker City, Oregon
31 Sgt. David Vincent Williams, 24 of Frederick Maryland; Master Sgt. Coater Debose, 55, of State Line, Michigan
Pfc. Patricia L. Horne wanted to become a doctor.
September:
6 Staff Sgt. Jeremie S. Border, 28, of Mesquite, Texas; Staff Sgt. Jonathan P. Schmidt, 28, of Petersburg, Virginia
7 Lance Cpl. Alec R. Terwiske, 21, of Dubois, Indiana; Pfc. Shane W. Cantu, 20, of Corunna, Michigan
9 Spc. Kyle R. Rookey, 23, of Oswego, New York
11 Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose L. Montenegro Jr., 31, of Houston, Texas; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia S. Ramirez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas
17 Sgt Kyle B. Osborn, 26, Lafayette, Indiana
23 Sgt. Jason M. Swindle, 24, of Cabot, Arkansas
24 Sgt. Sapuro B. Nena, 25, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Spc. Joshua N. Nelson, 22, Greenville, North Carolina; Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, 20, of Amarillo, Texas; Pfc. Jon R. Townsend, 19, Claremore, Oklahoma
29 Gunners Mate Second Class Dion Rashun Roberts,
23 of North Chicago, Illinois
30 Staff Sgt. Orion N. Sparks, 29, of Tucson, Arizona; Sgt. Jonathan A. Gollnitz, 28, of Lakehurst, New Jersey
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia S. Ramirez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas is originally from Nairobi, Kenya, and most recently of Raeford, North Carolina. She joined the U.S. Army in 2003 as a water purification specialist.
October
5 Sgt. Thomas J. Butler IV, 25, of Wilmington, N.C.; Sgt. Jeremy F. Hardison, 23, of Maysville, N.C.; Sgt. Donna R. Johnson, 29, of Raeford, N.C.; Sgt. 1st Class Aaron A. Henderson, 33, of Houlton, Maine
6 Sgt. Camella M. Steedley, 31, of San Diego, Calif.; Sgt. 1st Class Daniel T. Metcalfe, 29, of Liverpool, N.Y.; Sgt. 1st Class Riley Stephens, 39, of Tolar, Texas
9 Warrant Officer Joseph L. Schiro, 27, of Coral Springs, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Justin C. Marquez, 25, of Aberdeen, N.C.
18 Spc. Brittany B. Gordon, 24, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Milton W. Brown, 28, of Dallas, Texas; Sgt. Robert J. Billings, 30, of Clarksville, Va.
21 Sgt. Thomas R. Macpherson, 26, of Long Beach, Calif.; Sgt. 1st Class Ryan J. Savard, 29, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Cmdr. Joel Del Mundo Tiu, 49, of Manila, Philippines
22 Pfc. Shane G. Wilson, 20, of Kuna, Idaho
26 Chief Warrant Officer Michael S. Duskin, 42, of Orange Park, Fla.
Marine Sgt. Camella Marchett Alsbrooks Steedley served as an air operations clerk in a combat logistics unit. She was married to fellow Marine veteran James Steedly and the career military couple was raising four young children.
November
1 Staff Sgt. Kashif M. Memon, 31, of Houston, Texas; and Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, 22, of Murrieta, California
3 Cpl. Alex F. Domion, 21, of Richfield Springs, N.Y.
8 Pfc. Brandon L. Buttry, 19, of Shenandoah, Iowa
9 Staff Sgt. Dain T. Venne, 29, of Port Henry, N.Y.; Spc. Ryan P. Jayne, 22, of Campbell, N.Y.; and Spc. Brett E. Gornewicz, 27, of Alden, N.Y.
15 Capt. James D. Nehl, 37, of Gardiner, Oregon; Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Bennett, 26, of Glendora, California; Sgt. Matthew H. Stiltz, 26, of Spokane, Washington; Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Kantor, 22, of Gillette, N.J. ; and Spc. Daniel L. Carlson, 21, of Running Springs, California
18 Staff Sgt. Rayvon Battle Jr., 25, of Rocky Mount, N.C.
22 Lance Cpl. Dale W. Means, 23, of Jordan, Minnesota
29 Cpl. Christopher M. Monahan Jr., 25, of Island Heights, N.J.; Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert, 32, of Arcata, California; Sgt. Channing B. Hicks, 24, of Greer, S.C.; and Spc. Joseph A. Richardson, 23, of Booneville, Arkansas
Pfc, Brandon L. Buttry, 19 of Shenandoah, Iowa
He came from an incredible family, a close knit family that consists of a mix of 14 biological and adopted children who hail from four different countries and range in age from 11 to 36.
December
7 Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Denier, 26, of Mechanicville, N.Y.; Sgt. 1st Class. Darren M. Linde, 41, of Sidney, Mont.; Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard, 20, of Bismarck, N.D.
12 Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa.
13 Staff Sgt. Wesley R. Williams, 25, of New Carlisle, Ohio
16 Staff Sgt. Nelson D. Trent, 37, of Austin, Texas
17 Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Reid, 26, of Rochester, N.Y.; Sgt. Michael J. Guillory, 28, of Pearl River, La.
18 Sgt. 1st Class Kevin E. Lipari, 39, of Baldwin, N.Y.
25 Cdr. Job W. Price, 42, Pottstown, PA
28 Sgt Enrique Mondragon, 23 of The Colony, Texas
Navy SEAL Commander Job Price had worked for the Department of Defense for 23 years. Job was a husband and father, and native of Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
“Taps” is sounded nightly by the U S military to indicate that it is “lights out”. It is played on bugle or trumpet at the conclusion of most military funerals.
When "Taps" is sounded at a funeral, it is customary for serving members of the military or veterans to salute. The corresponding gesture for civilians is to place the right hand over the heart.
Thank you all for your selfless service to our nation. Rest in peace.
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 to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, JaxDem, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, and Ekaterin.
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.