Since 2001, 2243 U.S. troops have died while serving in Afghanistan. 4486 U.S. troops died while serving in Iraq from 2003 to 2012.
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.
Tonight we remember four soldiers killed in Afghanistan:
Sgt. Justin R. Johnson, 25, of Hobe Sound, Florida
Spc. Ember M. Alt, 21, of Beech Island, South Carolina
Spc. Robert W. Ellis, 21, of Kennewick, Washington
Spc. William R. Moody, 30, of Burleson, Texas
Please take a moment below to remember them,
and all those who have lost their lives in these wars.
Coming up on 12 years at war in Afghanistan and amid news of upcoming peace talks, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the rocket attack into the Bagram Air Base that killed four US soldiers. The US Department of Defense confirmed the June 18th deaths of:
Sgt. Justin Johnson; Spc. Ember Alt; Spc. Robert Ellis; and Spc. William Moody
Sgt. Johnson was assigned to the 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, Fort Eustis, Virginia. Alt, Ellis, and Moody were all assigned to 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
The attack came as U.S. and allied forces formally handed over control of the country’s security to the Afghan army and police in a ceremony in Kabul, according to the Denver Post.
Sgt. Justin R. Johnson, 25, of Hobe Sound, Florida
Sgt. Johnson died June 18, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, after being wounded by indirect fire in a rocket attack. Sgt. Johnson was assigned to the 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, based in Fort Eustis, Virginia.
Justin Johnson grew up in Hobe Sound, Florida. He joined the Army in July 2006 as a cargo specialist. His first assignment as a cargo specialist was with the 119th Transportation Company, 11th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sust. Bde. at Fort Story, Virginia.
During his assignment with 7th Sustainment Brigade, Sgt. Johnson served as an assistant Convoy Commander during his tour in theater providing critical security to logistical patrols throughout Northern Afghanistan.
“He was happy and willing to do whatever he needed to do for his country and I’m just proud.
"I’m a little heavy at heart, but I’m just proud,” said Johnson’s mother.
“He knew what he was going into, but he wasn’t afraid, he wasn’t afraid at all," she said in the TCPalm.
Sgt. Johnson's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal, among other medals reported
wavy.com.
Among those Sgt. Johnson leaves behind are his mother, and family and friends.
Sgt. Justin R. Johnson is missed. May he rest in peace.
Spc. Ember M. Alt, 21, of Beech Island, South Carolina
Spc. Alt died on June 18, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, of after being wounded by indirect fire from a rocket attack. Spc. Alt assigned to 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colorado.
Ember Alt's hometown is Beech Island, South Carolina. Ember is a 2009 graduate of Killeen High School, where she led the school’s 4x400 relay team to the state track meet in 2009, reported the story in
KWTX.
Ember Alt joined the Army in 2011 and was a wheeled-vehicle mechanic. Spc. Alt deployed to Afghanistan for the first time on November 26, 2012, reported wrdw12 News.
Spc. Alt leaves behind family and friends.
Spc. Ember M. Alt is missed. May she rest in peace.
Spc. Robert W. Ellis, 21, of Kennewick, Washington
Spc. Ellis died June 18, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, of after being wounded by indirect fire from a rocket attack. Spc. Ellis assigned to 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colorado.
Robert Ellis also joined the Army in 2011 and was a motor transport operator. He was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, according to the
Crowley Star.
Spc. Ellis leaves behind family and friends.
Spc. Robert W. Ellis is missed. May he rest in peace.
Spc. William R. Moody, 30, of Burleson, Texas
Spc. Moody died June 18, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, after being wounded by indirect fire from a rocket attack. Spc. William R. Moody assigned to 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Carson, Colorado.
William Moody graduated from Burleson High School in 2002. He joined the Army in 2004 and served as a motor transport operator. Spc. Moody was serving his third tour to Afghanistan, reported the
Denver Post.
Spc. Moody leaves behind family and friends.
Spc. William R. Moody is missed. May he rest in peace.
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Thanks to Timroff for our faithfully lighted candle IGTNT logo;
Other Photos by CalNM and linked Sources
Helping our troops: If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider Operation Helmet, or sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com. Fisher House provides housing for families of injured troops and veterans who are recovering in hospitals, and Guardian angels for soldierspet assists the animal companions of our deployed military.
When our veterans come back home, they can find support at Welcome Back Veterans. Our recently returned veterans need jobs, and Veterans Green Jobs is now hiring for positions and filling training sessions. VGJ corps retrains veterans as leaders in forest and resource conservation, green construction, and energy efficient upgrades of homes in rural areas. Encourage a Veteran, and see if you can help out.
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About the IGTNT series: I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died at war. 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. The US Department of Defense news releases are found at defense gov/releases. Icasualties lists the names of those killed, and shows the number of wounded. Published AP photos of the returning war fatalities are found on the Dover AFB page. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries in 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, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Ms Wings, maggiejean, JaxDem, theFatLadySings, Ekaterin, Joy of Fishes, and me, CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for our fallen brothers and sisters.
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.