I Got The News Today (IGTNT) , which is 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.
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1st Lt. Timothy G. Santos Jr.
Master Sgt. George A. Bannar Jr.
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Since 2001 we have lost 2264 American troops in Afghanistan and a total of 3364 American and coalition forces.
US Army Ceremonial Band performing
Taps
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh
1st Lt Timothy G. Santos Jr., 29, of Helena, Alabama
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
1st Lt. Timothy G. Santos Jr., 29, of Helena, Ala., died Aug. 18, in Fort Bliss, Texas, from a non-combat related illness diagnosed on March 24, in Kuwait City, Kuwait. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. ~ DoD News Release
Timothy "TJ" Santos enlisted in the Army on May 12, 2010 as an AH-64 Helicopter pilot. He was on his first assignment in Kuwait serving as plans officer assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company for the 4th Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division when in March he fell ill. TJ was sent home to Fort Bliss where he was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer.
After surgery, chemo and other procedures in Texas, TJ was accepted at Johns Hopkins hospital as an in patient transfer. His wife, Karina and their two children Timothy and Aria joined him in Baltimore where they remained at his bedside during his treatment there.
His wife, Karina set up a fundraising blog,
Prayers & Support for TJ, to help defray the costs incurred during this time and to ask for prayers and moral support.
Just recently he was returned home to Fort Bliss where he died, surrounded by his loving and most beautiful family, friends and fellow soldiers.
His mother, Carmen Padilla Santos posted this on her facebook page:
I miss my son so much...but when I close my eyes, I see his smile...this gives my heart a jolt to remind me that he is watching over our family. I know he would want us to keep living, loving and smiling...his smile and his laugh will always continue to fill my heart... I love and miss you, my son....
A memorial service will be held in his honor at Fort Bliss on Wednesday, August 28, 2013, at 10:30 a.m.
~ Source ~ Source
Master Sgt. George A. Bannar Jr., 37, of Orange, Virginia
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Master Sgt. George A. Bannar Jr., 37, of Orange, Va., died Aug. 20, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. ~ DoD News Release
George Bannar, Jr., was a 1993 graduate of Orange County High School where he was a member of the JROTC program.
He enlisted in the Army in October of 1996 as a medical specialist. After completing his medical training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas he attended the Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was to the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division where he subsequently was selected for Special Forces.
Bannar graduated as a Special Forces medical sergeant in July of 2003 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. Bannar served in the 1st Battalion for five years, deploying with the unit to Afghanistan four times.
Bannar was next assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) and stationed in Yuma, Arizona in August of 2008 as an instructor at the Military Free Fall School. In October of 2012 he returned to the 3rd Special Forces Group where he subsequently deployed for the fifth time to Afghanistan.
During his distinguished career, the Master Sergeant was able to earn an associate degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College with a concentration in emergency medical services with honors and a bachelor's degree from Campbell University.
Master Sgt Bannar's military education included Airborne School, Jumpmaster School, Air Assault School, Advanced Leaders Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Senior Leaders Course, Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course, Military Free Fall School, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster School among others.
Master Sgt. George A. Bannar Jr.'s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (5), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge, Canadian Parachutist Badge, Royal Netherlands Army Parachutist Badge, Venezuelan Parachutist Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
School friends described Bannar as a jokester and military enthusiast who always had a smile and a “high-pitched cackle” ready.
Randolph Stanley Jr. said:
If you didn’t get along with George Bannar, you couldn’t get along with anybody. He died doing what he loved to do.
MSgt Bannar is among at least 30 service members in the Fredericksburg area to die in Iraq or Afghanistan since the war on terror began.
Bannar is survived by his wife and parents.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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 in 2004 and now is maintained by Sandy on Signal, i dunno, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Ekaterin, TheFatLadySings, Joy of Fishes, 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.
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.
Latest news report from June 20, 2013 Afghan Taliban offers to swap captive U.S. solider Bowe Bergdahl for 5 Guantanamo detainees.
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.