I Got The News Today (IGTNT), which is one of 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, Afghanistan and in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Resolute Support. The IGTNT title is a reminder that far too often the family of an active duty service member receives the terrible news that their beloved has died.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Boniface
Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mae Morrow
Tribute by Sandy on Signal
The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Boniface, 34, of San Luis Obispo, California, died March 19, in Logar Province, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident.
The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. DoD News Release
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Boniface, was a Green Beret and a Medical Sgt. in the Special Forces Medical Team. This group is regarded as the finest First Responders in the world. They are trained mainly for dealing with trauma injuries, but they also have training in dentistry, veterinary care, optometry, public sanitation, and water quality.
From San Luis Obispo.com
Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Boniface, 34, grew up in El Centro, in Southern California, but lived in the San Luis Obispo area for a few years before enlisting 11 years ago, Maj. Kimbia Rey said.
“He has friends there, he considered that his home,” said Rey, who didn’t know exactly how long Boniface lived in San Luis Obispo or what brought him to the area.
Rey said Boniface enlisted in the Army in March 2006 and went straight into Special Forces training after completing both infantry basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Boniface became a Special Forces Green Beret on January 14, 2010. He earned the following awards and medals: two Bronze Star Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Special Forces tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Special Forces Combat Diver Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Boniface is survived by his wife, Rebekah, daughter, Mia Elia, and his parents.
The Department of Defense announced the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mae Morrow, 25, of Dansville, NY, died March 22, in Southwest Asia, while performing maintenance duties in support of combat operations. The incident is under investigation. She was assigned to the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. DoD News Release
Alexandria “Alex” Gleason-Morrow was a 2009 graduate of Dansville High School where, this week as a new flag flew at half staff in front of the school, she was remembered as “a bright light in the school community”; “super-positive, loved by all”; and “a bright, creative, and friendly student who had tremendous potential to pursue any interest and career”.
Alex will remain in our hearts, our prayers and our collective consciousness in perpetuity. ~ Dansville Central Superintendent Paul Alioto
Alex created a mixed media piece entitled “Chucks” which has been on display at the school’s main office since her senior year. Alex planned to teach art at the conclusion of her military career.
Staff Sgt Morrow enlisted in the Air Force two days after her high school graduation and it didn’t take long for the Air Force to recognize that she was an exceptional human being and Airman.
On Thursday Staff Sgt. Alexandria Morrow was remembered in a packed room at a deployed location memorial service by colleagues and friends who lovingly knew her best as “Mother Alex”.
We mourn for Alexandria Mae Morrow because she was one of the kindest people many of us have ever known. She was a loving wife to her husband, an amazing mother to her children, and our fellow warrior and friend—a friend who could be trusted in the toughest of times. ~ Lt. Col. Paul Tower, 332nd EMXS commander.
How do we measure the impact someone’s love has on others? I realized the best measure was in the amount of love our team felt for her. We can see how much she loved others by the emotions, the looks on everyone’s faces as we processed that we lost the mom of the flightline. We could see it by the tears that rolled down our faces and by the tight hugs we gave each other. She loved so much that she sacrificed her life defending our country and millions of people, including the defenseless in Iraq and Syria. She died protecting innocent women, children, the old and young, and people of every race and religion . . . If that’s not love I don’t know what is. ~ Capt. Wesley Sheppard, expeditionary aircraft maintenance unit officer in charge
Service for Staff Sgt. Morrow was unquestionable. What she led every day is now going down in history books. What you do every day is going down in history books. Everybody here is fighting because the freedoms we have and the values we are promoting are not free. Everybody here is sacrificing, your families back home are sacrificing, and every once in a while we have a sacrifice that goes above and beyond. These are the moments that we cannot forget because the sacrifice of Sergeant Morrow, the sacrifice of bringing these freedoms and values to our families back home, is one thing I will never forget. Let us always remember what Sergeant Morrow stood for. ~ Col. Clinton Eichelberger, 332nd AEW commander
Yesterday at the Veterans Memorial in Williams Park a wreath-laying ceremony was held to honor Danville’s much beloved native daughter. Organized by Livingston County Veterans Services Agency, American Legion Post 87 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6780 the ceremony included speakers, bagpipers and the Dansville Central School Band. The community turn out was heavy and included the Boy Scouts, Patriot Guard Riders, Fire Department, Ambulance, the Sheriff, State Troopers, Sen. Cathy Young, Congressman Chris Collins and many others.
We pause to gather in the quietness of remembrance over our comrade Alexandria Morrow. Who is transferred from our ranks to a post everlasting. Days ago she stopped before us, we laughed with her, and laid down a portion of our lives. She contributed both large and small. We have been touched by what she did. We are truly aware of your everlasting presence. We salute you. ~ Chaplain Chris Geiselmann
Staff Sgt Alexandria Mae Morrow served the Air Force and her country for 8 years and this was her second deployment in support of the Global War On Terrorism.
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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 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.
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service member(s) mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.