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.
Staff Sgt Austin Bieren
The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
Staff Sgt. Austin Bieren, 25, of Umatilla, Oregon, died March 28 in northern Syria in a non-combat-related incident while deployed in support of combat operations.
He was assigned to the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. ~ DoD News Release
Austin Bieren grew up in picturesque Umatilla, Oregon, which is 180 miles east of Portland and lies near the confluence of the Umatilla and Columbia Rivers, just a few miles from where Lewis and Clark camped in October of 1805. Austin attended Umatilla High School where he was an athlete on both the football and basketball teams. According to his mother Tracy Finck, Bieren planned on a career in the military from an early age: “He was amazing, kind, smart, always wanted to join the service”.
Staff Sgt Bieren enlisted in the Air Force in 2010 and had been assigned to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado since June of 2014.
Col. Douglas Schiess, 21st Space Wing commander released this statement:
“Staff Sgt. Bieren was a valuable and beloved member of our team and will be sorely missed. His dedication to his country was evident in his actions – he was a superb Airman.”
On Thursday Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) led the Oregon House of Representatives in a moment of silence in honor of SSgt Bieren.
“We do not know a lot of the details of the circumstances surrounding Staff Sgt’s death, but here is what we do know. We lost somebody’s son this week. We lost somebody’s husband this week. Colleagues, we lost an American Hero this week. We owe Sgt. Bieren and his family a debt we can never repay.”
Staff Sgt Austin Bieren’s awards and decorations include the Aerial Achievement Medal with one device, Air Force Achievement Medal with two devices, Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one device, National Defense Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal with one device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with one device, Air Force Longevity Service, U. S. Air Force NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with one device, and the Air Force Training Ribbon.
Staff Sgt Austin Bieren was predeceased by his twin brother, Thomas who died at age 14; is survived by his wife, Rachel; his mother Tracy; step-father Jody; his father John; step-mother Amber; his sister Brianne; and nephew Jaren “who he adored”.
~ News Source
~ News 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.
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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.