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.
Captain Andreas B. O’Keeffe
Captain Mark K. Weber
Captain Christopher T. Zanetis
Master Sergeant William R. Posch
Master Sergeant Christopher J. Raguso
Staff Sergeant Dashan J. Briggs
Staff Sergeant Carl P. Enis
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of seven airmen who were supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. They died March 15 when an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in western Iraq. The cause of the crash is under investigation. ~ DoD Press Release
"This tragedy reminds us of the risks our men and women face every day in service of our nations. We are thinking of the loved ones of these service members today." ~Brig. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, director of operations for the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve
“It is with a heavy heart I share words the USAFCENT family lost seven brave Airmen in a crash in Iraq March 15. My thoughts are with the family & loved ones of our fallen.” ~ Lt Gen Jeff Harrigian, commander of US Air Force Central Command
“The motto of the rescue community is, ‘these things we do that others may live.’ I am alive today and serving as CSAF because of them. Our hearts go out to the families and squadron teammates of our fallen. These things they did…” ~ Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein who was rescued by pararescue airmen when he was shot down in 1999 over Serbia
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Captain Andreas B. O’Keeffe — Write-up by Ekaterin
Capt. Andreas O'Keeffe, age 37, a resident of Center Moriches, NY, earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida as well as a degree in law from Georgetown University.
O’Keeffe was an HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot. He was a full-time federal civilian employee and an Air Guardsman with the wing's 101st Rescue Squadron.
He had served as an armament systems specialist with the 113th Wing, District of Columbia Air National Guard, and RC-26 pilot with the 174th Attack Wing, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, NY.
O’Keeffe joined the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing, an extraction and rescue unit, in 2013 because he felt he had more to offer, his father, Shan O’Keeffe, explained:
“He figured he was not doing enough to serve his country.”
He deployed to Iraq three times, and to Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and to Texas during Hurricane Harvey.
His father, Shan O’Keeffe wanted everyone to know:
“He was a wonderful man. Exceedingly bright and so kind to everybody he met.”
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Captain Mark K. Weber — Write-up by Ekaterin
Capt. Mark K. Weber, 29, of Colorado Springs, CO, was a Combat Rescue Officer assigned to the 38th Rescue Squadron. He was stationed at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.
Capt. Weber commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Air Force in 2011.
In a statement released by Moody Air Force Base, 23d Wing commander Col. Jennifer Short said:
“The entire Flying Tiger Family is grieving the loss of Mark. I extend our deepest condolences and prayers to family, friends and fellow airmen during this difficult time.”
~ News Source
Captain Christopher T. Zanetis who was known as “Tripp” by family and friends was from Indiana. After graduating summa cum laude from New York University, Tripp joined the New York City Fire Department. In April of 2013 Zanetis was appointed fire marshal for the Bureau of Fire Investigations Citywide South in Brooklyn and was recognized for bravery as part of an investigation unit in 2014.
Zanetis took an unpaid leave of absence from the department in 2014 to attend Stanford Law School, graduating last fall and was hired by a New York Law Firm. In addition Capt. Zanetis was an intelligence consultant for NATO.
While at Stanford, Zanetis was a member of the Stanford Law Veterans Organization, produced the law school musical, spearheaded an effort to create a permanent memorial for Stanford law students who were killed in WWII and earned the National LGBT Bar Association’s Student Leadership Award in 2017.
A few quotes from those who knew and loved him: "If you're looking for someone to model your life after you couldn't do much better than Tripp" — “Zanetis was a brilliant young lawyer and amazing human being” — “He exemplified the best of Stanford Law School and the military” — “He was the most humble person I know on the planet. The most down-to-earth, selfless person.”
Captain Christopher T. Zanetis, who was on his 4th deployment, leaves behind his parents, John and Sarah and sister, Angie.
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Master Sergeant William R. Posch Write-up by Ekaterin
Master Sgt. William R. Posch, 36, a resident of Indialantic, FL, grew up in Jacksonville Beach, graduating from Fletcher High School. Posch’s rescue efforts surfaced early in life when at 15 he helped save a surfer from drowning following a seizure in Atlantic Beach. Later on, he became a lifeguard with the Red Cross at Jacksonville Beach.
He is credited with 140 combat rescues. Among his many missions, he assisted in rescue operations in Texas after Hurricane Harvey and took part in a long-range sea mission last July to rescue a pair of stranded German sailors.
In 2014, in recognition as a highly skilled and brave pararescueman, he was named an Outstanding Airman of the Year. One of his missions involved leading a crisis evacuation of more than 126 Americans from the US Embassy in the South Sudan capital of Juba.
MSgt William R. Posch was an 18-year veteran of the Air Force and served the last 10 years with the 920th Rescue Wing. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster; an Aerial Achievement Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal with Valor.
He is survived by his children.
Col. Kurt Matthews, Commander of the 920th Rescue Wing, said,
“No words can heal the pain from the loss of these true American heroes. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their families.”
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Master Sergeant Christopher J. Raguso died one day after his 39th birthday. Christopher became a firefighter in 2005 joining the Ladder Company 113 in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2016 and began working in Queens. Raguso was also a volunteer firefighter on Long Island where he lived with his family.
Christopher had been decorated for bravery and saving lives six times during his 13 years as a firefighter.
Last year, MSgt Raguso deployed with the US Air Force 106th Rescue Wing to Texas to rescue victims of Hurricane Harvey and again joined in providing aid to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
“He told his family this was going to be his last mission. He went over there hoping to come home.” ~ Commack Fire Dept, Commissioner Steven Fontana
Comments and social media posts from friends and family include: “Chris was always there to help anyone with anything, he would never say no.” — “The Commack Fire Department and this great nation of ours lost a great American Patriot, friend, and brother.” — “It’s numbing to us here in the fire department as his fire department family on the volunteer level.”
Master Sgt Christopher J. Raguso is survived by his wife, Carmella, and two young daughters.
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Staff Sergeant Dashan J. Briggs was a graduate of Riverhead High School where he played on the
lacrosse team and was a standout on the football team. He skills as an All-Division fullback and outside linebacker helped the team go undefeated in 2006.
“He was one of the great ones. My heart is heavy right now because he was one of my favorites.” ~ Riverhead football coach Leif Shay
Before joining the Air National Guard in 2010 as a full-time member SSgt Briggs had toyed with the idea of joining the NYPD.
Briggs previously deployed to Afghanistan and well as assisting victims in Texas and the Caribbean who were impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Briggs was raised by his grandfather, Eli Briggs, 81 who was so stunned by the news of Dashan’s death that he was forced to go to a nearby hospital. The day prior to deploying to Iraq Deshan visited his grandfather, assuring him that he would take care of himself. It was the last time the two spoke to each other.
Staff Sgt Dashan J. Briggs leaves behind a wife, a son, a daughter, his grandfather and grandmother.
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Staff Sergeant Carl P. Enis graduated from Gulliver Preparatory School in Pinecrest. He earned a master’s degree in business administration at Florida State University and he held a commercial real estate license.
SSgt Enis was a member of the elite 308th Rescue Squadron at Patrick Air Force Base where he served as a “PJ” or pararescueman. Enis was highly trained as a combat medic and was tasked as a special forces operator in humanitarian and combat recovery environments. In addition, he was an expert with maps, compasses and survival. His required skill sets included scuba diving, parachuting, rappelling, skiing, snowmobiling and motorcycling.
Passionate about outdoor activities and seemingly fearless in his pursuit of such, Enis created a Website to detail his adventures. He stated there that he wanted to make a post-military career creating content and revolutionizing the outdoor industry.
SSgt Enis’ friends were stunned at the news: “I am speechless and I am heartbroken. Carl Enis was the most stable, genuine, selfless, and talented man I have ever known. As an Air Force [pararescueman], he is a true American hero and has saved many lives.”, “He was outgoing, adventurous and unstoppable. He never met a stranger. Any interaction he ever had with anybody, he left them better than he found them.”
Staff Sgt Carl P. Enis is survived by his wife, mother and brother.
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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, SARBill 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.