In Memoriam

[Grace]

Another one from the United Kingdom.

16 September 2009

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Rifles has been killed in Afghanistan.

The soldier was killed as a result of an explosion that happened whilst on a foot patrol in the Gereshk District, central Helmand Province on the afternoon of 16 September 2009.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson said:

"Everyone in Task Force Helmand is deeply saddened by the death of this brave soldier. While we know that there are no words that can ease the loss but our heartfelt sympathies go to his family, friends and fellow soldiers at this extremely difficult time."

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

[RICHARD]

We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.


Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy
Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st
Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the
History Channel , you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10
episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't
know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having
trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was
at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of
the 101st Airborne, on his hat.


Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne
or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the
101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served,
and how many jumps he made.


Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so,
and was in until sometime in 1945 .. . . " at which point my heart
skipped.


At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training
jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know
where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.


I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what
D-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into
Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . .
and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of
D-Day..


I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said
"Yes. And it's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are
left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart
was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.


I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in
Coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to
get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came
forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have
it, that I'd take his in coach.


He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are
still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to
make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it.
And mine are brimming up now as I write this.


Shifty died on June 17, 2009 after fighting cancer.



There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right.


Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet
way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the
veterans.


Rest in peace, Shifty.




Chuck Yeager, MajGen. [ret.]

[Grace]

The Medal of Honor was awarded, posthumously, today to Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti of Raynham, MA.

Sgt Monti died on 21 June 2006, in Gowardesh, Afghanistan. He was 30 years old, and served with 3rd Squadron, 71st Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

Excellent article about this from the Boston Globe.

[Killearn Kitties]

Stylelist? Passion for fashion? Is this a website you normally read Richard?
I'm not quite sure what to say to that one. Where did he get that dress?

[RICHARD]

Stylelist? Passion for fashion? Is this a website you normally read Richard?
I'm not quite sure what to say to that one. Where did he get that dress?

Like Playboy, I just read it, I don't look a the pics?

Seriously, I saw the headline for the story and thought it was a kind and special gesture... As I said before? Us guys are a fun lot when we are besotted beyond belief and start to get all weepy and pal-sy. I get the idea that the promise may have been made at a going away party and the thought of death walked into the festivities.

IT might have gone like this?

"You ain't gonna die!"
"Well, ya never know..."
"HOKAY! If you die before me, I'll wear a dress to your funeral...."
"You are on!"
"What kind should I wear???????"

Then, to ward off the thought of dying the talk turned to the color, style..

I still have a 100+ mile walk in my future.

------------------

So you don't know that knee high boots are the fashion trend for this fall?

[Grace]

The two soldiers from the United Kingdom have been identified.

It is with deep sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the deaths of Acting Serjeant* Stuart McGrath of 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES), and Trooper Brett Hall of 2nd Battalion The Royal Tank Regiment (2 RTR), following separate incidents in Afghanistan.

Acting Sjt Hall was killed as a result of an explosion in Gereshk District, Helmand province, on the afternoon of 16 September 2009, dying from his wounds before he could be extracted to hospital. Tpr Hall died, also on 16 September, at the Royal College of Defence Medicine Selly Oak, following injuries sustained when an explosion hit his Combat Logistic Patrol in rural north-west Helmand province.

[Grace]

17 September 2009

OTTAWA – One Canadian soldier was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated in the vicinity of his vehicle while on patrol in Panjwai District. The incident occurred approximately 25 kilometres South-West of Kandahar City at around 10:15 a.m., Kandahar time, on 17th September, 2009.

Killed in action was Private Jonathan Couturier from the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, based in Valcartier, Quebec. He was serving as a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group.