Today wasn't too bad. I was busy all morning then tried something new. I went back to my room around lunch and suffered through 4 1/2 miles on the treadmill. That was torture. I was going to run 6 or 7 but I passionately hate the treadmill. No need to lie...I hate it. I did that, got some push-ups and planks in afterwards then showered and headed over to my Russian friends for a haircut. Never fails...they do a great job every time. Funny thing, though? She attacked my eye brows with a vengeance. Yea, my awesome barber, Heather, back in "Kansas" usually takes care of me in that category but since April, no attention at all! I'm guessing this barber today couldn't help herself but clip those things off. Most excellent service. I headed on back to the office afterwards after nothing but a Clif Bar for lunch and got some more work done along with a call to my mom, Tin Man, and Scarecrow.
Back in my room tonight, it was just relaxing and watching "Source Code" on TV...pretty good flick. Afterwards, I was checking in on my feed online and noticed the Department of Defense officially announced the 30 Fallen from last week. Yes, the same link I mention often and have permanently embedded on the right side of this blog. For the rest of today's post, I ask you to read their names, age, and hometowns. PLEASE do not leave today's post without reading their names. You can also find the list here. "Rest in Peace, brothers, and thank you for your ultimate sacrifice for my freedom and that of my family and friends back home. You will not be forgotten."
DOD Identifies Service Members Killed In CH-47 Crash
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 30 servicemembers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed.
The following sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed:
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La.
Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif.
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Ark.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Conn.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Mass.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Mo.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, W.Va.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, La.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Mich.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, Calif.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, N.C.
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Neb.
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Fla.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah.
The following sailors assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed:
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minn.
The soldiers killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colo.
Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kan. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.
Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Neb.
Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Wash. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.
Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kan. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.
The airmen killed were:
Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Fla.
Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, Calif.
Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pa.
All three airmen were assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.
Note: Service-members die many times per week in this war. In no way am I elevating these Fallen over any others. ANY life lost is a tragedy. I am listing these for a few reasons: it has garnered international attention, I was there to see them leave Afghanistan, most are fellow Sailors, and I believe it is appropriate considering how it has impacted my life which is what this blog/journal is all about. I encourage you to continue checking the link on the right to keep the Fallen in mind and the families they leave behind. That journey without their loved one is just beginning and will last a lifetime.
Goodnight, everyone.
As promised, I welcomed the local soldier home. I went to the road that leads south from the airport & joined about 100 others lining the road. Almost everyone was wearing red/white/blue. Many had signs. Most had flags. Many brought children. The Patriot Guard was stationed down the road ready to join the procession. Lots of local law enforcement, including the bomb squad truck. The ride would have been about 8 mi. to his hometown, so I am sure there were many more such gatherings along the way.
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