Tribute to fallen soldiers.

[clamchucker]

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph McKay, dead at 51

BY KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN | kimberley.martin@newsday.com July 10, 2008 Sgt. 1st Class Joseph McKay couldn't shake the images from his mind.

The World Trade Center ablaze; the thick gray smoke emanating skyward; the melting steel beams as the structures gave way.

He felt compelled to do something, his family says. He believed he could make a difference, his brother recalled Wednesday.

So McKay, a member of the New York Army National Guard since 1977, rejoined the military full-time. Three years after serving a tour in Iraq, he went to Afghanistan. There -- just two months into his stay -- his life was cut short on June 26, eight days shy of his 52nd birthday.

At his memorial service yesterday evening, family members and friends tried to make sense of a death they believe came all too soon.

Facing the flag-draped coffin, one of McKay's brothers, Ronald McKay, said, "We spoke three weeks ago, but I can't believe that was the last time I'd hear your voice."

Hundreds, including his wife, Rose, his four children, his parents and 16 siblings, gathered at Calvary Tabernacle in Hempstead, where McKay and his wife had both been parishioners.

McKay, 51, of Cambria Heights, Queens, died from injuries he suffered after his convoy was ambushed in eastern Afghanistan.

He was a month away from returning home on leave, his family said.

McKay, who had emigrated from Georgetown, Guyana, was a member of the B Troop 2nd Squadron, 101st Calvary Regiment, N.Y. Army National Guard. In the days following Sept. 11, he guarded Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, earning a New York State Defense of Liberty Medal.

Later, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Badge.

A funeral Mass is set for 11 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Tabernacle and a burial with full military honors in Long Island National in Farmingdale is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Volney Williams, a friend of McKay's father Whitcliff described the fallen soldier as a "polite well-mannered young man who had a burning passion for life.

"He was very simple -- not the bravado type one would expect of a soldier."

Staff writer Matthew Chayes contributed to this story.

[basshunter]

Cool thread man. Sad but at the same time makes you proud that alll these people thought enough of our country to put up their lives for it. Think about that the nexttime you wanna put up some petty criticism about how you had a bad day. Rip, prayers and thoughts to all the families.

[fishlipper]

These benches are in Wildwood, NJ, near the seawall. Think they are remembrances of soldiers, not sure.

[fishlipper]

I took some of these and screwed up, they are out of focus. but I decided to put them up anyway in honor of the people who served our country. If anyone has clearer pics, please e-mail them to me, and I will edit this. Thanks.

[fishlipper]

more

[bababooey]

Just in time, or about time?


Sun Jul 27, 10:38 PM ET



SEATTLE - A day after the Army formally apologized for the wrongful conviction of 28 black soldiers in a riot and lynching in Seattle in 1944, one of the soldiers has died.

Rep. Jim McDermott says 83-year-old Samuel Snow died Sunday.
Snow came to Seattle to hear the formal apology delivered Saturday by Ronald James, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs.

But he missed the ceremony at Discovery Park because he was admitted to Virginia Mason Hospital with an irregular heartbeat.

Snow's son, Ray Snow, says receiving the long-delayed honorable discharge left his father at ease.

[dogfish]

Maybe a little bit of both.

[crosseyedbass]

Tuskegee airman paved way for others


BY GABRIEL H. GLUCK
Star-Ledger Staff

For Col. Reginald Stroud, there was no doubt in his mind why he was able to stand before the parishioners at the Second Baptist Church in Rahway yesterday in his United States Air Force uniform.
It was because of Odell McLeod and the other Tuskegee Airmen, whose sacrifices would ultimately make the segregation and discrimination, once the norm in the American military, no longer acceptable.

McLeod, 88, died Sunday. He was one of the original members of the 99th Fighter Squadron, an all-black unit, where he was part of the maintenance crew responsible for keeping the planes ready to fly.
Earlier this year, McLeod and several other Tuskegee Airmen, a unit that lost no men during combat, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.


Interviewed at the time, McLeod said when he was drafted in 1942, he had no idea the military was segregated. He arrived at Fort Dix shocked to find the line of draftees split in two: white men stood on a hill, black men stayed at the bottom. McLeod was buried yesterday afternoon at the N.J. Veterans Memorial Cemetery, not far from where he stood in that line 66 years ago.


Before the morning Homegoing Service at the Rahway church, McLeod's son Howard reminisced about his father, who for years said little about his experiences in the military.
"He didn't talk much about it. He talked more about bowling, which he loved," said his son, now 60.
But in the late'70s, when McLeod was diagnosed with cancer, he started to open up.
Within the last decade, he started attending reunions and going to local schools to talk to students about his experiences.
"Because of what he gave, America is a better place to live," said the Rev. James Ealey.



Few felt that more personally than Stroud, who is stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in Wrightstown and was part of the contingent from the base attending the funeral.
"I didn't know Mr. McLeod, but I'd like to thank him," said Stroud, an African-American. "We are the proud inheritors of his dedication and his commitment."



"It's because of his hard work and many like him that we are able to wear the uniform today," Stroud said.


Fellow Tuskegee Airman Malcolm E. Nettingham, who in recent years would visit schools together with McLeod, especially during Black History Month, said he would miss his brother in arms.
"I lost a friend and I feel sad for the family," said Nettingham, who was a radio operator and a gunner on a B-25 in the 477th Bomb Group.
But as age takes its toll on the remaining ranks of Tuskegee Airmen, Nettingham, 89, takes comfort that an organization has been established to carry on the story of the unit.


As for his own fate, Nettingham believes he is already blessed.
"I'm Christian," he said. "I praise God and I thank him that he's given me these years. I've already had my three-score and ten. I'm living on bonus time. You have to look at it, as the beginning of another life later on."


McLeod was predeceased by four brothers, William, Fred, Lacie Jr., and Edward McDaniels; and a sister, Anna Marie.
McLeod is also survived by his longtime companion, Marjorie Holmes of Linden; two brothers, Walter of Rahway and Robert of Maryland; and three sisters, Lacie Slater of Rochester, N.Y., Ruth Herriott of Maryland and Jessie Dixon of Plainfield.

[pinhead44]

Tuskegee airman paved way for others


Now there's a group that didn't get much acclaim until many years after their service. RIP Airman McCleod.

[voyager35]

RIP Michael Gonzalez, prayers and thoughts to the family.


U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 729-08
August 29, 2008

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Specialist Michael L. Gonzalez, 20, of Spotswood, New Jersey, died August 28, 2008, in Baghdad, of wounds suffered by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 340th Military Police Company, Fort Totten, New York.

For more information media may contact the Fort Monmouth public affairs office at (732) 532-1258; after hours (732) 371-2901.
Services this weekend for Spotswood soldier killed in Iraq
by Carly Rothman
Courtesy of the New Jersey The Star-Ledger
Wednesday September 03, 2008
Funeral services will be held Saturday morning for a 20-year-old Army reservist from Spotswood who was killed last month in Iraq.
U.S. Army Specialist Michael Gonzalez, a member of the military police, died August 28, 2008, in Baghdad from wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at The Brunswick Memorial Home, 454 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Spotswood Reformed Church, 429 Main Street, Spotswood. Gonzalez's cremated remains will be entombed at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, with full military honors on September 10, 2008.
Memorial contributions may be made to the US Adopt a Soldier program, 7440 South Blackhawk Street, Suite 15-106, Englewood, Colorado 80112, or online at adoptaussoldier.org, or to any local food bank or blood bank.
Gonzalez, a 2006 graduate of Spotswood High School, was assigned to the 18th Military Police Brigade, 95th Military Police Battalion, of the 340th Military Police Company. His home unit was the 430th Military Police Detachment in Red Bank.
Gonzalez is at least the 102nd member of the armed services with ties to New Jersey to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is survived by his parents, Pedro and Ida Leiby Gonzalez; his brother, Troy; his paternal grandparents, Maria and Alberto Gonzalez; his cousin, Jonathan Nourse; and his girlfriend Tiffany Loving. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, John B. and Lillian Leiby.

[Fisterfam]

I am very proud of this forum for setting up a thread such as this one. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mike Nashif and I am a SSG in the US Army stationed at Ft. Hood in Texas. My wife and I are also founders of the website www.takeasoldierfishing.com and the Combat Warrior Crisis Network. Right now our main efforts are our website and getting service members out on the water but we hope to expand to marriage counseling and retreats for deployed service members and individual counseling for service members. We are a faith based organization but we are non denominational in nature.

Having lost 11 close friends of mine in 2 deployments I know that these families fall thru the cracks and eventually become forgotten. This is a great way to pay tribute to those that we have lost, new or past. Young or old. These great men and women are part of the 6% of the American population that have ever raised their right hand to defend this great nation. Remember, Freedom Isn't Free - takeasoldierfishing.com

[katiefishes]

What an honor to see that someone from the Armed Forces has seen this thread and the hard work of bunkerjoe and all the members, who want to pay tribute to those who gave their life for their country.

It is difficult to read but a wonderful tribute to our bravest men and women. I truly believe that they must never be forgotten.

Mike, there are not enough words to thank you and your comrades for the sacrifices that you make every day. I pray that God keeps all of you safe.

[Fisterfam]

Katiefishes - You don't have to "say" thanks...take them fishing... we know. Little things like these tributes all over the web make us proud to serve. Take a service out fishing and just BS for the day and maybe catch some fish and they will remember it for the rest of their lives. Thanks again. Mike

[strikezone31]

<H1>Crash of military helicopter in Mideast killed four Texas Army National Guard soldiers

Star-Telegram
By CHRIS VAUGHN

The deaths of four Texas Army National Guard soldiers in what appeared to be a helicopter accident last week marked the deadliest day in years for the state’s citizen-soldiers.
Among those killed was a sergeant from Springtown, a soldier from Kennedale and a first sergeant from San Antonio. Three National Guardsmen from Oklahoma also died in the accident, which occurred at midnight Thursday as their CH-47 Chinook flew from Kuwait into Iraq.
Military authorities said there was no indication of enemy fire.
The Defense Department had still not released the names of the seven men by Saturday evening, but word was leaking out into communities anyway.
The family of Sgt. Anthony Luke Mason, 37, of Springtown confirmed that he was a casualty. The Oklahoman newspaper and the Kennedale school district confirmed the death of Warrant Officer Corry Edwards, 38, of Kennedale. The San Antonio Express-News identified another casualty as 1st Sgt. Julio Ordonez, a 30-year veteran of the Guard from San Antonio.
The Oklahoman also identified as casualties Sgt. Dan Eshbaugh, 43, of Norman; Cpl. Michael Thompson, 23, of Kingston; and Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf, 37, of Moore.
All of the men were serving with the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, a 600-person unit based in Grand Prairie. That unit and its 32 helicopters deployed to Iraq in late August and operates out of the Balad area.
Mason worked full time for the National Guard unit. He joined the Guard about 12 years ago as a mechanic. He became part of the flight crew a few years ago as an additional challenge.
It was Mason’s second deployment to Iraq.
"He represented his country well," his mother-in-law, Shirley Stroud, said. "He believed in his country."
A native of Azle, Mason enjoyed fishing, bowling and hunting deer on a lease near Graham. But his family said he most loved spending time with his daughters — a 13-year-old, twin 8-year-olds and a 4-year-old — in their sports and cheerleading.
The coming months will be very hard on his family — their birthdays are in September, October and November.
"He was a very hands-on dad," Stroud said. "They’ll have a lot of great memories."
Edwards’ family declined to comment Saturday.


</H1>

[dogfish]

Man, another 4 down. Ya think it won't matter as much much if ya didn't know these guys personally, but it gets me every time.

Thoughts and prayers to the families.


I found this song, hope it's appropriate.

Amazing grace - for the soldiers

[ledhead36]

Man, another 4 down. Ya think it won't matter as much much if ya didn't know these guys personally, but it gets me every time.

Thoughts and prayers to the families.


I found this song, hope it's appropriate.

Amazing grace - for the soldiers

Great video, thoughts and prayers. RIP

[albiealert]

Man, another 4 down. Ya think it won't matter as much much if ya didn't know these guys personally, but it gets me every time.

Thoughts and prayers to the families.


I found this song, hope it's appropriate.

Amazing grace - for the soldiers

Amazing video and pic compilation.

[katiefishes]

I went to Vermont recently and while driving down HWY 100 I came across this tribute to all of the soliders who have been killed in Iraq. One flag for each soul.

It really makes you stop and think. They were husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters. Uncles, Aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. They were our protector. They gave us the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, fighting for our freedom, fighting for what they believe in. Their families gave us their most precious gift.

This memorial was soul searching and heart wrenching.

[bababooey]

You read the numbers killed in the news, but nothing is as moving as seeing it right there in front of you in graphic representation.

Nice job, Katie, thanks for posting.

[bababooey]

This was in the Ledger the other day. I found it moving.


Pushing past pain to honor a lost soldier

Fallen officer's wounded pal goes the extra mile in Holmdel memorial run
Monday, November 10, 2008 BY MARYANN SPOTO
Star-Ledger Staff


When Marion Zilinski heard her son's buddy planned to jog in a memorial run yesterday, she cautioned the Iraq War veteran against the idea.

But Capt. Dan Downs, still recovering from a severe gunshot wound, wouldn't be dissuaded. Two years ago, friends pushed him through the course in a wheelchair. Last year, he walked the two miles. So, as a personal challenge and a tribute to his friend, Downs wanted to run this year.



For Downs, a 28-year-old Army captain from Virginia, the third annual Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Memorial Run yesterday was not only a physical triumph, but also an emotional one.

"The mother in me wants him not to, because I don't want him to get hurt," Zilinski said two days before the run that pays tribute to her 23-year-old son, who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005. "But then again, the mother in me knows he needs to do this for himself to honor his friend. That makes the mother in me so proud of him."

Downs said there was no question he'd run this year, two years after being shot in the lower left leg. The Zilinskis had become like his second family. He and Dennis, though two years apart at West Point, swam on the same team and Downs, then living in New Mexico, spent Thanksgivings at the Zilinski home.

"The point is, it's a run to honor Dennis. Dennis was an athlete. I'm an athlete. Athletes don't stop. They like pushing themselves, pushing their bodies," said Downs, now an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Virginia.

The run, held at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, is a primary source of income for the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski II Foundation established by the family to help wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. So far, the foundation has doled out about half of the $200,000 it has raised to individuals and to programs helping soldiers adapt to their new lives.

Marion Zilinski remembered being impressed by Underwater Warriors, a program that teaches amputees to scuba dive. When she reached out to the coordinator, she discovered the program was successful in its mission but struggling financially.

"Maybe someday I can help," Zilinski told the coordinator last year, without letting on she planned to make a sizable donation.

For two years in a row, the foundation's contributions have kept the program afloat while staffers seek federal funding, Zilinski said.
Earlier this year, the Zilinskis learned of a soldier from Howell who lost both legs to an improvised explosive device in Iraq. The foundation paid the cost of renovating his bathroom to accommodate his disability.

"It's touched a nerve," said Karen Connors, chairwoman of the run. "People really see there's so much good that can come out of something so tragic."

The foundation also distributes two scholarships annually for Christian Brothers Academy in the Lincroft section of Middletown, the alma mater of Dennis and his younger brother, Matthew, who has followed in his footsteps.

Matthew Zilinski was a senior at Norwich University, a military college in Vermont, when Dennis was killed. Yet he continued with his plans for military service. A member of the Army National Guard, Matthew Zilinski, now 24, is a 1st lieutenant with the 508th Military Police Co. in Teaneck.

The memorial run, expected to draw anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 participants, is the Zilinski family's way of paying tribute to the sacrifices of soldiers.

"My parents lost a son. I lost my brother. I lost my best friend," Matthew said. "On the run, you can see how much pleasure and how much life we're putting out in my brother's name. We're supporting all these other people. We're giving them a new life, a new beginning. We're giving them something to make their life that much easier. It's in the name and honor of my brother."