Several times a week I see a new IGTNT diary on the Recommended Diaries list, and I follow the link to read one, or two, or sometimes many more, heart-wrenching stories of more American soldiers whose lives were cut short in Iraq. But each time, before reading all of the memorials to our latest fallen heroes, I first scan the list quickly to see if today will be the day that my fellow Nutmeggers and I will read the terrible news that Connecticut has lost it's thirtieth son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister or, sometimes, friend.
More below the fold...
At this time, the last Connecticut soldier to die in Iraq was Sergeant Jason M. Lantieri, of Killingworth, Connecticut on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, who died accidentally after being pinned between two vehicles being moved. News of his death undoubtedly spread quickly through the small town of Killingworth--population 6,400--and was carried on Connecticut's local news and blogs, by WFSB, NBC30 My Left Nutmeg and others:
Five months after his death, his MySpace page chronicles not only his life, but the grief of those who miss him the most.
Every time I bring up the MySpace or Facebook page of one of our heroes, I wonder how many more orphaned MySpace pages are out there never to be updated again by their owners, how many more orphaned Facebook pages will only be updated with comments from grieving relatives, friends and comrades. I suppose these pages are the 21st Century technological equivalent to laying flowers at gravestones, or lighting candles; despite being a technophile to some extent, though, I still find myself lighting a candle for every soldier I read about in IGTNT, not only to honor each of our fallen soldiers, but also in support of the family and friends they left behind. I know that their sacrifices permit the rest of us to live in peace and security, and lighting a candle is my way of expressing that thought.
So tonight, seeing the latest IGTNT diary, I found myself once again quickly scanning the list to see if tonight would be the night I light the thirtieth candle for a fallen soldier from Connecticut, if tonight I would pull up yet another orphaned MySpace page for a fellow Nutmegger who gave his or her life standing fast for my protection. And deep down, I was relieved to find that tonight would not be that night. But my relief was quickly replaced by something else: the feeling that, despite holding my breath each time, there was something inherently wrong about looking to see if another Connecticut soldier had been killed.
So as of tonight, I will no longer scan each IGTNT diary for the terrible news that yet another Nutmegger has paid the ultimate price. I will read the heartfelt tributes, and the memorials, and the MySpace and Facebook pages, and light candles, and I will continue to leave comments of appreciation and grief and gratitude. I will continue to recognize that others have lost family members so that I could continue to cherish mine in peace and security. But I will not look for the thirtieth soldier from Connecticut to fall in Iraq.
And by way of penance, I decided I would write a diary for all of the brave, wonderful soldiers from Connecticut who have been killed in Iraq. Below is a list of all twenty-nine, with links to google each soldier's name. I encourage you to click on each name, then follow one, or two, or even many more, of the links. And when you click on the link for Sergeant Jason M. Lantieri, of Killingworth, Connecticut, who died on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, remember him the way his friends at Haddam-Killingworth High School remember him,
and join me in praying that he will remain the last Nutmegger to make the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.
- Specialist Robert W. Hoyt of Ashford, Connecticut, killed on Saturday, December 11, 2004
- Chief Warrant Officer William I. Brennan of Bethlehem, Connecticut, killed on Saturday, October 16, 2004
- Specialist Tyanna S. Felder of Bridgeport, Connecticut, killed on Wednesday, April 07, 2004
- Private 1st Class Stephen K. Richardson of Bridgeport, Connecticut, killed on Tuesday, March 20, 2007
- Lance Corporal John T. Schmidt III of Brookfield, Connecticut, killed on Wednesday, May 11, 2005
- Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Dale Lewis of Brookfield, Connecticut, killed on Friday, July 06, 2007
- Specialist Christopher L. Hoskins of Danielson, Connecticut, killed on Tuesday, June 21, 2005
- Sergeant Richard L. Ford of East Hartford, Connecticut, killed on Tuesday, February 20, 2007
- Captain Eric Thomas Paliwoda of Farmington, Connecticut, killed on Friday, January 02, 2004
- Sergeant David J. Coullard of Glastonbury, Connecticut, killed on Monday, August 01, 2005
- Staff Sergeant Richard S. Eaton Jr. of Guilford, Connecticut, killed on Tuesday, August 12, 2003
- Lance Corporal Lawrence R. Philippon of Hartford, Connecticut, killed on Sunday, May 08, 2005
- Lance Corporal Philip A. Johnson of Hartford, Connecticut, killed on Sunday, September 03, 2006
- Sergeant Jason M. Lantieri of Killingworth, Connecticut, killed on Wednesday, October 10, 2007
- Corporal Jordan C. Pierson of Milford, Connecticut, killed on Friday, August 25, 2006
- Corporal Kevin J. Dempsey of Monroe, Connecticut, killed on Saturday, November 13, 2004
- Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Vitagliano of New Haven, Connecticut, killed on Monday, January 17, 2005
- Captain Jason R. Hamill of New Haven, Connecticut, killed on Sunday, November 26, 2006
- Private 1st Class Andre Craig Jr. of New Haven, Connecticut, killed on Monday, June 25, 2007
- Specialist Wilfredo Perez Jr. of Norwalk, Connecticut, killed on Saturday, July 26, 2003
- Specialist Jacob D. Martir of Norwich, Connecticut, killed on Wednesday, August 18, 2004
- 1st Lieutenant Keith N. Heidtman of Norwich, Connecticut, killed on Monday, May 28, 2007
- Sergeant Felix M. Delgreco of Simsbury, Connecticut, killed on Friday, April 09, 2004
- Private 1st Class Jeffrey F. Braun of Stafford, Connecticut, killed on Friday, December 12, 2003
- Civilian Barbara Heald of Stamford, Connecticut, killed on Saturday, January 29, 2005
- Corporal Stephen R. Bixler of Suffield, Connecticut, killed on Thursday, May 04, 2006
- Private 1st Class Anthony D. Dagostino of Waterbury, Connecticut, killed on Sunday, November 02, 2003
- Corporal Kemaphoom "Ahn" Chanawongse of Waterford, Connecticut, killed on Sunday, March 23, 2003
- Private 1st Class Nicholas A. Madaras of Wilton, Connecticut, killed on Sunday, September 03, 2006
Update: Fellow Nutmegger Scarce contributed this video memorializing not only those Connecticut soldiers whose lives were cut short in Iraq, but also those who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan as well.
The comments below are not for me, or for us, and there is no Tip Jar. Instead please consider leaving comments for the friends and families of our Connecticut heroes listed above.