Feb 13 2008
Happy Valentine’s Day
As we head toward another Valentine’s Day, and we do silly things like give flowers, candy, jewelry, and mushy Valentine’s Day cards, I hope we can all take a minute to remember and think of those who are putting their life on the line every day to protect us, those who have lost their life in their service to our country, and their loved ones who will miss them just a little bit more tomorrow.
Here are a few stories of soldiers who have recently been killed in the Middle East. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
Ashley Sietsma
Ashley was assigned to the 708th Medical Company, North Riverside. She died from injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident while conducting a routine medical transfer of a patient from Camp Buehring to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait Nov. 12.
The 20 year old Soldier was only a few months into her deployment, and leaves behind a new husband. Ashley met and married her husband, Max William Sietsema April 27, 2007 in Cook County, Chicago. Ashley was attending Northern Illinois University studying to become a nurse. She deployed to Kuwait as a Soldier with the Illinois National Guard.
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Phillip J. Pannier
Pannier is survived by his parents, Donald and Robyn of Washburn, and two brothers, Dan and Ben. A third brother, Dale, died in September. His family could not be reached for comment.
Pannier was engaged to Jennifer Held of nearby Metamora, to whom he proposed before leaving for Iraq, childhood friend Angela Oltman said.
Friends mourned the loss of a fun-loving and athletic young man who played soccer and football, was involved in the Future Farmers of America, and hoped to become a police officer after leaving the service.
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Benjamin Portell
Sgt. Benjamin Portell, 27, died Dec. 26, along with Capt. Rowdy Inman, 38, of Houston, from wounds suffered from small-arms fire after his unit was attacked while setting up a combat outpost near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
Friends said the barrel-chested Portell married his “soul mate,” Michelle Moshier, last spring in Las Vegas. He met Moshier in the same city in April 2006.
The relationship led Portell to do “things he would never do while a bachelor — he cooked, he cleaned, he took out the garbage, he vacuumed, all the while wearing that silly grin and saying, ‘I love you,’ ” according to a paid obituary in the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union.
Well said. Heroes, each and everyone! Eternal be their memory.
So sweet of you to post today. Indeed we should keep them in our hearts….
Nick: I agree, thanks!
Sandy: Thanks, Sandy. I think that a lot of people are starting to lose focus on our troops, but we should never forget about them and the sacrifices they are making for us.