HM3 Eichmann A. Strickland, KIA 09 SEPT 2008, AFGHANISTAN

It is with a sad heart that I have to post we lost another Doc in Afghanistan.

HM3 Strickland was Killed in Action last week in Afghanistan by a IED along with 2 Marine Corps Officers.

I have known about the loss of HM3 since last week, but we were not able to post it due to DOD not announcing it until today.  His Command in Japan had been notified as well as his family, but we don’t post until the DOD notification gives us the okay.

This truly hurts, during a week when we are pinning our new Chief Petty Officers, to have to do this as well.

Our Heats and Prayers go out to HM3 Strickland’s Family, Friends, Shipmates.  We at Corpsman.com Salute you and will honor Eichmann’s memory.

D/C

HM2(FMF) Anthony Carbullido KIA **08 August 2008, Naval Hospital Corps School Loses a Doc in Afghanistan.

Naval Hospital Corps School has lost HM2(FMF) Anthony Carbullido who is from the island of Guam, was IA (Individual Augmantee) over in Afghanistan on 08 August 2008(**Corrected from 07 August to 08 August Per DOD Notification).  I know the family has been notified as well as NHCS.

You can leave a condolence message @ CONDOLENCE

This hits home for me as this Doc was stationed there when I was at NHCS.  He was killed by an IED.

I will post more info when it is released to me.

Once again, the family notification has been made, as well as command notification.

God Bless his family and shipmates and friends.  NHCS, of course you know you’re in Da-Chief’s family’s hearts and prayers.

D/C

(**Corrected from 07 August to 08 August Per DOD Notification)

SPC William McMillan III US ARMY KIA 08 July 2008 Iraq

Our hearts and prayrs go out to the McMillan Family, his fellow Soldiers, Friends and loved ones.  The “DOC” Community will miss this hero. We at Corpsman.com Grieve for this loved ones loss.  Condolences can be left in the Scuttlebutt Forums here: Condolences

Lexington soldier dies in Iraq, family says
By Michael White
Kentucky.com

Spec. William McMillan is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a student at the University of Kentucky.
Spec. William McMillan III was destined for the military, like his father, and loved working in the medical field, like his mother.

McMillan died in Iraq Tuesday, said his family, who lives in Lexington.

An Army medic based at Abu Ghraib, Iraq, he was traveling with his outfit when his vehicle hit a homemade bomb, injuring five and fatally wounding McMillan.

McMillan, 22, was seven months into his first tour in Iraq, his family said. He had received the Bronze Star, his mother said, the fourth-highest combat award in the service, which is unusual for his position. His mother said McMillan seemed almost genetically inclined for his position in the Army. “It’s almost like this is what he was born to do, you know? It was definitely in his blood.” McMillan’s father, Gen. William McMillan Jr., studied at the Kentucky Military Institute and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., before serving in Vietnam, and his mother is a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lexington.

“He was always the star athlete,” Marge McMillan said.

McMillan attended high school at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, where as a senior he was captain of the wrestling, lacrosse and football teams, winning the school’s Athlete of the Year Award. He loved the water and in his free time enjoyed wakeboarding and boating on Lake Cumberland with his family, Marge McMillan said.

He attended Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va., for a year before deciding to go straight into the Army.

After being stationed for a year in Hawaii, McMillan was deployed to Iraq as a combat medic. His family says he never complained about being sent to combat and believed strongly in the cause he was fighting for. He hoped to become either a nurse or physician’s assistant when his tour ended later this year.

“He brought laughter and light into any room he entered from the day he was born,” said his mother.

McMillan kept in close contact with his family during his time in Iraq, and his mother said they talked to him on the phone at least two times a week.

“There always seemed to be a crowd of people around him,” she said. “He told us people would just come to see him in the barracks, because he was such a hilarious guy.”

McMillan was not just a wonderful and loving husband, brother and son, his wife, Elizabeth said, but a hero and friend to everyone who knew him.

“I want everyone to know that he always wanted to help people, and that he was and still is a hero,” she said.

McMillan is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, a student at the University of Kentucky; his parents, Gen. William McMillan Jr. and Marge McMillan; his sister Lauren; and his brother Brad.

McMillan’s family said he will be buried at Camp Nelson, however, no date or details have been set.

Ryan James Connolly, Medic, United States Army, KIA in Afghanistan

It has just been a horrible month for the Doc community. I will post more later when it becomes availible.
D/C

We lost another medic today…
Ryan James Connolly, a 24-year-old Army medic who grew up in Santa Rosa, was killed by a plastic land mine in a remote area of Afghanistan, family members said Wednesday.

Connolly, who was promoted recently to the rank of sergeant, served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade based outside the town of Khogyani in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border.

He was riding in a vehicle with four other troops when the mine exploded Tuesday afternoon (Afghanistan time). One other soldier was killed and three were wounded, said his stepfather, Robert Nelson of Vacaville.

The combat medic had just two weeks left on his one-year deployment to Afghanistan, with orders to report to the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey.

Improvised explosive devices, including plastic mines that are virtually undetectable, have become a constant source of bloodshed in Afghanistan.

According to the Associated Press, nearly 2,000 people have died in insurgency-related violence this year in Afghanistan - many of them killed by mines and bombs detonated next to convoys.

“He was a really strong young man - strong physically, mentally and morally, heart and soul - and a loving father,” Nelson said.

He said Connolly’s wife, Stephi, lives in Bamberg, Germany, with their 1-year-daughter, Kayla.

Connolly graduated from Piner High School in Santa Rosa, and joined the Army in 2005.

He had survived multiple firefights in Afghanistan. Just a few days ago, he phoned his father, mortgage broker Jim Connolly of Santa Rosa, and described being ambushed. His unit was pinned down in a firefight for hours after they walked into a village.

Connolly had taken a leave in April, bringing his family to Santa Rosa. During that trip, he bought a 1970 Chevy Nova and began to restore it. He had a passion for baseball, classic muscle cars, NASCAR racing and all things mechanical.

“He was in good spirits then,” Nelson said, “and looking forward to finishing the last three months and coming back home.”

Soon after Connolly returned to Afghanistan, Nelson said, a 10-year-old boy with a bomb blew himself up in a crowded square. Connolly was among the first medics on the scene - rescuing about 20 Afghans.

Nelson said his stepson had grown weary of the abject poverty and violence in Afghanistan, which Connolly described as “11th century with cars and cell phones. He hated the way women and children were treated there as chattel. He was a good man.”

The medic apparently never tired of practicing his trade.

“He loved helping out in Afghanistan, sewing up the kids,” Nelson said. “It broke his heart when he didn’t have enough medicine for a whole village.”

Connolly’s mother, Robin Nelson, lives in Vacaville. His brother, Mike Connolly, lives in Santa Rosa, and his sister, Kelly Connolly, lives in San Francisco.

“He was the best brother anyone could have,” Kelly Connolly said. “Very protective, always looking out for my best interest. He was a great husband and father. He loved his daughter.”

HN Dustin Kelby Burnett KIA 20 June 2008 in Afghanistan

We have been notified we lost another Doc in Afghanistan on 20 June 2008.

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death a sailor supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Hospitalman Dustin Kelby Burnett, 19, of Fort Mohave, Ariz., was assigned to First Marine Division Detachment, Twentynine Palms, Calif. He died June 20 while conducting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan.

Our hearts at Corpsman.com go out to HN Burnetts Family, Shipmates, Marines, Soldiers, and friends who served with this young hero.

Condolences can be left here in our Forums:  HERE

We will be online tonight from 2000 CST to have a Online “Wake” if you will for our 2 Sailors. Hope to see you there.. go to the Corpsman.com live page.  We will also have our Chat room open in our forums if you have any problems getting in.

D/C

–

Live Video tonight 22 June 2008 / 2000 CST –in remembrance of HN Burnett & HN Retmier

Go to the corpsman.com Live page..

This will be broadcasted live over Stickam.  If you would like to leave a tribute to these fine sailors and have a Netcam, please register prior then log in. I will add you to the video feed so you can say your peace.  Remember this will be recorded so please think about what your going to say.  Absolutely “NO POLITICS” tonight.
Remember these heroes died in AFGHANISTAN.

To enter chat you’ll need to create a free account at Stickam and request friendship with “da_chief” - approval is automatic and should happen almost instantly.

Our Chatroom will be open in our Forums for Tech support for Stickam if your having problems. 8404 or myself will be inside to help you out.

Hope to see you.
Da-Chief

Grieve Vs. Celebrate HN Retmier, what would he want?

I have been thinking about this article since I found out we lost this fine young HN in Afghanistan.

Sitting at a Keyboard in the dark night trying to figure out what to write.  I have done this to many times in the past.  I always try to honor each and every member by writing something different rather then the old

“DOD NOTIFIES Blah Blah Blah”.

Before you say, “Hey he’s being disrespectful of our Doc’s who have left this earth doing our Nations bidding”, I say….

FFFFFFPPPPHHHHTTTTTTTTT!!!!!! NANNER NANNER NANNER…

I know Doc’s.  I was one for 24 years.  I know Doc’s in the NAVY, ARMY, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD, and the NATIONAL GUARD.

We put up with a “LOT” of crap from piss poor leadership and from great leadership who has to put up with piss poor leadership.  WE have been stuck in the mud and sand for weeks on end.  We have delivered Babies and buried Babies.  We have Saved lifes of our Comrades and we have buried some as well.

Some would say Doc’s have a Morbid sense of Humor.  I don’t think so, I think we Doc’s know how to do “1″ thing more then any other Rate, or MOS in the Military..

We know how to

“CELEBRATE LIFE”.

Yes I could sit here and cry over the loss of HN Retmier, but I am sure of one thing, If he could, he would come and “KICK ME IN THE ASS” and say

“CHIEF GET OVER YOURSELF”.

“See that picture of me helping this child, I made a difference.  Not many folks in the US or the world can say they traveled across the world at 19 years of age and made a difference like I did.”

“I was a Sailor, a damn good one too! I know my Chief at FMTB Grieves for me, but damn it Chief Pick yourself up as you have to teach other young hardchargers to do this job.  You did a great job Chief, I listened to what you taught me.  To be Compassionate but be a warrior.  I followed all the rules.  I lived life to it’s fullest. ”

“CELEBRATE ME!”

Celebrate my accomplishments and the accomplishments of all the other Doc’s who stand at Heaven’s gate with me tending to The Flock up here.

“We Celebrate you, Please re-pay the payment, Celebrate our life not our loss.”

To this I hoist a salute up to the falling sun and Salute my brother, my brother Doc Retmier who did the Nations bidding. I Salute his family, his friends, and his shipmates and Marines, Soldiers and other brave Afghani Soldiers who are standing up to this oppressive enemy.

I Celebrate you all.

D/C

Updated 1217 06/20/08: We have Lost 2 Sailors today in Afghanistan.

We lost 2 fellow Sailors in Afghanistan today.

The Place that “DID” attack us on 9/11.  Two heroes will be missed by their loved ones, shipmates, Marines, friends, and Corpsman.com.

We at Corpsman.com grieve for their loss.  It really really hurts when we report these stories.

From DOD: UPDATE: (We have clarified that the PO1 was a Construction Man 1st Class , we grieve for him regardless of rating.  We wanted to be sure the  information was accurate as all rates should be proud of their rating on their sleeve.)

DoD Identifies Navy Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two sailors who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Hospitalman Marc A. Retmier, 19, of Hemet, Calif., and Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III, 37, of Davison, Mich., died June 18 as a result of wounds suffered from an enemy rocket attack in northern Paktika province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Sharana in Afghanistan.

A Navy hospitalman from Hemet, Ca. died in an rocket attack in Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Marc A. Retmier, 19, was assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team Sharana in Afghanistan, according to a Department of Defense news release.

He and Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III, 37, of Michigan, died from wounds suffered in an enemy rocket attack in northern Paktika province in Afghanistan, the release stated.

He graduated from West Valley High School, where he played football and lettered in swimming, said his uncle Jeff Retmier, a captain with the Hemet Fire Department.

He was stationed at Camp Lejuene in North Carolina and trained at Bethesda Hospital. He went to Afghanistan in December 2007, Jeff Retmier said.

Jeff Retmier said his nephew wanted to work in medicine and knew being a medic would prepare him for that.

The family plans to bury Retmier at Pacific View Cemetery in Corona del Mar.

Pvt. Andrew Jon Shields U.S. Army KIA 31 MAY 2008 in Afghanistan

I hate days like today.

It breaks my heart every time I post one of these stories. Andrew was doing the Nations bidding helping our Armed Forces Hunt those who started this war back in 2001.

Andrew was 19 years old.

19 years ago he was a baby in his mothers arms.

At 19 years old Andrew could not buy a beer but could give his life for his greatful Country, the United States of America.

Andrew, we at corpsman.com, “the Doc’s Site” Salute you and your family and friends.

We grieve for your loss brother, As all Doc’s who are your brothers and sisters, we grieve for you.

Taps has been sounded.

Da-Chief

Flags fly at half-staff for medic

VANCOUVER — Flags in Battle Ground are flying at half-staff in honor of Pvt. Andrew Jon Shields, a U.S. Army medic killed Saturday in Afghanistan.

Shields, 19, was the 120th member of the military with ties to southwest Washington and Oregon to perish in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kuwait. He is the 13th from southwest Washington.

He was a 2007 graduate of Battle Ground High School and a former member of the Clark County Fire & Rescue cadet program. He was appointed a battalion chief shortly after joining the program his senior year.

“His leadership qualities were immediately identified and that’s why he rapidly rose to be a leader in his class,” said Battle Ground Mayor Mike Ciraulo, a division chief with Clark County Fire & Rescue. “He was morally and ethically superior in his standards and beliefs. He was well respected by his classmates and the instructional staff.”

Shields was the son of Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Shields. The younger Shields served with the 173rd Special Troops Battalion, part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Bamberg Germany, according to the U.S. Army.

The U.S. Department of Defense said he and another soldier died May 31 in Jalalabad City, in eastern Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

His family asked for privacy.

In a statement, the family said Shields joined the Army while in high school. He completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; the combat medic course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and basic airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga.

While at Fort Benning, Shields met and became engaged to another medic, Loren Elizabeth Combs, who is serving with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

While attending Battle Ground High, Shields played football. He enjoyed his family and friends, competitive shooting, hunting and fishing.

Ciraulo said Shields visited the firefighter cadet program a month or two ago, after completing his basic training and just before deploying to Afghanistan. He shared his experience with the cadets and said he was soon heading to Afghanistan, Ciraulo said.

“He was trustworthy and could always be counted on to do the right thing,” Ciraulo said. “This is a hard one. He was a standout.”

As mayor, Ciraulo said he ordered city flags to fly at half-staff, likely until Shields’ funeral.

Shields is survived by his mother, Wendy Campbell; father and stepmother, Jon and Carol Shields; sister, Ryleigh Campbell; and other extended family members.

Following is a link to Shields’ MySpace page: www.myspace.com/CowboyUp.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Researcher Lynne Palombo contributed to this story. Holley Gilbert: holleygilbert@news.oregonian.com