Remembering Daniel R. Healy, Chief Petty Officer, Navy SEAL ~ NH Hero

Daniel Richard Healy, Senior Chief Petty Officer, Navy SEAL –

Dan was killed in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005 during Operation Redwings when his rescue helicopter was shot down. He died with several other SEALS and eight Army Nightstalkers in the air and three other SEALS on the ground. The account is told in the book LONE SURVIVOR by Marcus Luttrell.

This is something that his mother, Natalie shared with Sue a few years ago:
“Danny worked very hard to be deployed to the war zone. As a career SEAL he had spent the first three years of the war in Pearl Harbor. He was extremely frustrated at being out of the loop. Once he discovered that the Navy, due to manpower shortages, was taking men out of SDV’s he immediately applied and was in Afghanistan by March 2005. Three months later four men he’d sent out on a mission were in trouble and with no hesitation by anyone; the team went to save them. Nearing the landing zone their helicopter was shot down and this young man whose great joy was his four children, friends, and family died instantly. We miss his humor, kindness, generosity and love of life. I miss the long conversations we would have about politics, children, and history. His family and friends collectively mourn him while we recall ‘Danny’ stories that usually end in laughter. We are exceedingly proud that this man bravely risked his life for his fellow man and sadly accepted that his death was God’s Plan.”

http://www.militarymoviesandnews.com/lone-survivor-interviews/dan-healy-family-interview/

Remembering 2nd Lt Matthew S. Coutu ~ NH Hero

Remembering 2nd Lt Matthew S. Coutu – KIA on June 27, 2005, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Matthew entered the University of Maine (Orono) where he majored in history. In his senior year, he received the George C. Marshall Award as the top ranked ROTC student at the University and ranked in the 6th percentile nationally as a ROTC cadet. Matt graduated on May 8, 2004 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the US Army.

Following his commissioning and completion of the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Matt was assigned to the 89th Military Police Brigade at Ft. Hood, Texas. In February, 2005, the Brigade deployed to the forward operating base Rustemiyah in Iraq. On June 27, 2005, Matt was killed by sniper fire en route to Al Ademyiah Iraqi Police Station in East Baghdad.

The day following his death, Lt. Colonel Robert Taradash, Commander of the 720th MP battalion in Baghdad called Michael Coutu, Matt’s father, saying how hard his death was being felt by his fellow troops adding “Matthew was perhaps my best platoon leader — someone who earned the admiration and respect of his fellow officers and the men who served under him. His loss will be grieved no less than that of a brother, parent, spouse or dear friend. He was an exemplary role model to all in this (Army) family.”

At a memorial service held in Baghdad, Captain Meeks, Matt’s company commander, said “He loved the Army, the Guardians, and his Soldiers. He reminded us every day that he was committed to being the best and that he took care of the Wolfpack. His dogged will to succeed inspired leaders at every level. He maintained the same intensity day in and day out of this deployment, he did not waver one bit. While doing so he paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. For that, I am humbled and honored to have known and served with him.”

Among his awards and medals, Matt posthumously received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. With its inaugural dedication on February 6, 2006, the 2nd Lieutenant Matthew S. Coutu Distinguished Honor Graduate Award is given to the top graduate of each Military Police Officer Basic Course class. In the memorial dedication speech, Colonel Taradash described Matt as a “young man who loved to lead Soldiers; lived by the Warrior Creed and Army Values; loved and lived his life without hesitation and epitomized heroism. From the moment that I met him, I recognized that Matt led his Soldiers from the front and put every ounce of his being into leading his Soldiers.”

 

Remembering SSGT Edmond Lo ~ NH Hero

Remembering SSGT Edmond Lo – KIA on June 13, 2009 – He was killed when an improvised explosive device he was acting to neutralize detonated in Samarra City, Iraq.
He was assigned to the 797th Ordnance Company, 79th Ordnance Battalion, Ft Hood, TX

Edmond grew up in Salem, NH and graduated from Salem High School in 2004. Although he was quiet, he had a wonderful sense of humor and was an extremely kind-hearted and sincere person. His many hobbies included playing on his computer, teaching himself how to play piano and guitar, origami, and puzzles.

He was a member of the Air Force JROTC program and was the operations squadron, color guard commander and a drill team commander. He was on the first drill team from Salem High to compete in the National Drill Team Championship and the team earned second place. He loved learning and was always willing to help tutor students. He was a talented musician and played several instruments. After graduation, he turned down scholarships to colleges so he could pursue his passion of serving our country.

He was well liked and people were drawn to him because of his personality, commitment and loyalty. He was a leader who was respected by many and will be greatly missed. His death let a void in the hearts of his parents, 3 sisters, 2 brothers, niece, and nephew.

TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR…

Remembering SGT Russell M. Durgin ~ NH Hero

Remembering SGT Russell M. Durgin, HHC Co., 1st Battalion, 1-32 Infantry, Task Force Spartan, 10th Mtn Div
Born 7-2-1982 Concord
KIA 6-13-2006 Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom

Jean, his mom, shared the following with many a few years ago….

“My son, Russell M Durgin, “Russ” enlisted in the US Army Reserves at the age of 17 while a junior in high school. He received training at Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri then returned to his senior year at John Stark Regional High School. On Sept 11, 2001, he was activated and served as an MP at Ft Devons, MA. After 2 months, he decided to re-enlist in full-time Army and was sent to
Ft Benning, Georgia for infantry training. He was sent to the DMZ Korea 2002 and served a year. Upon return to the US, he reported to Ft Drum, NH and within 2 weeks was enroute to Iraq. After a year of intense service, losing friends and experiencing near death experiences, he returned home. He was assigned to the Snipers and Scouts unit and trained in California, Ft Bragg and Montana. He deployed to Afghanistan in March 2006 as a sniper leader. On June 13th, while under attack, Russ diverted fire from his men. It was there that he lost his life.

He left a fiancée, parents, his twin, brothers, a sister, nieces, friends and community to grieve the loss of a wonderful young man. Although we are all proud of his six years of service to us, America, we miss him greatly. Many testimonials were spoken from his men and from his leaders. Lt Col Chris Cavoli, 1-32 Commander said of Russ “Sgt Durgin lived the Warrior Ethos, he never quit and he always put the mission first, in what is probably the most difficult part of our area, he routinely performed acts of bravery while hunting down the enemy. He fought like a tiger and died like a man.”

Sgt Major Jimmy Carabello said “there are American Soldiers still alive in the Chosin Battalion because of his bravery and heroism on the battlefield in the Korengal Valley, there should be a picture of Sgt Durgin to the NCO Creed.”

Never forget….To Remember is to Honor

Honoring and Remembering SGT Daniel Gionet – NH Hero

Remembering SGT Daniel Gionet – he died on June 4, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1A2 tank during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

After the bomb shattered the tank he was riding in, Dan tended to the wounded around him, ignoring his serious injuries. When a medic unit finally arrived, he made his last decision. Dan said, “Don’t deal with me. Go help the lieutenant. He’s in greater danger than me”.

He attended Pelham High School where he was a three-season athlete. He was on the football team, baseball team, and was one of the students who helped turn the school’s wrestling club into an official school team. He received the school’s sportsmanship award. When he graduated from high school in 2001, he enlisted in the Army. By 2004, Daniel was serving as a cook for U.S. and Romanian soldiers at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan but he never really got around to cooking. Enemy fire occupied so much of the time that he had to be an infantryman and fight like the rest of the unit. By May 2004, Daniel’s desire to help others led him to re-enlist and to retrain as a medic. He was deployed to Iraq last December, just before Christmas. In Nov, before his deployment, he married Katrina, the love of his life. How much did he love her? Here is the message on his cell phone: “If this is Katrina, you are the love of my life. – PAUSE – If it’s not Katrina, you know who you called. Leave a message”. There are many things to know about Daniel – he could make you laugh on the worst day of your life, he loved to fish, loved healthy fruit bars (but hated MREs), loved beef jerky and tollhouse cookies. He planned to study culinary arts after completing his service in 2008 and become a professional cook. He didn’t want his family to worry about him so he told them he was safe and his patrol time had been cut from 36-hour shifts to 12-hour stretches. He also told them, “I’m safe. I’m in a tank where nothing can penetrate”. Daniel’s bride Katrina received his Purple Heart and Bronze Star.