IED blast sends ripples through close community

bruno

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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/01/army-ied-tragedy-ripples-through-community-012112w/

Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr. re-enlisted last summer so he could deploy to Afghanistan with his son.

On Jan. 8, the younger Tauteris, also named Robert, performed the most solemn duty asked of a son. He escorted his father’s remains home from Afghanistan.

Robert Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind., and three other soldiers were killed Jan. 6 when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb...
RIP SPC Tauteris
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This is an issue very specific to the Reserve and National Guard units. I have seen brothers/ fathers/sons all serve and go into harms way in these units.

I have found that when a member of these units die, it really does affect the whole community where the unit is from.

In WWI, some UK units were so-called "Pals Battalions." That meant that the whole unit was made-up of guys from the same town (or same factory, professional organization, rugby team, etc.). Britain had no draft until 1916, and this was used as a recruiting tool. The downside, of course, was if that unit was in a nasty fight, like at the Somme, the entire town would lose all of its young men. It happened.

My thoughts are with these soldiers and the affected unit.
 
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Sprog, that's very interesting. I didn't know that. That would be devastating though to the women of those towns...can't believe that was used to recruit people. I guess they wanted to be with people familiar to them.

Sorry to hear about this family. RIP.
 
One of the little known stories of the USArmy in the 2d World War is how entire towns were really affected by local National Guard units that were taken onto active duty and sent overseas. Perhaps the best known of these is the story of the VA National Guard Battalion from the Bedford Virginia area. There is a really great D-Day memorial in Bedford that was built there to commemorate the losses experienced on DDay and shortly there after- that town of 3200 experienced 23 KIA when Company A, 116th Inf, 29th ID went ashore at Normandy. http://www.dday.org/history/the-bedford-boys.html

The memorial is well worth the visit- it's about an hour southeast of VMI- all the Rats are taken there to learn about the role and costs of being Citizen Soldiers- a role which the National Guard and USAR stepped up to in a big way over the last 10 years and which they will clearly play again in the future as the regular Army shrinks in size.

http://www.dday.org/
 
Perhaps the greatest single loss sustained by one American family due to military action was the loss of the 5 Sullivan Brothers with the sinking of the USS Juneau off Guadalcanal in 1942. Below is a transcript of letters from the Sullivan brothers mother to the President, and his reply:

Transcript

Waterloo, Iowa
January 1943

Bureau of Naval Personnel

Dear Sirs:

I am writing you in regards to a rumor going around that my five sons were killed in action in November. A mother from here came and told me she got a letter from her son and he heard my five sons were killed.

It is all over town now, and I am so worried. My five sons joined the Navy together a year ago, Jan. 3, 1942. They are on the Cruiser, U.S.S. JUNEAU. The last I heard from them was Nov. 8th. That is, it was dated Nov 8th, U.S. Navy.

Their names are, George T., Francis Henry, Joseph E., Madison A., and Albert L. If it is so, please let me know the truth. I am to christen the U.S.S. TAWASA, Feb. 12th, at Portland, Oregon. If anything has happened to my five sons, I will still christen the ship as it was their wish that I do so. I hated to bother you, but it has worried me so that I wanted to know if it was true. So please tell me. It was hard to give five sons all at once to the Navy, but I am proud of my boys that they can serve and help protect their country. George and Francis served four years on the U.S.S. HOVEY, and I had the pleasure to go aboard their ship in 1937.

I am so happy the Navy has bestowed the honor on me to christen the U.S.S. TAWASA. My husband an daughter are going to Portland with me. I remain,

Sincerely,

Mrs. Alleta Sullivan
98 Adams Street
Waterloo, Iowa
Reply
My dear Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan:

The knowledge that your five gallant sons are missing in action against the enemy inspires me to write you this personal message. I realize full well there is little I can say to assuage your grief.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I want you to know that the entire nation shares in your sorrow. I offer you the condolences and gratitude of our country. We who remain to carry on the fight must maintain spirit, in the knowledge that such sacrifice is not in vain.

The Navy Department has informed me of the expressed desire of your sons, George Thomas, Francis Henry, Joseph Eugene, Madison Abel, and Albert Leo, to serve in the same ship. I am sure that we all take heart in the knowledge that they fought side by side. As one of your sons wrote, "We will make a team together that can't be beat." It is this spirit which in the end must triumph.

Last March you, Mrs. Sullivan, were designated to sponsor a ship of the Navy, in recognition of your patriotism and that of your sons. I understand that you are now even more determined to carry on as sponsor. This evidence of unselfishness and of courage serves as a real inspiration for me, as I am sure it will for all Americans. Such acts of faith and fortitude in the face of tragedy convince me of the indomitable spirit and will of our people.

I send you my deepest sympathy in your hour of trial and pray that in Almighty God you will find the comfort and help that only He can bring.

Very sincerely yours,

(Signed)

Franklin D. Roosevelt
http://www.lettersofnote.com/2009/09/it-was-hard-to-give-five-sons-to-navy.html
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