RIP Katie

[frogcycle]

From:
"Troops send a message to America
Messages From The Troops - Iowa"

http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/MessageList.aspx?SectionID=6&State=ia

Being deployed is one of the hardest things to do. But being here makes me realize how good we have it in America. Even though being over here is hard I’m glad I’m over here. Before I came over here I didn’t know what to expect. But now that I’m here just seeing how some of them are living just hurts me inside. I wish I could do more for them but there’s only so much you can do without their help. I want to take this time to say Thank You for the support. The support is what keeps us going. When times get rough and I don’t know what to do, I just look in my email and there’s an email from friends and family saying how much they are proud of me. Every day I go into the chow hall and on the wall is a big American flag that elementary students made with paint and their hand prints. Just the little things are what keep us going. So again THANK YOU for the support that we need!
Katie Rowella (Soenksen), PFC, Active Duty Army, Davenport


DoD Identifies Army Casualty

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=10822

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen, 19, of Davenport, Iowa, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle. She was assigned to the 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

[jaysunb]

1. And The Beat Goes On

Sadly....

[Richard D]

2. Another life

another potential
another light
snuffed out decades too soon.
How sad.

[babylonsister]

3. Aw, shit.

RIP, Katie.

TOO damned young, for such a ludicrous war, being waged by one man with power he shouldn't have. :(

[bigwillq]

4. Rest in peace, Katie.

:cry:

[DU9598]

5. Second Iowan in May

And it is only May 3rd.

In any other world ....

[Nickster]

6. I just can't stand it. 19 is too fucking young to be snuffed out like that. When is this madness

going to stop?

[Ilsa]

7. These are our little ones, our children that are being

dragged into the abyss for oil and profit. Goddammit, it has to stop.

I hope you find peace on the other side, Katie. And for your family as well.

[frogcycle]

8. Here's more

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/05/03/news/local/doc463a56c746d8f949665817.txt

[hedgehog]

23. That must be her high school graduation photo, right?

We're sending babies over there.

[frogcycle]

30. Probably

from the article its clear the reporters went to the school to do the story. They did a nice job.

I am generally impressed by the local coverage. Often they'll get a story like this out within a day, and then do two or three followups with additional interviews. Sometimes even a week or two later, plus funeral coverage.

So even though the national press low-keys the human element, generally just reciting numbers, local press seems to still understand what reporting the news is.

They are all tough to read about, but somehow it is particularly tough when they run a photo of a photo - sometimes you can see it in its frame, sitting on a table. I assume the family didn't have a photo to give them to take away. I always wonder if the reporter/photographer was being respectful and saying "leave it there; I won't touch it, I'll just photograph it." I wonder if they train for those calls the way the military messengers do?

There was one of a grandmother sitting in a chair, holding the photo in front of her, kind of hugging it.

Another of a very pregnant wife holding the photo on her belly.

[MannyGoldstein]

9. This is Totally Fucked

Impeachment is the only way to stop this.

People are dying - will the Congressional 'Dems' ever realize that it's not just about triangulating for the next election? Do the right thing and impeach NOW.

[mod mom]

10. If Bush believes so strongly in his war, why the hell aren't Jenna & Barbara over

there instead of other folk's children?

[Cassandra]

12. It's so hard to get the vodka cold enough in that heat.

There are limits to roughing it, you know.

[Mendocino]

13. If b**h had sons instead of daughters,

would we have a war?

[mod mom]

18. His father had sons and where was he? Not to mention...

Katie Rowella (Soenksen), PFC, Active Duty Army, Davenport, Ms. Rowella is a female.

[Lex]

11. Damnit. She needed to be OUT OF THERE

and all the sweet American flags in the world could not save her from Bush's hellhole war.

[Mabus]

14. I hope her family can find peace

I just hope her family, friends and all those she touched are able to find peace. I'm sure they are feeling a deep loss. My heart aches for those she left behind and for her death and I never met her.

[Hissyspit]

15. Ever have the same nightmare night after night...?

after night

This is not a dream, though. It's all real.

[frogcycle]

32. yeah, all too real

I check icasualties, see a few new listings, post the "name not released", location, and date - that is bad, whether it is several or just one.

Then I go look at the last few days and get names for the ones that were not released last time I updated. The names, ages and hometowns make it much more real.

then I surf the web for stories and pictures. usually the first few stories don't have pictures; i post links to them, read most of them. Then eventually I find pictures, and they finally seem to be real people - they "come to life" - except, of course, they are dead. I meet these people, get to know a little about them - but always after they are dead.

The next day I start over with some more.

It's like Groundhog Day, only its not a movie.
But they deserve to be known, to be remembered. So I keep doing it.

[Hissyspit]

35. Look up Joshua Deese from last year.

Student of mine who died.

Students who may have been injured or lost limbs, I don't know about. I do know of another student of mine who was blown up in an IED attack and survived with "minor" injuries. She did get to see the brains of her friend splattered across the Humvee. The only reason I know about her is because she called and told me about it.

Keep up the good work.

[truedelphi]

47. Thank you for your perseverance in such a macabre job

They should not be forgotten, swept away with jsut one single news release about their deaths

[Breeze54]

48. I do the same.

[merh]

16. Rest in Peace, Katie

:cry:

[frogcycle]

17. damn

of the six killed so far this month, only two names are available

Katie is one; the other is Zach Gullett

Zach Gullett had been injured March 17 while on patrol south of Baghdad. He suffered a concussion in an attack in which two other soldiers were injured. After that, he had spent some time at home with his parents before returning to duty a week ago.

He collapsed and died during calisthenics on Tuesday. I guess he was "fit to return to duty", huh?

[AndreaCG]

19. I saw the header and thought Katie Couric had been fired

Too bad I was wrong.

[judaspriestess]

20. My sincerest condolences to her family

and thank you Katie for your service and sadly your sacrifice.

[bullwinkle428]

21. I just heard this news - her father was a co-worker of mine. Not in the

same department or work area, so we never really had any contact, but I still feel some personal sense over this loss. My heart just breaks for her family... :cry:

[lpbk2713]

22. That AWOL SOB caused all this misery. He needs to be behind bars.

Him and all the other smug, arrogant, chickenhawk SOB's who sent everyone else's kids to be maimed or killed while they yukked it up and counted their proceeds from war profiteering. History will judge them all as the most sinister band of criminals this country has ever had to deal with.

[Laurier]

24. So very sad. May she rest in peace.

Condolences to her family.

[Old and In the Way]

25. Absolutely heartbreaking....she's my daughter's age.

I feel so terrible for her family, it must be an incredibly sad time of inconsolable grief. There is no sense to this madness.

[mnhtnbb]

26. So sad. So very sad.

[frogcycle]

27. I've just been updating website

Katie, Zach, and four not-yet-identified are posted for May.


The lists for April are below. I scanned quickly and counted twenty age 20 or younger - several 19, one 18. Most are pictured on my site; the rest will be added as available:

Faces



Afghanistan (9)


4/8/2007
Spc. Conor G. Masterson, 21, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

4/11/2007
Sergeant Edelman L. Hernandez, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland


4/12/2007
Sergeant David A. Stephens, 28, of Tullahoma, Tn.
Staff Sergeant Casey D. Combs, 28,of Auburn, , Washington

4/20/2007
Sergeant Alex Van Aalten, 21

4/27/2007
Staff Sergeant Michael D. Thomas, 34

4/28/2007
Specialist Daniel F. Mehringer, 20, Morgantown, West Virginia
Corporal Jeremy R. Greene, 24, Springfield, Ohio

4/30/2007
Pending Notification

Iraq (104)

4/1/2007
Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, 26, of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick, 25, of Spring Hope, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Jason R. Arnette, 24, of Amelia, Va
Pfc. Miguel A. Marcial III, 19, of Secaucus, N.J.
Spc. William G. Bowling, 24, of Beattyville, Ky.
Sgt. Robert M. McDowell, 30, of Deer Park, Texas.

4/2/2007
Staff Sgt. Bradley D. King, 28, of Marion, Ind
Spc. Curtis R. Spivey, 25, of Chula Vista, Calif.
Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Olsen, 20, of Eagan, Minn
Spc. Brian E. Ritzberg, 24, of Long Island, New York

4/3/2007
Pfc. Gabriel J. Figueroa, 20, of Baldwin Park, Calif
Staff Sgt. Shane R. Becker, 35, of Helena, Mont.

4/4/2007
Staff Sergeant Jerry Clark Burge Jr.
Pfc. Walter Freeman Jr., 20, of Lancaster, Calif.
Pfc. Derek A. Gibson, 20, Eustis, Fla.
Cpl. Joseph H. Cantrell IV, 23, of Ashland, Ky.
Pfc. James J. Coon, 22, of Walnut Creek, Calif.

4/5/2007
Spc Jason A. Shaffer, 28, of Derry, Pa
Sgt. Forrest D. Cauthorn, 22, of Midlothian, Va.

4/6/2007
Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph A. McSween, 26, of Valdosta, Ga
Captain Anthony Palermo JR.
Pfc. Daniel A. Fuentes, 19, of Levittown, N.Y.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph C.Schwedler, 27,of Crystal Falls, Mich
Pvt. Damian Lopez Rodriguez, Tucson, Ariz.
Chief Petty Officer Gregory J. Billiter, 36, of Villa Hills, Ky
Petty Officer 2nd Class Curtis R. Hall, 24, of Burley, Idaho.
Spc. Ryan S. Dallam, 24, of Norman, Okla.
Pfc. Jay S. Cajimat, 20, of Lahaina, Hawaii

4/7/2007
Spc. Ebe F. Emolo, 33, of Greensboro, N.C.
Spc. Levi K. Hoover, 23, of Midland, Mich.
Commander Philip Murphy-Sweet, 42, of Hampden Township
Pfc. Rodney L. McCandless, 21, of Camden, Ark.
Capt. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh, 25, of East Hampstead, N.H.

4/8/2007
Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, 25, of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Staff Sgt. Harrison Brown, 31, of Prichard, Ala.
Pfc. David N. Simmons, 20, of Kokomo, Ind.
1st Lt. Phillip I. Neel, 27, of Maryland,
Sgt. Todd A. Singleton, 24, of Muskegon, Mich
Sgt. Adam P. Kennedy, 25, of Norfolk, Mass

4/9/2007
Spc. Clifford A. Spohn III, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M.
Pvt. Brett A. Walton, 37, of Hillsboro, Ore.
Pfc. Brian L. Holden, 20, of Claremont, N.C.
Spc. Ismael G. Solorio, 21, of San Luis, Ariz.

4/10/2007
Pfc. Kyle G. Bohrnsen, 22, of Philipsburg, Mont.

4/11/2007
Sgt. Raymond S. Sevaaetasi, 29, of Pago Pago, American Samoa

4/12/2007
Cpl. Jason J. Beadles, 22, of La Porte, Ind.
1ST Lt. Gwilym J. Newman, 24, of Waldorf, Md.
Spc. James T. Lindsey, 20, of Florence, Ala.
Cpl. Cody A. Putnam, 22, of Lafayette, Ind.
Pfc. John G. Borbonus, 19, of Boise, Idaho.

4/13/2007
Sgt. Larry R. Bowman, 29, of Granite Falls, N.C.

4/14/2007
Sgt. Brandon L. Wallace, 27, of St. Louis, Mo.
Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Santee, 21, of Mission Viejo, Calif.
Sgt. Joshua A. Schmit, 26, of Willmar, Minn.
Staff Sgt. Robert J. Basham, 22, of Kenosha, Wis
Spc. Ryan A. Bishop, 32, of Euless, Texas

4/15/2007
Pfc. Steven J. Walberg, 18, of Paradise, Calif.

4/16/2007
Pfc. Aaron M. Genevie, 22, of Chambersburg, Pa.
Pfc. Lucas V. Starcevich, 25, of St. Charles, Ill
Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Scherry, 20, of Rocky River, Ohio
Sgt. Mario K. De Leon, 26, of San Francisco, Calif.
1st Lt. Shaun M. Blue, 25, of Munster, Ind.

4/16/2007
Lance Cpl. Jesse D. Delatorre, 29, of Aurora, Ill.

4/17/2007
Pfc. Richard P. Langenbrunner, 19, of Fort Wayne, Ind.

4/18/2007
Cpl. Michael M. Rojas, 21, of Fresno, Calif.
Cpl. Wade J. Oglesby, 27, of Grand Junction, Colo.
Pfc. Jason M. Morales, 20, of La Puente, Calif.

4/19/2007
Chief Warrant Officer Dwayne L. Moore, 31, of Williamsburg, Va.

4/20/2007
Lance Cpl. Jeffery A. Bishop, 23, of Dickson, Tenn.

4/21/2007
Staff Sgt. Marlon B. Harper, 34, of Baltimore, Md
Pvt. Michael J. Slater, 19, of Scott Depot, W. Va.
Sgt. William W. Bushnell, 24, of Jasper, Ark.
Staff Sgt. Steven R. Tudor, 36, of Dunmore, Pa.
Pfc. Christopher M. North, 21, of Sarasota, Fla.
Cpl. Ray M. Bevel, 22, of Andrews, Texas

4/23/2007
Staff Sgt. William C. Moore, 27, of Benson, N.C.
Staff Sgt. Kenneth E. Locker Jr., 28, of Wakefield, Neb.
Spc. Michael J. Rodriguez, 20, of Sanford, N.C.
Spc. Jerry R. King, 19, of Browersville, Ga.
Sgt. Michael L. Vaughan, 20, of Otis, Ore.
Sgt. Brice A. Pearson, 32, of Phoenix, Az.
Sgt. Randell T. Marshall, 22, of Fitzgerald, Ga.
Lance Cpl. Dale G. Peterson, 20, of Redmond, Ore
1st Lt. Kevin J. Gaspers, 26, of Hastings, Neb.
Pfc. Garrett C. Knoll, 23, of Bad Axe, Mich.
Pfc. Jeffrey A. Avery, 19, of Colorado Springs, Colo.

4/24/2007
Spc. Jeremy E. Maresh, 24, of Jim Thorpe, Pa.

4/26/2007
Cpl. Willie P. Celestine Jr., 21, of Lafayette, La.
Lance Cpl. Adam E. Loggins, 27, of Athens, Ala.
Cpl. Christopher Degiovine, 25, of Lone Tree, Colo

4/27/2007
Sgt. William J. Callahan, 28, of South Easton, Mass
Sgt. Peter Woodall, 25, of Sarasota, Fla.
Pfc. Nicholas E. Riehl, 21, of Shiocton, Wis
Pfc. David A. Kirkpatrick, 20, of Upland, Ind.
Spc. Eddie D. Tamez, 21, of Galveston, Texas

4/28/2007
Sgt. Michael R. Hullender, 29, of Little Falls, N.J.
Pvt. Cole E. Spencer, 21, of Gays, Ill
Pfc. Jay-D H. Ornsby-Adkins, 21, of Ione, Calif.
Sgt. Glenn D. Hicks Jr., 24, of College Station, Texas.
Sgt. Norman L. Tollett, 30, of Columbus, Ohio

4/29/2007
Pfc. Brian A. Botello, 19, of Alta, Iowa.
Sgt. Alexander J. Funcheon, 21, of Bel Aire, Kan.
Staff Sgt. Jay E. Martin, 29, of Baltimore.

4/29/2007
1st Lt. Travis L. Manion, 26, of Doylestown, Pa.

[Spiffarino]

31. Nine dead in the real war against terrorists.

The rest destroyed for Bush's vanity. I am thankful for the soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines, but I am disgusted by their CinC.

[frogcycle]

50. all but seven pics now there n/t

[joshcryer]

28. Aww, she was a sweetheart.

OMG. :(

[knight_of_the_star]

29. I hope her family finds solace

This war is not right, too many dead just to salve some bastard's ego who should be pumping gas in Texas for minimum wage.

[RamboLiberal]

33. RIP Katie - Local story on her - tears in my eyes as I post this

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/NEWS/70503049/1001/NEWS03

Katie Soenksen told her father she was going out on a mission Tuesday night. He didn’t worry. It seemed to be part of her daily routine.

<snip>

Early Wednesday morning, Ronald Soenksen still hadn’t heard from his daughter after a late-night shift at furniture manufacturer HNI Corp. in Muscatine. He didn’t worry. She didn’t always make it to the computer.

Wednesday afternoon, the Army visited Soenksen’s home. His daughter, Katie , was dead.

The upbeat 19-year-old former center fielder was killed by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad on Wednesday, said her father, Ronald Soenksen.

Too bad though that her father sounds like one of those who have drunk the Repuke koolaid. No matter I still mourn his daughter though he'd like to hang the likes of me and all of us here.

“There’s people that want to pull (the troops) all out,” Soenksen said. “Those people should be taken out and hung. It’s a slap in the face to every American.”

[renate]

34. just a baby

So sad. Nineteen. Unbelievable.

If it brings her family any comfort, I'm glad they think the war and her death were worthwhile. Hard to imagine, but maybe believing in the war makes this easier for them to deal with than dealing with maggiegault's beloved brother's death is for her family. This is one of those cases in which FOX News/Lies may be a good thing, like morphine.

[frogcycle]

42. yes

this is no time to challenge people on that.

The Patriot Guards include both supporters of and critics of the occupation. They don't argue that when providing an honor guard. And they don't quiz the families about their politics. If only the rest of the nation could take their lead. Of course the far, far opposite end of the spectrum is the phelps crowd, who intentionally intrude on people's grief to make their nutso political points. Damn, this whole thing is so oppressive.

[Solly Mack]

36. How many more have to die to protect the lies?

Stop the lying - stop the dying

[shenmue]

37. R.I.P.

:cry:

[bdamomma]

38. another precious life gone due to the madness of GWB.

this has got to stop, we have to stop him.

[deutsey]

39. Just think what our country and the world could be if we tapped

the idealism and enthusiasm of young people like Katie for something good and constructive.

RIP...

[JNelson6563]

40. A sickening waste

:cry: With a daughter who'll be 19 this year, I can almost imagine how her parents feel. She was obviously a special young woman.

Heartbreaking.

Julie

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

43. I can't take this any more...

I really can't. Every day is a new heartbreak. If I thought for one moment that these lives were being sacrificed for the greater good of somebody -- anybody -- it would be easier to bear.

[myrna minx]

41. RIP Katie. n/t

:-(

[Moochy]

44. K&R

RIP Katie M. Soenksen.

[maggiegault]

45. Bless Her Heart. Bless Her Family. Other than that, there is nothing left to say.

[Breeze54]

46. Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen, 19, of Davenport, Iowa, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds from IED

:cry:

To damn young!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stand up and protest the fucking war, people!!! :grr:

[jwirr]

49. When a memorial is finally put up for those killed in this damn war

I hope it will somehow incorporate the idea that we did not want them to die for *ss.