IGTNT: "His passion was always to be where the action was"

Tonight, it is my privilege to honor two fine Americans who lost their lives on June 18 as a result of wounds suffered from an enemy rocket attack in northern Paktika province, Afghanistan.

Please join me below to celebrate the lives of Navy Hospitalman Marc A. Retmier, 19, of Hemet, California, and Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III, 37, of Davison, Michigan.

Hospitalman Marc A. Retmier

"His passion was always to be where the action was. He could have stayed at Bethesda Naval Hospital and been a corpsman. My son believed in what he was doing and he kept volunteering. He didn't have to be there."  ~as quoted to the Los Angeles Times by Marc Retmier's father, Steve.

Marc Retmier's parents were desperate to have him back home: "bossing them around, riding motorcycles and telling his brother to cut his hair."  Tragically, Marc Retmier became a horrible statistic instead: he was the 500th Californian to die in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

"He was supposed to be here July 4th for leave," said his father, Steve Retmier. "We almost had him back."

Marc's parents, Steve and Joy Retmier, struggled with their son's military service.  Marc's emails from Afghanistan were grim, filled with stories of anti-American hostilities.  

"He told me he would go through villages handing out coloring books and the kids would rip them up and throw them back at him," Mrs. Retmier told the Los Angeles Times. "He told us they didn't want Americans there."

Steve Retmier added, "I don't blame the military. I am a military enthusiast.  I just don't know if we are making any difference over there. And if my son is No. 500, I don't want to see 501."

Marc's beloved grandfather, a decorated Korean War veteran, was devastated by the news.

"He used to follow me around like a little shadow; I practically raised him," 75-year-old Dale Powers said. "I took him everywhere. I took him camping and fishing. He was sort of in charge of the family."

Growing up, Marc Retmier adored paint balls and dirt bikes and was on the Varsity swim team in school.  As an adult he would muse on the beautiful California weather, where he could surf and ride motor bikes. (You can view Marc's Motocross page here.) Marc had three years left in the service, then he planned to enroll at Cal State Long Beach to major in medicine.

Marc A. Retmier is survived by his parents, Steve and Joy Retmier; two younger brothers, his grandfather, Dale Powers; and many friends and military comrades.  Funeral services will be on Wednesday, June 25, at Pacific View Memorial Park and Mortuary in Corona Del Mar.  The magnificent Patriot Guard Riders will welcome HN Retmier home on June 24 at the March Air Reserve Base, and then escort him from the funeral home to his final resting place on the next day.

Los Angeles Times published a sympathetic and honest story earlier today, with photos of Marc's grieving family.  I found a beautiful, on-line Guest Book where many of Marc's family and friends have left loving messages.  There's another charming photo of Marc here.

A friend remembers: "He was very squared away. He always had a great attitude. He even walked with confidence. He was always full of energy,and ready to take on anything. He had a smile that would brighten up anyone's day."

May Spirit Bless and Keep the memory of Marc A. Retmier, along with those dear ones who mourn and love him.

Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III

The Flint (Michigan) Journal reports that, "Just a few months shy of celebrating 20 years in the military, a Middle East deployment was the last thing Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III of North Branch expected."

But there was one reason Toles was sent to Afghanistan, reported his Executive Officer of ten years: "He was the best," confirmed Lt. Commander George Degener.  "He's been one of my top sailors.  He's one of the people I looked towards and always asked to go with me on any training event anywhere we were asked to go. He was always a hard charger -- a performer.

"Everywhere we went, he was asked to come back."

Tragically, Toles was in a unit that supported the Naval Air Station Sigonella base in Sicily and there should have been no reason he was sent to a war zone, except that, "being in the military we are all subject to individual augmentation, where you're chosen because of the rate or specialty you have," his XO Degener said. "That was the case in Petty Officer Toles going to Afghanistan. His specialty was public works and construction battalions."

In civilan life, Ross Toles worked at GM's Pontiac Assembly Center, where he served as a fleet manager for Premier Manufacturing Support Services.  His co-worker, Jeff Coolidge remembered his friend as a "free spirit" who was willing to lend anyone a helping hand.

"He was just a vibrant person," said Coolidge, who learned of his friend's death on Thursday, when a memo was sent around the plant. "He always had a smile and he was always outgoing."

Ross Toles III was raised in Davison, but recently moved his family to North Branch.  He was a daddy to three young boys, ages 14, 6, and 9 months.  His father was also career military, and Ross joined the Navy right out of high school.

The Flint Journal reports that First Class Petty Officer Ross L. Toles earned several awards and decorations: the 2007 Selres Sailor of the Year, two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, the Navy 'E' Ribbon, two Navy Reserve Meritorious Service Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal, and three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

You can view a photo of this kind-hearted father and sailor here.    The Patriot Guard Riders have been asked to honor Toles at his funeral in Lapeer, Michigan, on June 26.
 
Petty Officer First Class Ross L. Toles III leaves behind three young sons, and numerous family and friends who love and mourn him.  May Spirit Bless and Keep the memory of Ross L. Toles III, along with all who miss him.

The IGTNT and Mojo Friday communities have come together in support of Netroots for the Troops, a project planned for Netroots Nation 2008 in Austin, Texas on July 17-20.  Please help us send 101 care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan!  No money? No worries: Timroff gave us a wonderful diary chock-full of Six (free or inexpensive) Ways You Can Help the troops.  

The following fine organizations could also use your support: AnySoldier.com, Fisher House, the Military Pets Foster Project, Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets, Military Mascots, or Operation Enduring Christmas, an organization that plans theme parks vacations for the children of our fallen troops.

                                Thank you so much for caring!

I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is currently maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, greenies, blue jersey mom, twilight falling, joyful, moneysmith, noweasels, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, and JeNoCo.

These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but, we believe, an important service to those Americans who have died, and to our community’s respect for and remembrance of them.

As you read this diary, please consider that the families and friends of those profiled here also may read it and that many members of our community have served in Iraq or Afghanistan or have loved ones currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I hope that the comments tonight will demonstrate our respect for the sacrifices of our fallen military and our compassion for their families, whatever our personal feelings about the war and occupation happen to be.  (Comment credit and my thanks to dear noweasels.)

                                                 

PEACE AND BLESSINGS