January 21, 2010

January 21, 2010

Last night I settled in bed fairly early for what I hoped was a good night’s sleep. I was almost there when my cell phone text tone went off. The message was from my daughter Anna Laura suggesting I place my blog notes on http://lonasvoice.blogsopt.com in chronological order. I thought to myself, “They are, since that’s the way I write them”. Knowing though I am always learning when it comes to the internet and computer I typed back, “will do and love you, good night”. I settled back down and low and behold the phone went off again, “I love you too and sweet dreams”. I smiled to myself, put the phone down, turned off the light and was almost asleep when there it went again. Another text came through. I thought about not looking since I was almost asleep, but these fancy little gadgets don’t let you get away from that. If you don’t look at the message it reminds you again in two minutes. Almost like the snooze button on an alarm clock. I snoozed and it went off again! I turned on the light and picked up my phone thinking it was Anna Laura. It wasn’t! My heart sank when I read the message.

The message was from a mother of one of the soldiers severely injured in the battle that took Tyler’s life. She was informing that yesterday it was released that a 19 year old from Tyler’s US station, Fort Carson, Colorado was killed in action. My heart sank! I instantly began to relive those moment when I first learn of Tyler’s death. Don’t get me wrong. I was thankful to know the news. I will forever be connected to “gold star families”. That’s what we are you know. If you lose a loved one in battle you go being a “blue star” family member to a “gold star”. I knew nothing of the star till it happened to my family.

19 years old! Anna Laura is 19! How tragic. His life had just begun. My guess is he was newly enlisted as well. I prayed and cried tears for my family as well as his. I then much later in the evening fell asleep.

This morning I did some research and I was right! I found the following:

The Department of Defense announced Wednesday the death of a Fort Carson soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 19-year-old Private First Class Robert Donevski of Sun City, Arizona, died January 16th in Abad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

The news release makes it sound so impersonal. I know the pain that his loved ones are going through and will continue to go through for months to come.

Please say a prayer for his family today.

Lona