IGTNT: "He led with his heart"

Please join me today as we honor and remember Spc. Frank L. Cady III, 20, of Sacramento, California; Sgt. 1st Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, of Krum, Texas; Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, 22, of West Springfield, Massachusetts; 1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin, 27, of Ward, Arkansas; and Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, 21, of Dunnellon, Florida.

Spc. Frank L. Cady III, 20, of Sacramento, California

Scaramento lost one of its own on October 10 when Frank L. Cady III was killed in a vehicle rollover in Baghdad.

His mother reports that Frank was a "kid genius" who was reading story books at [age] three, dictionaries and encyclopedias at [age] four, and law books at [age] six.  By 9th-grade Frank was testing at college-level, and his mother hoped he would choose a career in the legal profession.  

Frank decided otherwise.  After graduating Visions in Education Frank Cady enlisted in the US Army.  There is a lovely photo of this soldier in uniform here.

Friends and family members remember Frank as a talkative young man who'd do anything for a laugh – and who fervently desired to serve his country.

His cousin, Lenard Cody, recalled a 14-year old Frank telling him, "Cuz, I don't know if it will make a change or not, but I know I'm willing to die to try."  Frank's mother confirmed that the events of September 11th furthered Frank's desire to serve.

Although serious about his duties, Frank was also a prankster who could bend one's ear.  "Oh God," recalled his friend Camille Crowninshield, 20, laughing. "He would not shut up. He would speak a million words a minute, no joke."

Frank retained his love of reading (Dean Koontz and Stephen King were favorites) as well as playing pool and enjoying an evening out at a nightclub.  "He was a young man," Frank's mother explained.   "A pretty girl turned his head!"

Frank L. Cady III was assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division based in Fort Riley, Kansas, where he worked as a chemical operations specialist.

A quote on Frank Cady's MySpace page sums up his life:  "Scars heal, glory fades, life is short so go on and live it."  He did just that.

Friends left repeated messages: "Rest in peace man ... you were a good person, and I'll miss ya."

"My son died living his dream," said his mother, Billie-Jo Hull, 35. "How many people could say that, if they died today, they would be living their dream?"

Our hearts are with the family and friends of Frank L. Cady III.  He was a very special young man.

Sgt.1st Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, of Krum, Texas

Krum, Texas lost one of its own when Justin S. Monschke was killed October 14 while on patrol in Arab Jabour, Iraq.

The Krum native enlisted in the US Army while still in high school, reports his father, Larry Monschke. "He had to graduate high school first, but he wanted to go right away," Larry Monschke said. "So, as soon as he graduated, he left for boot camp a week later."  While in high school, Mr. Monschke said Larry played for the baseball team and ran cross-country track.

Sgt. Monschke trained extensively in advanced military tactics, paratroop, emergency medical, Ranger, Special Forces and noncommissioned officer training. He earned two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, three Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, campaign medals in Afghanistan and Iraq, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and numerous badges and ribbons.  [source]

He served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger Training Battalion in Georgia and as a squad leader and observer/controller at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.  [source]

Mike Pierson, who became principal at Krum High School during Monschke's senior year, called Monschke a "very bright and respectful young man."

"It's no surprise at all to see that he became a Green Beret," Pierson declared. "When you look at what that requires — mentally agile, physically tough — that was Justin."

Sgt. Monschke was serving in the south Baghdad region of Arab Jabour, Iraq, as a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha team weapons sergeant assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom in July as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. This was his second deployment in the military and his first in Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class and Green Beret Officer Justin S. Monschke is survived by his parents, Larry Monschke of Fort Worth and Patty Jett of Denton; a brother, Jarrett Monschke, a Denton firefighter and paramedic; his beloved wife, Melissa; a daughter and son, Ashley (6) and Ryan (4), and a stepson, Dylan (10), all who live in Lillington, North Carolina.  "He liked being a father," said Mr. Monschke.

A lovely on-line guest book is available for remembrances and condolences.  A photo of this handsome soldier can be viewed here.

Our hearts go out the family and friends of Sgt. Justin Monschke.  He was an amazing and accomplished young man.

Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, 22, of Belchertown, Massachusetts

Belchertown lost a son Sunday when Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski was killed during combat operations in Baghdad.

"He was very patriotic," his father, Dominick Iwasinski told reporters in a phone interview. "He believed in everything he was doing [in Iraq], he just believed in it. ... It takes someone special to do something like that and a special kind of commitment...I have to believe in what he believed in."

Pfc. Iwasinski joined the Army in 2006 after earning his general equivalency diploma. After training as an infantryman, he shipped out to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he stayed just three months before going to Iraq with the Fort Carson's 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 2nd Infantry Division, which is one year into a 15-month deployment.

"He had a huge heart!" his father declared.  "Kenny would do anything to help somebody and feel bad if he couldn't do more.  He was just a good kid.  He was the kind of guy where if you asked him to borrow 10 dollars and he only had 7, he would go around trying to get you the other 3," his father, Dominick Iwasinski said, in a telephone interview. "Kenny was always that way.  His heart was bigger than his head.  He led with his heart."

His stepmother, Tawnia Iwasinski, told reporters she had known Kenneth since he was 5 years old. "He was like a son to me.  Kenny was a wonderful kid! He was strong and he was brave."

A lovely on-line guest book is available for remembrances and condolences.  A photo of this handsome young man is available here.

Pfc. Kenneth Iwasinski is survived by his father and stepmother, Dominick and Tawnia Iwasinski of Belchertown (with whom he lived, although the Army lists a West Springfield address); his mother, Tracy Taylor, and a sister, Amanda Taylor, both residents of Chicopee.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends and Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski.  What a legacy he left behind: to be remembered as having a big, loving, generous heart.

1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin, 27, of Ward, Arkansas

1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin was lost to us Sunday when his unit came under attack near Al Busayifi, Iraq.

1st Lt. Martin was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division out of Fort Richardson, Alaska.

His family said Monday that they are not ready to talk about his death, and the IGTNT team is respectful of their wishes.

A lovely, on-line guest book is available for remembrances and condolences.  The magnificent Patriot Guard also offer a chance to leave/read condolences (and possibly ride information, pending an invitation from the family).  A photo of this handsome soldier can be viewed here.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of 1st Lt. Thomas L. Martin. We are so very sorry for your terrible loss.

Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, 21, of Dunnellon, Florida

Dunnellon lost a beloved son on October 14 when Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas died in a non-combat related incident in Tal Afar, Iraq.

His former classmates remember Jason Koutroubas as "a smart, quiet student who always wanted to join the military."

"There was no doubt about that," said friend Michael McClain Jr. "He was looking forward to going to college when he got back."

Jason joined the Army in June 2005, shortly after his graduation from Dunnellon High School.  Spc. Koutroubas was a radar operator with the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Bliss, Texas.  His unit deployed to Iraq in November 2006.

McClain shared news from one of Jason's weekly emails.  "He was glad he had the night shift because it was cooler and darker then, and he felt safer," McClain said. "He said there were a lot of sandstorms too, and he missed trees."

Jason lists several 'heavy metal' bands as favorites on his MySpace page, where his username is Flying Penguin. "I'm not sure where he came up with that name!" McClain told reporters.

Master Sgt. Allen Burlison, an instructor with the Air Force JROTC program at Dunnellon High School, remembered Koutroubas joining the program in 2004 during his senior year.

"By the time he came to us, he had already decided to join the Army and was on delayed enlistment. I think his recruiter told him it would be a good idea if he worked with us in ROTC," Burlison said. "He was a good cadet, did everything we asked him to do, and if he had been with us longer, I'm sure he would have been in a leadership role."

Burlison said Koutroubas' death was difficult to absorb.  His own son, in the National Guard, is set for deployment to Iraq in December.

"It's hard when it's someone this young. But this is a part of what war is about and we talked about that today in fact,"  Master Sgt. Burlison said. "For those who will go into the military, this is a reality of the job, and sometimes that means you have to give your life."

Let's give his friends the final word on Jason Koutroubas: 18-year-old Robert Robinson said: "I remember him from the field trips we took. He was a real quiet but cool kid," and Alicia Rome, 17, also a Dunnellon senior, said Koutroubas kept her and other cadets motivated to do their best.  "He always made sure our uniform was right, and we could go to him if we had a problem and could not find Sgt. Burlison.  I want to go in the Army," she continued. "And if I'm sent to Iraq, I'll be fighting for Jason."

A lovely, on-line guest book is available for remembrances and condolences.  A video of a few of Jason's friends can be found here. (The video breaks off to other stories halfway through).

Jason Koutroubas is survived by a wife and an infant daughter, and his family declined to say much more. "They are just devastated by this," said an aunt about the family.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, a "real cool kid".

IGTNT stands for "I Got the News Today."  The phrase most likely refers to the Beatles song, and it is meant to symbolize that terrible knock on the door that any number of families got today, bringing with it the news that a loved one has died. IGTNT is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind.

Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is maintained by blue jersey mom, Chacounne, joyful, moneysmith, Monkeybiz, noweasels, roses, Sandy on Signal, sistwo, twilight falling, MsWings and greenies.

Fallen soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and National Guardsmen-and-women whose names have been released by the Department of Defense are typically diaried two days after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each fallen service member more fully, and still in a timely manner.

Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.