So long as we love, we serve; so long as we are loved by others I would say that we are indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend.
- Robert Louis Stevenson
Tonight we pay tribute to three family men who recently died in Iraq while serving in the U.S. Army. Together, they leave behind three wives and four children, as well as many other grieving family members, friends, and colleagues.
On Friday, the Department of Defense announced the death of Sergeant Bryan J. Tutten, a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: "Sgt. Bryan J. Tutten, 33, of St. Augustine, Fla., died Dec. 25 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C."
Bryan J. Tutten
Bryan Tutten was the only child of Sylvia Smallwood of St. Johns and the late Thomas Robert Tutten of Vilano Beach, the Florida Times-Union reports. He grew up in his native St. Augustine, went to St. Augustine High School, and attended St. Johns River Community College. He married his high school sweetheart and had worked at various occupations, including restaurant chef and landscaper before joining the army when he was 27. And he was an avid sportsman who loved to fish and cook.
His family told WJXT that he was passionate about joining the army, but that passion was nothing compared to his love for his family:
"It killed him that he was on his first tour when his daughter was born, and was in Iraq when his son was born. They were able to bring him back for two weeks of emergency leave. So, he was able to spend some time with his son," said Tutten's father-in-law, Gary Peterson.
Father-in-law Gary Peterson told WRAL that Tutten was a rifleman and squad leader in his infantry company:" He went out to clear out the insurgents. It was a very dangerous job but he was very good at it." Tutten’s second tour in Iraq began in November 2006, and he was due home in 45 days.
"Sgt. Tutten had many qualities not found just anywhere," said fellow soldier Christopher Lachenmayer told the Fayette Observer. "He was loyal, motivated, disciplined and passionate. His loyalty to the Army, his platoon and his soldiers made him stand out from his peers. His discipline and motivation were unwavering, and his passion for his family and friends made him a great husband, father and friend.... It was truly an honor for me to know and work with him. I know that he is in heaven looking down at all of us right now."
Peterson told the Florida Times-Union that the family last spoke with Tutten on December 11, during a video conference call for a group of soldier. "He was one of my heroes and he sacrificed his life for our safety," Peterson said. "He was a very good family man who would spend hours playing with his daughter. My wife, Faye, and I were so attached to Bryan that we thought of him as one of our sons and we have three of our own."
The Tutten family suffered another loss in 2001, when Tutten's father, a popular artist and musician in St. Augustine, drowned while trying to retrieve a raft for some children he had rescued from the surf when they were playing on the beach, the Florida Times-Union reports.
Bryan Tutten leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Constandina Peterson Tutten; his daughter, Catherine, who was born during his first tour of Iraq and will be four years old tomorrow, on New Year’s Eve; and his son, Gareth, who will be one year old in May. Tutten is also survived by his grandmother Jeannette McSwain of Conyers, Georgia, and members of the Peterson family.
Tutten’s mother told the Florida Times-Union that her son "was the bravest man I ever met and he was everything to me." She stated that "he felt he was doing the right thing fighting for our freedom and our country," but she hated that her grandchildren will now grow up without their father. "He was so brave and he is going to be missed," she said.
Friends have set up a website where comments "to celebrate Bryan’s life and to help keep his friends connected as we mourn his loss." Among the comments were these:
Bryan was like an older brother to me. I was an only child as well so our connection was that of brothers. We signed up for The Army almost at the same time. I left for training only a month or so before he did. He was a true Patriot and a great friend beyond all else. I remember he had such a wonderful sense of humour and we often could get in deep discussions about just anything. I am lucky to have had Bryan in my life and wish I could have had the chance to tell him so. I extend my most sincere condolences to C.P. and Sylvia. May he now watch over us all from heaven. - Tim Matthews
I survived with Tutten in 3rd platoon of bravo company 3/505. I was there when he got back from his first tour to Iraq in April 2004. We went on many field training exercises together and shared many conversations. In the later months of my service with the 3/505 i experienced some hard times. Tutten was always concerned about my well being and would go out of his way to see how i was doing. he was a warm, compassionate, brave man. I had fond memories of him and i laughing together and sharing good conversation when we were cold and tired during training. i was very saddened today when i read the paper and learned of his death. I liked him very much. my heart goes out to his family. May god forever look after his children and family. A wonderful man will be greatly missed. - Ron De Maris
Tutten’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal with two gold loops, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Parachutist's Badge.
Sgt. Tutten’s family has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to escort his return to St. Augustine and to stand in honor at the prayer service and the funeral service.
Photos are here, here, and here. A news video clip is here.
May he rest in peace.
On Friday, the Department of Defense also announced the deaths of two additional soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: "They died Dec. 26 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire during dismounted combat operations .They were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were Capt. Rowdy J. Inman, 38, of Panorama Village, Texas, and Sgt. Benjamin B. Portell, 27, of Bakersfield, Calif."
Rowdy J. Inman
Rowdy J. Inman, a decorated soldier and Desert Storm veteran, had served two tours in Iraq and had just been redeployed last month. His friend Krysti Kruse described him to the Courier of Montgomery County as the "ultimate dad and friend."
Inman met his future wife, Shannon Jones, while attending Sam Houston State University. The couple married in 1999 and had two children, Keeley, age seven, and Gary, age four. "One of the first times we met, he showed me pictures of his family and told me how he met his wife," said friend Krysti Kruse. "He was so in love with her." The family left Conroe in 2001 for Colorado Springs, where Shannon became the head softball coach and assistant volleyball coach at Wasson High School. Later they returned to Texas.
Inman was commissioned as an officer in Sam Houston State’s ROTC program in 2000. His uniform was part of that program’s fiftieth anniversary exhibition in 2002. (A photo from the display is here.)
After two Iraq tours, Inman briefly left the army, but then he reenlisted. "His wife didn't want him to stay in, so he got out for about one month and then got back in," Inman's uncle, 70-year-old Herman Dicus of Corpus Christi told the Courier of Montgomery County.
Dicus said that family members have heavy hearts. They're "kind of tore up," he told the Bakersfield Californian. "It's sad," he said. "I knew what he went through." Dicus spent twenty years in the navy, including five Vietnam tours.
Inman’s neighbors and friends lauded him to the Bakersfield Californian:
"I couldn't say anything bad about him. He was a great guy. I'd be in the front yard doing something and he'd come over and help me. I never had to ask him." - Buddy Gorski, neighbor
"His family meant everything to him," said. "He'd do anything for you. He was just a great all-around guy." - Greg Landrum, friend
"Rowdy was just the most wonderful guy, very supportive of Shannon and her coaching." - Janet Tingle, head volleyball coach at Oak Ridge High School, which Shannon attended
"This is such hard news. God bless him and the other members of his unit. He made the ultimate sacrifice. He did it, not for himself, but for the rest of us. That's the kind of guy he was." - Ron Loftin, neighbor
Inman’s military awards and decorations include a Bronze Star Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, an Overseas Service Ribbon and a Combat Infantryman's Badge.
The Patriot Guard will stand in honor of Captain Inman:
It's with a heavy heart that I ask CenTex to prepare for the arrival, escort and burial of a friend, Cpt. Rowdy J. Inman. I served with Cpt. Inman when he was a NCO. He was a good man. It's a great loss to all Americans.
I was unable to locate any photos of Rowdy Inman. If you know of any, please include a link in the comments.
May he rest in peace.
Benjamin B. Portell
Benjamin Portell, a newlywed on his second tour in Iraq, was one of three brothers who have served in the U.S. military in that country. The family’s pastor, Brian Murphy of Riverlakes Community Church, told KERO 23 that Portell’s unit was ambushed while on patrol. Portell and another soldier (Rowdy Inman) were killed and four other soldiers were injured in the fight. Friends told KGET-TV that Portell had been back in Iraq less than two weeks when he was killed.
Portell grew up in Bakersfield, California, and graduated from Stockdale High School. A fellow high school football player, Kris Pelster, told the Bakersfield Californian that Portell was honest and trustworthy: "He was a good guy to know and a solid addition to the football team." Another friend, Seth Colebrook, observed, "Ben was a very happy guy, always in a good mood." He said that their group of high school friends will remember Portell as being a brave man. "He wasn't the toughest guy in the group, but he was the most courageous," Colebrook said.
Portell also participated in activities at the his church, including mission trips to Mexico., according to the Bakersfield Californian. "He had such a tender heart," his pastor said. "He was a real servant."
One friend, T. J. Reyes, told KGET-TV that Portell loved people and loved to laugh, always lived life to the fullest, and served his country with pride: "He was pretty passionate about that.... When he signed up, he was out running getting ready for the physical test, making sure he could pass all that. When he enlisted he was gung-ho about it. He was proud to be in the Army serving his country."
Pastor Murphy told the Bakersfield Californian, "Ben was a great guy. "He just got married seven months ago. It's horrible." He added that the family was having a difficult time with the death. "The parents can't talk right now," Murphy said. Portell and his wife, Michelle, were married just last May, KERO 23 reports.
Portell’s older brother, Mike, is currently deployed in Iraq but is coming home to be with his family. The youngest brother, Jeff, served in Iraq but is no longer in the army.
Among the military awards and decorations Portell had earned was an Army Commendation Medal. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that in honor of Sergeant Portell, Capitol flags would be flown at half-staff.
Benjamin Portell is listed in the "Confirmed Mission Rides" section of the Patriot Guard website, though no additional details appear there yet.
Photos are here, here, and here. News video clips are here and here.
May he rest in peace.
As of this writing, Iraq Coalition Casualties reports that 3,901 American soldiers, sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardsmen have been confirmed killed in action; 1 additional death is pending confirmation; 5 others died from wounds received in Iraq but the Department of Defense has not included their deaths in its official count; 4 others are missing or captured in Iraq; and 474 have died in Afghanistan. The DoD does not keep records of U.S. veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who have committed suicide, but they number at least in the hundreds. The DoD news releases can be found here. The death toll among Iraqis is unknown, but is at least in the tens of thousands. At least 140 journalists have been killed in Iraq during the war.
You can help our military men and women! Please consider sponsoring a deployed service member at TroopCarePackage.com. It doesn’t take much time or money. Just send letters or care packages to your soldier, sailor, Airman, or Marine. Remember, "mail is gold" for a deployed soldier. A few minutes of your time and one airmail stamp can make a real difference in a military person's life. anysoldier.com, Operation Helmet, and Fisher House are also wonderful organizations that provide comfort and care to deployed American troops. Finally, if you would like to assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here. Animal companions can provide such solace and comfort.
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one.
Click here to see the entire series, which was begun by i dunno and which is now maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, silvercedes, noweasels, MsWings, greenies, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, Wee Mama, twilight falling, moneysmith, labwitchy, joyful, roses, SisTwo, and Avila.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and families of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.