Army Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro “Alex” Granado

Dateline: Tatun, TX Aug. 09

Army Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro “Alex” Granado, 42, of Tatum, TX.
Died from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device Aug. 2 in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan.
He was a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, and assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson, Miss. He served for more than twenty years.

Granado was home last month and visited his family over the 4th of July holiday. There is no doubt of the family’s pride of one of their own. His nephew Johnny was quoted, “We’re real proud of him, he was one of the bravest men I knew. I always looked up to him…you have to look up to somebody like that.”

This video is a tribute in his honor. His interment services were held Aug. 10, 2009 in Tatum, TX. Crowds of people began arriving shortly before 5:00 pm. Many came equipped with umbrellas to help endure the 101˚ heat index. Whiles others came waving small American flags.
Once the procession, escorted by the PGR of East Texas, arrived approximately 600 people had gathered to bid a farewell to fallen American Hero. Army representatives from Ft. Bragg performed a military funeral. Church bells and a Texas size bell rang out in honor of Granado. He was given a three round volley salute and a bugler played TAPS. Four flags were presented to his family.

In the end, the family said their final goodbyes, as a small group of singers accompanied by a guitar, performed several Spanish Christian Hymns to help bring comfort to the grief stricken. After mourners offered words of sympathy to the family they began to file out of the cemetery.

Music:
Seven Spanish Angels
By: Ray Charles

Special thanks to:
Granado family
Patriot Guard Riders of East Texas
Davidl “The Texas Bell Ringer”
Tatum citizens
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Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins

Date line: Paris, Texas August 13, 2009 Temp: low 90’s
Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins, 24, of Paris, Texas.
Died Aug. 6, while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, HI.
Hoskins’ final journey home began after a chartered plane delivered his flag draped coffin. The family welcomed their love one home. There was a formal transfer of the coffin from the tarmac to the hearse. The staging of the procession ran from the flight line to the main entrance to the air field. High school students from the school he graduated from lined both sides of the street. The video shows highlights of the seven mile journey from the airfield to the funeral home.
As a video producer I have seen many of these types of videos before, but I never experienced in person. I live in a big city and they lose sight of real priorities. A human sacrifice still means something to many Americans. Our fallen soldiers allow for us to protest over healthcare, taxes, and anything else your heart desires. When Jay Hoskins came home today, traffic did not pull over; it came to a complete stand still. Thousands of citizens, white collar and blue collar, liberals and conservatives all put aside their differences to honor a local hero. For without these brave men and women make it possible for us to freely agree to disagree with each other.
Music:
Remix – Band of Brothers, Mansions of the Lord, and Sgt. MacKensie
Special Thanks:
North Texas Patriot Guard Riders
Patriotic Citizens of Paris

Video Production
Jerry Castillo

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Week ending Sep. 26, 2009 the US Department of Defense released the names of 9 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with honor. This video and your respectful comments are memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers.

A grateful nation honors your service. Your battle is over; rest in peace. Your courage, for our country, will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

Please visit my USFallen.org FaceBook fan page with photos of soldiers used on video and post memorial tributes.

Fallen Description:

Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr., 20, of Denham Springs, LA.,
Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas, TX.,
Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, TX.,
Tech Sgt. James R Hornbarger, 33, of Marysville, CA.,
Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, TN.,
Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, 24, of Yonkers, N.Y.,
Pfc. William L. Meredith, 26, of Virginia Beach, VA.,
Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y.,
Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, OH.,

Update: US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 767
As of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, at least 767 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Wednesday at 10 a.m. EDT.
Of those, the military reports 588 were killed by hostile action.
Outside the Afghan region, the Defense Department reports 70 more members of the U.S. military died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Of those, three were the result of hostile action. The military lists these other locations as Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba; Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Jordan; Kenya; Kyrgyzstan; Philippines; Seychelles; Sudan; Tajikistan; Turkey; and Yemen.
There were also four CIA officer deaths and one military civilian death.

Music:

“Now We Are Free”
By: Hanz Zimmer

“TAPS”
Photos/Resources
www.airforcetimes.com
www.afghanistan.pigstye.net
www.defenselink.mil
www.kpua.net
www.lohud.com
www.militarycity.com

US Fallen Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Producer
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This week the US Department of Defense released the names of 13 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces. In memoriam tribute to Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. First Class Jared Monti.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with honor. This video and your respectful comments are memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers.

A grateful nation honors your service. Your battle is over; rest in peace. Your courage, for our country, will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

Please visit my USFallen.org FaceBook fan page with photos of soldiers used on video and post memorial tributes.

Fallen Description:
Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester N.Y.,
Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25, of Melrose, Fla.,
Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, MD.,
Spc. Daniel L. Cox, 23, of Parsons, KS.,
Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22, of River Falls, AL.,
Sgt. Tyler A. Juden, 23, of Winfield, KS.,
Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, Ill.,
Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree City, GA.,
Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24, of Carlisle, PA.,
Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, TX.,
Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury, 30, of Bridgeport, W. Va.,
Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C.,
1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26, of Moore, OK.

Music:

“Hymn to the Fallen”
Performed by: Katherine Jenkins

“TAPS”

Photos/Resources
www.afghanistan.pigstye.net
www.andalusiastarnews.com
www.defenselink.mil
www.fayobserver.com
www.militarycity.com

US Fallen Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Producer
Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Blip.tv video.

US Military Fallen – week ending Sep. 12, 2009. A grateful nation honors your service. Your battle is over; rest in peace. Your courage, for our country, will forever be etched in our minds and hearts.

Welcome viewers. These weekly episodes pay tribute to brave men and women who served our country with honor. This video and your respectful comments are memorial tributes to our fallen soldiers.

This week the US Department of Defense released the names of 15 military personnel who died, while serving in the United States armed forces.

Fallen:
2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34, of Dallas, TX.
Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes, 20, of Gaffney, S.C.
Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27, of Orlando, Fla.
1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, of Monroe GA.
Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31, of Columbus, GA.
1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25, of Virginia Beach, Va.
Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, GA.
Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, of Riverbank, CA.
Sgt. Youvert Loney, 28 of Guam
Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons, 20, of Fernley, NV.
Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, TX.
Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25, of Snyder, TX.
Pfc. Zachary T. Myers, 21, of Delaware, OH.
1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten, 24, of Arkansas
Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith, 31, of Marion, OH.

Music:

“Time to say goodbye”
Performed by: The Texas Tenors

“TAPS”

Photos/Resources
Daily Kos IGTNT
OEF Page
Militarycity.com
DoD

US Fallen Video Production
Jerry Castillo
Producer