Sunday, September 28, 2008

SSG. Yance T. Gray



Staff Sergeant Yance T. Gray with his family (from the Arlington National Cemetery website)



Mrs. Gray from the Sept. 29 issue of The New Yorker

Just over a year ago, SSG Gray and six others died in a vehicle accident in downtown Baghdad just a little more than a year ago. Gray and his fellow soldiers were in Delta Co., 1-325 Airborne Regiment, 82nd Airborne...Mark's battalion. You may remember Gray, he was one of several soldiers who authored an OpEd piece in The New York Times questioning the tactics being employed on the streets of Baghdad. His co-author SGT Omar Mora also died that day.

My memory was jogged by a remarkable portfolio by the photographer Platon in the current issue of The New Yorker. While I remember when we were notified about the incident, I was remiss this year in not saying a prayer for the families earlier this month. I will take care of that today.

2 comments:

MightyMom said...

first off, what an awesome photo of his wife and his flag.

ug. hits hard.

God bless SSG Gray and his family.

Maria M. said...

I was saying to my husband this morning...not sure what prompted it...but how grateful I was for our family, small as it is with one child...but we're safe, we're healthy, we have a home to shelter us and food to feed us...while the economy is going to hell in a handbasket, we are grateful for the things that matter most to us...family and friends. Our prayers and thoughts go out to those families who have lost their loved ones while serving their country, not just the United States, but all the countries fighting for freedom. God bless us all.