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TAPS

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were  played; this brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something Every American should know. Until I  read this, I didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true:
We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps".  It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears  in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the song?  If not, I think you will  be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army  Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow  strip of land.
During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who  lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or  Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring  the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach  through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and  began pulling him toward his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was  actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb  with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was  his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war  broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the  Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his  superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy  status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members  play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him  only one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of  musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the  dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" ... used at military  funerals was born.


 The words are :

 Day is done.. Gone the sun.

  From the lakes. From the hills. From the sky.

 All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh.

 Fading light. Dims the sight.

  And a star. Gems the sky. Gleaming bright.

 From afar. Drawing nigh. Falls the night.

 Thanks and praise. For ourdays.

  Neath the sun. Neath the stars. Neath the sky.

 As we go. This we know. God is nigh.


I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I have  never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know  there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the  song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it  along.

I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.  Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.  And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces..
 
 

Mississippi's Fallen Heros
Sergeant Timothy R. Osbey 
Age: 34   From: Magnolia, Mississippi 
U.S. Army National Guard 
Assigned To: 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment 
Based In: McComb, MS 
Fatality Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 
Fatality Cause: Non-hostile - vehicle accident 
Fatality Location: Iskandariyah (near) [Babil 

Specialist Joseph A. Rahaim 
Age: 22    From: Laurel, Mississippi 
U.S. Army National Guard 
Assigned To: 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment 
Based In: McComb, MS 
Fatality Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 
Fatality Cause: Non-hostile - vehicle accident 
Fatality Location: Iskandariyah (near) [Babil Prov.], Iraq 

Specialist Robert A. McNail 
Age: 30   From: Meridian, Mississippi 
U.S. Army National Guard 
Assigned To: 150th Combat Engineer Bat., 155th Brigade Combat Team 
Based In: Quitman, MS 
Fatality Date: Friday, February 11, 2005 
Fatality Cause: Non-hostile - vehicle accident 
Fatality Location: Iskandariyah [Babil Prov.], Iraq 

Sergeant 1st Class Sean Michael Cooley 
Age: 35   From: Ocean Springs, Mississippi 
U.S. Army National Guard 
Assigned To: 150th Engineer Battalion, 155th Armor Brigade 
Based In: Lucedale, MS 
Fatality Date: Thursday, February 03, 2005 
Fatality Cause: Hostile - hostile fire - IED attack 
Fatality Location: Babil Province (northern part), Iraq 

 2nd Lieutenant Matthew R. Stovall
Age: 25  From: Horn Lake, Mississippi 
U.S. Army National Guard
Assigned To: 367th Maintenance Co., 298th Corps Support Battalion
Based In: Philadelphia, MS
Fatality Date: Sunday, August 22, 2004
Fatality Cause:  hostile fire - IED attack
Fatality Location: Mosul (western part), Iraq

U.S. Army Specialist Joshua I. Bunch
Age: 23  From: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Assigned To: 91st Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division
Based In: Fort Hood, TX
Fatality Date: Friday, August 06, 2004
Fatality Cause: Hostile - hostile fire - RPG attack
Fatality Location: Baghdad (western part), Iraq
U.S. Army National Guard Sergeant Joshua S. Ladd
Age: 20  From: Port Gibson, Mississippi
Assigned To: 367th Maintenance Company
Based In: DeKalb, MS
Fatality Date: Saturday, May 01, 2004
Fatality Cause:  hostile fire
Fatality Location: Qarrayah (S of) [nr. Mosul], Iraq
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jeffrey F. Dayton
Age: 27  From: Caledonia, Mississippi
Assigned To: 4th Bat., 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Div.
Based In: Baumholder, Germany
Fatality Date: Thursday, April 29, 2004
Fatality Cause: hostile fire - car bomb
Fatality Location: Mahmudiyah (near), Iraq
U.S. Marine Private 1st Class Christopher D. Mabry
Age: 19  From: Chunky., Mississippi
Assigned To: 2nd Bat., 4th Marines, 1st Marine Div., I Mar. Exped. Force
Based In: Camp Pendleton, CA
Fatality Date: Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Fatality Cause: Hostile fire
Fatality Location: Ramadi, Iraq
U.S. Army Spc. Larry K. Brown
Age 22, of Jackson, Miss. -
1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
Combat
Fatality Date: April 5  2003, in Iraq
U.S. Army Cpl. Henry L. Brown 
Age 22,  of Natchez, Miss. 
Enemy rocket south of Baghdad.
Fatality Date: April 8
U.S. Army  Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley,
Age 39, of Utica, Miss.
588th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Heart attack in Baqubah, Iraq.
Fatality Date: May 28, 2003

U.S. Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson
Age 30, of Mississippi.
Fatality Date: November 2
CH-47 Chinook Helicopter shot down near Amiryah

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Clint D. Ferrin, 
Age 31, of Picayune, Miss.
Fatality Date: March 13

Spc. James A. Chance III
Age  25, Kokomo, Mississippi, Marion County 
C Company, 890th Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard 
Killed when his vehicle struck a landmine in Husaybah, Iraq, on     November 6, 2003

2nd Lt. Therrel S. Childers
Age  30 of Harrison County, Mississippi 
1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division 
Killed in combat in southern Iraq on March 21, 2003

Spc. Raphael S. Davis
Age  24 of Tutwiler, Mississippi, Tallahatchie County
223rd Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard 
Killed when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device on Highway 1 south of the Samarra, Iraq, bypass on December 2, 2003

Spc. Jeremiah J. DiGiovanni
Age  21, Tylertown, Mississippi, Walthall County 
4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) 
Killed when two 101st Airborne Division UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air over Mosul, Iraq, on November 15, 2003

Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg
Age  21,  Batesville, Mississippi, Panola County 
1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) 
Killed when two 101st Airborne Division UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air over Mosul, Iraq, on November 15, 2003

Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert
Age  28, New Site, Mississippi, Prentiss County 
Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division 
Died June 1, 2003, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, as a result of injuries he suffered when his Humvee rolled over on May 26, 2003, in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Brian L. Freeman 
Age 27,  Caledonia, Mississippi 
I Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment     One of four soldiers killed when a suicide car bomb exploded near their dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 7, 2005 
(Thanks to Brian's mother, Patricia Freeman, for the correction of his birth place)

Cpl. Michael B. Presley 
Age 21,    Batesville, Mississippi
2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.  Presley died on December 14, 2005, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany of wounds he received when a suicide car bomb exploded during combat operations against enemy forces in Falluja, Iraq, on December 12. 

Sgt. Shane Pugh 
Age 25, Meridian, Mississippi 
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard. Killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle in Iskandariyah, Iraq, on March 2, 2005 

Pfc. Stephen P. Baldwyn 
Age 19,    Saltillo, Mississippi
3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.  Died of wounds received from an explosion during combat operations against enemy forces in Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq, on May 9, 2005 

Sgt. Audrey D. Lunsford 
Age 29,    Sardis, Mississippi 
Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle during combat operations in Haswa, Iraq, on May 23, 2005 

Staff Sgt. Saburant Parker 
Age 43,    Foxworth, Mississippi
Company C, 1st Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle during combat operations in Haswa, Iraq, on May 23, 2005 

Spc. Daniel R. Varnado 
Age 23,   Saucier, Mississippi 
Company C, 1st Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle during combat operations in Haswa, Iraq, on May 23, 2005 

Spc. Bryan D. Barron 
Age 26,    Biloxi, Mississippi
Company C, 1st Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle during combat operations in Haswa, Iraq, on May 23, 2005 

Lance Cpl. Marc L. Tucker 
Age 24,    Pontotoc, Mississippi 
9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Force Service Support Group, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. Died as a result of a non-hostile vehicle accident in Asr Uranium, Iraq, on June 8, 2005 

Sgt. Larry R. Arnold Sr. 
Age 46,   Carriere, Mississippi
Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard.  One of two soldiers killed when their armored personnel carrier was hit by a roadside bomb in Owesat Village, Iraq, on June 11, 2005 

Spc. Terrance D. Lee Sr. 
Age 25,   Moss Point, Mississippi
Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard. One of two soldiers killed when their armored personnel carrier was hit by a roadside bomb in Owesat Village, Iraq, on June 11, 2005 

Cpl. Clifton B. Mounce 
Age 22,    Pontotoc, Mississippi
3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.  One of two Marines killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb during combat operations near Trebil, Iraq, on July 14, 2005 

Staff Sgt. Travis S. Cooper 
Age 24,    Macon, Mississippi 
Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard.  Died on July 16, 2005, in Balad, Iraq, from wounds sustained a day earlier when a roadside bomb exploded near the vehicle he was searching in Baghdad, Iraq 

Lance Cpl. Roger W. Deeds 
Age 24,   Biloxi, Mississippi
Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.  One of three Marines killed as a result of enemy small-arms fire during combat operations against enemy forces in Ubaydi, Iraq, on November 16, 2005 

Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley 
Age 39, of Utica, Mississippi.
Bradley's death in Baqubah, Iraq was non-combat related. 
He was assigned to 588th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas. Died on May 28, 2003. 

Army Spc. Larry K. Brown 
Age 22, of Jackson, Mississippi.
Killed in action in Iraq. He was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 
41st Infantry Regiment, Fort Riley, Kansas. Died on April 5, 2003. 

Army Spc. Audrey Daron Lunsford 
Age 29, of Sardis, Mississippi.
Lunsford died in Haswa, Iraq, when his military vehicle was 
struck by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 
the Army National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters 
Company, 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry, McComb, Mississippi. Died on May 23, 2005. 
 
Faces of the Fallen

 
 
 

Page Created September 9, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Jane Combs  All Rights Reserved