Very sad news today from the Department of Defense and The Signal:
Spc. Ian T.D. Gelig, 25, of Stevenson Ranch, died yesterday in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device, according to the Department of Defense.
The paratrooper was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
His unit was conducting a combat logistic patrol in Kandahar when he was killed.
“Gelig was a good friend and great person,” said Spc. David Tryon, a fellow Paratrooper from Alpha Company. “He was always there for you when you needed something. He will be deeply missed by everyone in this unit, for a piece of us went with him.”
I’ve been browsing what I think is Spc. Gellig’s MySpace page. According to that page, he graduated in 2002 from Hart High School and was in the elite 82nd Airborne Divsion.
A North Carolina newspaper (the 82nd is based in Fort Bragg in NC) says Spc. Gelig died “when a suicide car bomber drove into his vehicle.”
Gelig also served in Kuwait & Iraq in 2007. This was his second deployment according to the AP.
He is, by my count, the fourth young man from the Santa Clarita Valley to die in the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. I think he may be the first who died in Afghanistan.
Rest in peace and thank you for your service Spc. Gelig.
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Jeff: Thank you for your comments honoring this young local soldier. We all owe him and every man and woman who has ever served in our military a great deal. They have sacrificed so much so that we can live our lives in a free democracy. My heart goes out to this young man’s family. May he rest in peace…
This story is deeply upsetting to me. That a young man who went to the same high school as I did died because some illiterate jihadi decided to ram his bomb-car into Gelig’s strikes me as unreal.
I know it’s real, it happens every day to soldiers and Marines around the country, but now it’s happened here.
I was just looking at the Boston Globe’s pictures of Afghanistan yesterday..We’re fighting people who live in mud huts. What the hell are we doing there again? Why did Gelig have to die? Why has Obama chosen to escalate this war?
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/afghanistan_february_2010.html
Oh my, and so young. This is just terrible. What a brave, selfless young man.
My count is five including Spc. Gelig
Jose Ricardo Flores Mejia -Santa Clarita
Cole Larsen-Canyon Country
Richard Slocum- Saugus
Dennis L Sellen Jr.- Newhall
Walter Freeman Jr. from Lancaster-worked at Magic Mountain prior to entering the Army.
God’s Grace and Comfort to the family of Spc. Ian Gelig.
This damn war better be worth it!
Condolences to the family and friends.
Ian was my cousin, one of my best friends. I grew up with him. Deployed to Afganistan with him. His life was cut too short. Its not fair. I cannot comprehend it all…Ian tell me its not true…
Macy-The tears just would not stop this morning when I read your post.
Please know that we appreciate the sacrifice of Ian and the others. Our community wishes you grace and comfort.
If we can be of assistance in any way at this time-let us know.
My prayers are with his family.
Our military are the most honorable people in the world and fight for our freedom everyday, even if Washington uses them, unfortunately, for political advantage, they deserve our prayers and respect for what they do.
ian was my role model. i always looked up to him when i heared the news on tuesday, i didnt take it very well.now, ian gelig is my hero!
i love my uncle ian!!
Jacob
Thank you for joining the conversation. Your uncle is a hero to many people who love freedom and liberty. He embodied the very best of America.
If you have a Bible always remember John 15:13 when jesus tells us “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”.
Your uncle
cont. Your uncle Ian voluntarily answered the call of our nation to join in a mission to protect our country and by extension offer hope for a better life to people distant from our shores.
This sense of duty and honor are too rare today.
Many Americans grieve with you over the loss of your uncle. He died performing his part in a mission which was greater than himself, to bring light into a dark place in the world. Be proud and know that we stand with you and your family at this time.
God bless the family of this young man. I knew nothing of this until just seeing the gigantic, emotionally moving processional in Stevenson Ranch.
May he be with God now.