Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Ceremony in NLR to honor war dead

Taken from:
Amy Schlesing
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

93 Arkansans killed over 8 years

The Iraq War kicked off eight years ago this week and was quickly followed by Arkansas' first wartime death.
The anniversary of that death will be marked Saturday with a ceremony at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery also honoring all of the state's casualties over the years in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Navy Corpsman Michael Vann Johnson Jr. was treating a wounded Marine in the initial push into Iraq when shrapnel from a grenade pierced his head and killed him on March 25, 2003.

As of Friday, 93 Arkansans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, Of those 72 died in Iraq and 21 in Afghanistan. The majority of those deaths - 75 - were the result of enemy fire. There also have been 17 noncombat deaths and one from friendly fire.

Cpl Loren Buffalo, 20, of Mountain Pine was the latest victim. He died March 9 in Afghanistan and was buried Friday in the State Veterans Cemetery.

Today there are several hundred Arkansans from Little Rock Air Force Base, the Navy Reserve in North Little Rock, the Army Reserve ad the Arkansas National Guard still serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

The Michael Vann Johnson Jr. American Legion Post 74 will host the annual ceremony Saturday.

Post 74 in North Little Rock was named in honor of Johnson when it began in 2004.

The memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. at the State Veterans Cemetery at 1501 W. Maryland Ave. in North Little Rock. The name of each Arkansan killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be read. Pvt. William Long, 25, of Conway also will be memorialized. He was killed in 2009 in a shooting at a Little Rock recruiting office.

This year's speakers at the event will include Col. David Kasberg, commander of the 19th Operations Group at Little Rock Air Force Base.

I would like to believe that there is some healing taking place at ceremonies like this, said R. D. Kinsey commander of Post 74. "I have that list of casualties. And I carry it with me everywhere I go."


Today would have been Loren's 21 birthday. It will be a very hard day for his mom A.J. and brother Legend along with the rest of his family and friends. Please take a moment to send prayers of peace and strength for them today.

I ask all of our fellow Arkansans to try to attend this ceremony Saturday and show these families that their Heroes will never be forgotten.

Happy Birthday Buff, We love and miss you.


I love you Scout

God Bless,
Cav Mom

Thursday, March 10, 2011

RIP Son Squared

Spec Loren Miles Buffalo
March 23 1990 - March 9 2011
Our hearts are broken and our minds are full of questions as to why this has happened, Loren was killed yesterday in an IED incident in Afghanastan.

If I live to be 100 yrs old I never want to hear the pain and anguish that I heard when I answered the phone call from my seester....
I never want to see the haunted look in the eyes of another person that I saw when I got to her house and met her in the drive....
I never want to have to say I don't know when asked the question why...
To know Loren or Buff or what ever name he had picked for himself that day
(me: son squared who the hell is Chuck Lingo?
Loren: oh mom squared that is my porn name.
BWAAAAHAAAAHAAA)
That conversation was part of one of the last facebook chats we had a
few weeks ago.
He could make you laugh, cry or want to throttle him all within the first 10 minutes of being in the same space as him.
He loved life, music, horses, his Country and most of all his mom, his brother and his friends. To Buff everyone became family.
To his mom all I can say is I am always here, no matter what time, what day or what minute.
To his brother Legend: He loved you very much and will always be watching over you.
To his friends: You all know just how lucky you were to have him in your life
and to
Buff, Loren and even Chuck Lingo:
I love you son squared. Rest in Peace, Enter the gates to Fiddlers Green, find a shady spot you have earned it, and know that you are an American Hero who will never be forgotten and will always be loved.
On the 8th day God created the Cavalry and all of Hell stood at attention
If you ain't Cav you ain't Shit
I am honored to have been your Mom Squared even if it ended way to soon
HOOAH
Love
Cav Mom
I love you Scout