Honoring the California Fallen

Marine Lance Corporal Joshua D. Corral, 19, of Danville, CA, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA. LCpl Corral died in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Specialist Sean M. Walsh, 21, of San Jose, CA, was assigned to the 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, California National Guard, Pittsburg, CA. SPC Walsh died in the Khoswt province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during indirect fire.

Staying in Afghanistan

So, things have changed here a little. What was originally a 6-month deployment to Afghanistan has turned into a full 12-months of deployment. Here is a little of the back story:

Before I had even left for Fort Benning for pre-deployment training, I was approached by my Clinical Nurse Officer in Command (my boss) asking if I would be willing to extend my deployment. At the time with the way the numbers were looking, there would be no one to replace me here in Afghanistan when I would be scheduled to return home. I did not say yes at that time but agree with my boss that I would spend a few months here before saying yes or no. At the end of August I again spoke with my bosses both back at home and here in Afghanistan and made the decision to submit the paperwork for the 6-month extension. A few weeks ago I was informed that the extension had been approved and that I would be staying.

However, I am not scheduled to stay in the same location. Currently I am working with rotary-wing MEDEVAC in Regional Command - East (RC-E). Sometime in December I should be moving to the South to work with the Air Force to complete the fixed-wing MEDEVAC. It is a move that I am looking forward to. While I have enjoyed working with the rotary-wing MEDEVAC, I am ready for a change. I will miss the friendships that I have made here but am excited at what lies ahead.

Since I am moving in December, Christmas is going to be very different this year. Last deployment we had a huge party for the entire Combat Support Hospital. I will not be stationed at a hospital, but I am confident the Air Force knows how to party!

Any packages that are being sent probably need to be done so by November 16 to my current address. As soon as I get a new address I will be sure to post it.

Thank you for your love and support. I miss you all!

Hometown Salute

A 23-year-old soldier who had planned to return home in time for his daughter’s birth was killed in an ambush in the mountains of Afghanistan.
Army Corporal Sean K. A. Langevin of Walnut Creek, CA was one of five soldiers who died November 9, 2007 when their patrol came under enemy fire in Aranus, according to the Department of Defense.
CPL Langevin was assigned to the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy. He was originally scheduled to go to Iraq during the troop surge, but in May he was sent to Afghanistan instead.
Relatives remembered him as an adventurer who snowboarded, skated, bungee-jumped and tried tandem skydiving.
Langevin graduated from Ygnacio Valley High School in 2002 and met his wife Jessica when they both worked at a pizza parlor in Walnut Creek. They married in January 2006 and their first and only child was born in February 2008.
“You have your ‘shoulda, coulda, wouldas,’ ” said Jessica Langevin, who talked to her husband almost every day. “I don’t have those with Sean. I have no regrets. That’s where I find a little of my peace.”

Information from MilitaryTimes.com