Thread by @joekent16jan19

In memory of my hero, Shannon Mary Kent. KIA January 16th 2019.

I’d do anything to have more time with her or trade places with her. She gave me her love, our sons & her life for our nation. Shannon eternal.

Shannon was kill with three other Amazing Americans, please keep them in your thoughts & celebrate their lives.

CW2 Jon Farmer from 5th SFG. Jon was a true leader & warrior. Jon was also a loving husband & father of his 4 children.

Scotty Wirtz a former SEAL & DIA intel officer. Scotty had been deployed almost constantly since 9/11. Scotty welcomed Shan to Syria when she arrived & helped her get settled into the mission in Syria.

Ghadir Taher was a Syrian American giving back to our nation by helping us navigate the cultural landscape. Native linguists are the unsung heros of GWOT. Shannon, a life long student of Arabic loved practicing the Syrian dialect with Ghadir.

On Shan's behalf I'm going to share the stories of two of her friends who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Steven Daugherty KIA 16 JUL 07 in Iraq. Steve was SIGINT specialist, he was killed guiding SEAL teams in their pursuit of terrorist leaders.

stationhypo.com/2017/05/16/rem…

Navy SEAL Blake Marston. Blake was killed during a parachute training accident on 10 Jan 2015. Blake was veteran of many deployments & helped Shan integrate with his SEAL platoon during her 1st Iraq deployment.

Our old son's middle name is Blake.

concordmonitor.com/Blake-Marston-…

Jay Blessing KIA in Afghanistan Nov. 14, 2003 taking the fight to the enemy.

Jay was a great friend, he was always quick with a smile & there for his Ranger buddies.

RLTW brother. We miss you & honor you.

RIP Aaron Holleyman KIA 30 AUG 2004 taking the fight to the enemy, near Khutayiah, Iraq.

Aaron was a true warrior & great friend to everyone he met.

DOL brother. We will never forget you.

Captain Michael Y. Tarlavsky was killed in action on 12 August 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Mike was a legendary Team Leader in 5th SFG.

Brett Walden KIA August 5th 2005 in Rabiah, Iraq. Brett was one of the 1st into Afghanistan after 9/11 & a mentor & friend to everyone at 5th grp.

Brett was also a father & husband who never missed the opportunity to bragg about his daughter & wife.

Killed with Brett was Robert V. Derenda, one of our brothers from the Kentucky National Guard. Robert was a citizen soldier who answered his nation’s call despite having a successful job as a chemical engineer.

RIP Ricardo Barraza & Dale Brehm. KIA in Iraq 2006 fighting AQI.

Rick was a good friend, I think about him & his contagious smile all the time.

I can’t believe it’s been so long.

…

MSG Toney Yost, he was killed leading the charge into battle on November 19th 2005
Toney influenced a generation of Special Forces weapons SGTs & led his ODA in combat with valor. He was always quick with a joke & long / heavy ruck.

DOL brother.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael S. Duskin killed in action. Big Mike was larger than life in every way, always smiling & leading from the front. He was already legendary by the time I met him, he went out taking the fight to the enemy.

He was my class leader in SERE, we… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Another friend & mentor of mine is Brian Hoke a former SEAL who was killed in AFG taking the fight to ISIS. Brian was friend to all & true warrior.

Tertia Optio

standforsomething.com/blogs/those-wh…

A friend & mentor, Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael R. Goodboe who was killed on November 24, 2020,

Goody, was a true warrior & leader. Goody fought on the frontlines of our nation’s hardest battles from the early days in Afghanistan until he was killed fighting 3… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Master Sgt. Sae Jin Park-Schneider, a great friend & silent professional. He survived multiple tours of combat only to be taken by cancer.

Sage's brother Dae Han Park was KIA on 12 Mar 2011 in AFG.

archives.rep-am.com/2018/06/17/mas…

greenberetfoundation.org/memorial/dae-h…

Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper Jr., 29 was killed on October 9, 2005 when insurgents ambushed his unit during a reconnaissance mission near Baghdad, Iraq.

DOL brother

SFC William M. Bennett and MSG Kevin N. Morehead killed in action 20 years ago in Iraq.

Both were amongst the 1st into AFG after 9/11.

Both were killed fighting what would become AQI led by Zarqawi.

cbsnews.com/news/three-sol…

Never forget. DOL / Strength & honor.

RIP Chris Horton KIA September 9th 2011 taking the fight to the enemy. We will never forget his sacrifice.

Chris’s wife @JaneMHorton has made caring for Gold Star families her life’s work since losing Chris in honor of his memory. She’s an inspiration & true patriot.