There’s a special place in my heart for gentle giants. You know, the guy who towers over most everyone...has ever since he was a kid...and defies the stereotypes that come with being big and tall. The gentle giant may have an intimidating stature, but he’s even larger in heart and compassion. Tonight we celebrate the life and mourn the loss of just such a man. Pfc. Cody J. Eggleston, 21, of Eugene, Ore. survived a Oct. 16 blast in Baqubah, Iraq, but sadly succumbed to his wounds on Oct. 24 at Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Please take a moment to honor him and offer condolences to his family.
I Got the News Today - Pfc. Cody J. Eggleston, 21, Eugene, OregonImage may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
From the DoD:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Cody J. Eggleston, 21, of Eugene, Ore., died Oct. 24 at the National in Bethesda, Maryland, of wounds suffered on October 16 in Baqubah, Iraq, when he received indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
With his wife of four months, Karie, by his side, Pfc. Eggleston passed away last week at the age of 21, making the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country. He had been wounded in the same attack that took the life of Pfc. Heath K. Pickard. In addition to Karie, he is survived by Karie’s 6-year old daughter Raegan and other beloved family members. Not to mention communities in his home state of Oregon, Alaska, his second home and where he was based, and Brevard, North Carolina, home to Karie and her family. He is also survived by the men and women with whom he had the honor to serve. Pfc. Eggleston and Karie had married in June in Alaska.
"They were very much looking forward to taking a honeymoon," (family spokeswoman Alyse) Aiken said in the statement. "Cody was amazing with Karie's 6-year-old daughter, Raegan. I remember spending the day with them the weekend after their reception, and I was blown away at how good he was with her." Source ~ Ashville Citizen-Times
Karie spoke with ABC affiliate News 13 after returning home from Bethesda. I have no idea where she found the strength and courage you’ll see in the video.
"He called me his queen and my little girl, his princess." "He taught me as a person how to be loved and that's a major thing for me because you go through life and not everybody treats you the way you're supposed to be treated."
Pfc Eggleston had just deployed to Iraq last month – one day after his 21st birthday. "He really didn't have time to experience life," said his uncle, Rick Eggleston, of Fairbanks, Alaska, in an interview with The Oregonian. The paper reported that Pfc. Eggleston, known as "C.J." to friends, grew up in Oregon, but had also spent time in Alaska as a child.
In these visits, he became close to Rick Eggleston's children. With them, he loved to fish, ride four-wheelers and play guitar. "He was a heck of a guitar player," his uncle said. He returned to Alaska once more in the fall of 2007, as a soldier. "He was a 6-foot-3 giant, and a gentle giant, I'll tell you that much," Rick Eggleston said.
According to the Oregonian, Pfc. Eggleston had requested an Alaska posting, which is how he ended up at the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division in Fort Wainwright, seeking to make Alaska his new home.
But then, last November, he struck up an online romance with a woman from North Carolina with a 6-year-old daughter. They met in the spring and wed at the Chena Hot Springs Resort near Fairbanks. His new plan was to move to North Carolina and become a state trooper after completing his military service.
The dedicated men and women of the Patriot Guard Riders will be escorting Pfc. Eggleston on the last legs of his final journey home on Thursday.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Rest in eternal peace, Pfc. Cody J. "C.J." Eggleston. Your mission is complete.REMEMBER THEM WELL
Remember our troops- those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, those who are still in harm’s way and those who have returned home:
In Remembrance Please take a moment to honor the memories of our fallen service men and women who have passed through this world much too quickly. You can view the stories and remembrances of these heroes at sites such as Iraq Veterans Memorial and Honor the Fallen.
Supporting the Troops If you haven’t had a chance to put together a care package for a unit in Iraq or Afghanistan - it’s such a good feeling to know you are sending our troops things they really need. I’m not talking about the comforts of home – it’s necessities like socks and underwear and soup packets and feminine hygiene products and paper and pens...and school supplies, treats and trinkets they can pass out to the Iraqi and Afghan children. Basic things that they are so thrilled to receive. There are a few ways to do this. You can go through troopcarepackage.com or anysoldier.com. If you go to the anysolider site click on WhereToSend for a searchable database. For example if you search "By Latest Email" you’ll see the troops who most recently have submitted a request for specific items. You then request their mailing address. Operation Helmet is another great organization whose mission is to provide helmet upgrades.
Supporting Our Veterans We have a solemn duty to ensure that our veterans are properly cared for. Consider visiting sites such as StandUp4Vets.org, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Welcome Back Veterans.org and Fisher House to see where your help is needed. Other ways to help can be found in this diary.
The Department of Defense has confirmed 4,188 deaths, according to Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. 625 American troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
About the IGTNT series:
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.