Fallen Hero

Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, a flag-draped casket carrying the remains of a 22-year-old U.S. Army hero arrived on American soil. According to the Pentagon, Spc. Gabriel Conde was killed on April 30 “as a result of enemy small arms fire” in Afghanistan’s Tagab District, which is in the war-torn country’s northeastern Kapisa province. The firefight is being investigated by the military.

The Loveland, Colorado, native’s hometown newspaper, the Reporter-Herald, reports that Spc. Conde was a high school cross country runner who “felt like being in the military was his calling.”

“He was wonderful,” Berthoud High School cross country coach Kristi Leonard told the newspaper.

According to Hans Peter’s article, the young soldier was almost finished with his nine-month deployment and had been excited to return home. Instead, at this tragic hour, the young soldier’s family, friends and fellow soldiers are trying to come to grips with Spc. Conde’s shocking death.

Amid the devastation, we can hope that the fallen soldier’s loved ones will eventually find comfort in the fact that his ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. Despite having his whole life in front of him, this brave young warrior from Loveland, Colorado, chose to risk everything in defense of others. Today, and for all time, Spc. Gabriel Conde is an American hero. We are praying for everyone who had the privilege of knowing this remarkable young man.

Military honor guard conducts Dignified Transfer as remains of Army Spc. Gabriel D. Conde of Loveland CO arrive at Dover AFB. He was killed Monday in a firefight in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/Np6BfzYhdb

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 3, 2018

Afghanistan

In addition to the aforementioned battle in Kapisa province, two brutal terrorist attacks killed 25 people in Afghanistan on Monday, including innocent children in the southern province of Kandahar and journalists in the capital city of Kabul. At least 45 people were also wounded in the pair of bombings, including eight Romanian soldiers. You can read more about Monday’s sad events here.

Syria

A U.S. military-supported offensive against ISIS has resumed in Syria, according to a report by The Washington Post. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), “a Kurdish-dominated alliance backed by the United States,” defeated ISIS in their “capital” of Raqqa last year. SDF will now make another attempt at taking control of eastern oil fields that were previously seized by the terrorist group.

As this U.S. military caption notes, “coalition forces have worked by, with and through SDF partners to reclaim territory from ISIS.” Please pray for our brave troops as they continue risking their lives in Syria.

Coming Home

The violence and heartbreak endured by our nation’s military community since September 11, 2001, underscores why homecoming ceremonies are such momentous occasions. On April 27, the command and crew of the USS San Juan, a U.S. Navy submarine, returned from a deployment overseas. As you can see below, families of the sailors were overjoyed by the safe return of their heroes.

A U.S. Navy sailor greets his wife and son during a homecoming celebration for the fast attack submarine USS San Juan at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, on April 27, 2018.

Thank you to everyone aboard the USS San Juan for your service to our nation. Welcome home!

Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of three books about military heroes: 8 Seconds of Courage, Brothers Forever and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo.