My Daughter Died Today

She was actually my wife's daughter from another marriage, my step-daughter, I suppose, although she was an adult before we were married. We had a great deal in common, especially when it came to books and movies. She came to visit us just over a week ago, staying for five days. She would have been in the United Arab Emirates, except that her father died a few weeks ago. Rather than sending her back to the UAE, she was supposed to report tomorrow, to be stationed in Japan for the last three years of her enlistment, as she was three years away from having twenty years in.

She was a Chief Warrant Officer. With seventeen years in the Army, including jumping out of planes, a tour in Kosovo, two tours in Afghanistan, and one in the United Arab Emirates, she died in her sleep on a beach in North Carolina. The cause of death isn't known but they don't suspect that it was anything other than natural causes. She has two children, ages twelve and eight.

Please keep my wife in your prayers. So far this year, she has lost her mother, a long-time friend, and now her daughter. Plus, she is going through some serious health problems herself.

 

Thank you. Of course, there was always the threat of loss while she was overseas, but once she was away from the Arab countries, with a promise of three years in Japan, we pretty much thought she had made it through okay. She was forty.

 

Ken, I cannot say how sad I am to read this post ! Bobby and I will be praying for you, MIchelle, and your family. This has to be such a shock, especially when you were thinking that she was finally going to be back home and safe again soon.
Since my daughter , Robin, was also in the military,and being sent overseas ; I was always praying for her safety, too, and was so glad when she finally had to retire from a disability.
She is just a little older than your daughter was.
We who have a faith in God, believe that His timing is always perfect, even when we do not know why something happens. He can see around the corners ahead, and we can't.
As sad as the loss of your daughter is, I also agree with Corie that at least she passed peacefully in her sleep, and with no suffering.
Hugs and prayers for your family......Yvonne

 

Thank you, those who have weighed in since I last posted here. As it turns out, she qualifies for burial at Arlington National Cemetery so we'll be going with that, along with a memorial in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she has been based for most of the past seventeen years. That will work out well, particularly since her children are living with their father in Maryland. The Army pays travel expenses for the family, which is something we hadn't even considered. Nothing has been scheduled yet, but the memorial will be soon, while burial won't be for another month or so.