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Brigadier General Terence J. Hildner died of apparent natural causes Friday in Kabul, Afghanistan, the Army said.
FORT HOOD, Texas -- A 49-year-old brigadier general died of apparently natural causes in Afghanistan, the Army said Friday, the highest-ranking soldier to die during the war.
Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner was identified as the first of that rank to die in Afghanistan since the war began there in 2001, NBC News reported.
The New Haven, Conn.-born Hildner, who listed Fairfax, Va., as his home, took command of 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) on Aug. 19, 2010, the Army said. He deployed to Afghanistan in December from Fort Hood.
The circumstances surrounding Hildner's death are still under investigation, NBC News said.
When Hildner did not show up for a meeting Friday morning, a member of his staff went to his room and found him there, NBC News said. He was unresponsive and efforts to resuscitate him were not successful.
"This is a tragic loss for the Army, III Corps and for our Central Texas community," Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said in a prepared statement. "The command will remain focused on assisting the family through this difficult time."
A 1984 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Hildner began his career as an armor officer with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Army said he later served in Germany in the last U.S. patrols of the East-West German border before reunification, and in Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. He was also in Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also led troops in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
From July 2007 to July 2009, Hildner commanded the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade at Fort Lee, Va., training more than 20,000 soldiers annually for deployment in support of contingency operations across the globe.
In 2009, he was the Combined Arms Support Command's director of training and doctrine.
The Army listed Hildner'sawards: the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star withone oak leaf cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal withtwo oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, U.S. Army Achievement Medal withone oak leaf cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal withbronze service star, Southwest Asia Medal with 2 bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War of Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
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Leave a Comment:
Rest in peace, Sir! Thanks you for your service!
Yes, Afghan opium production that went to ZERO after Taliban ban is at record levels again. Thanks for the service. Well done.
Grow Up mikes.
Mike, Yes Opium production is up but that is because the TALIBAN now force farmers to grow it for the money because we have cut off much of their funding sources.
This is not the place to bring up this issue Mike. Have some respect.
Check the mess kitchen.
.
Has anyone considered the possibility that one of his disgruntled underlings "did him in" (killed him) and made it look like natural causes? One can be smothered in ones sleep (pillow) and you would never know it.
Something to ponder..
I'd bet that it was an UNNATURAL cause of death. I'd guess Poisoned by CIA or another ABC group.
As to Mike's comment about opium, it is absolutely relevant to anything that happens in Afghanistan. We are there because of Opium, Rare Earth Minerals, and MONEY to be made.
Who makes the money? That's debatable but those people drool over the chance to start wars, kill poor people(ours and theirs) , and make BILLIONS!
MOOOOOOOOOOOO
Airborne -RIP
As an Air Force SNCO, I knew and occasionally worked with BG Hildner when he was a light colonel and the J4 at JTF-N (Fort Bliss) several years ago. From what I remember of him, he was a decent man and a capable officer, and I remember him as one of the more friendly senior Army officers in the unit. Sucks to see the news that any military member has died. Sucks a little more when it's someone you knew personally.
Thank God for this good man's honorable service.
I'm sure you went to heaven shouting sir, just as will all of us warriors. And I'm sure the path there, where-ever it is, now lays completely clear of any rubbish & refuse which may have been staining that holy road. And I'm sure that perfect place up there, prepared specially for you as your eternal home, is a bit different than most of the others ..... well stocked with dirt, explosions, booby-traps, snipers, & the smell of cordite ..... the type of home we were always meant to have, and the only one we are ever completely comfortable in. Only another brother-of-war will truly understand that.
P.S. General, we can handle things down here. You taught us well. But if you ever do want to throw down a lightning bolt or something to take out a few of the little bastards which are trying to kill us ..... knock yourself out. We won't mind a bit.
Hey mikes, go back to mama's titty, before you die of lactose imbalance.
Geesh! I'm not sure if these kids are being weaned earlier & earlier nowadays ..... or if they are actually suckling LONGER, keeping themselves close to mama, not getting education & experience about the real world outside their nursing room.
I'm sure mikes could answer that mystery for us by stating his age. But I'm not really so interested in his specific situation to care very much about it.
And lastly, before you haters jump on the "He didn't go to heaven because there's no such place" crap, don't bother using any of our precious oxygen to do that. I'm completely immune to that type of hate, having been through ALOT worse in Panama, Kuwait, Iraq, & Bosnia.
DAvid Roger That!!!!!!!!
Looks like we've been in the same shi- hole places i've been hit a couple of times and all that did was piss me off yeah they need ieds because they can't shoot worth a @!$%#, i still have time to kill more of those sob,s and if ANYONE doesn't like it then kiss this!!!!!!!!!!
NavSpecWarGru2
Navy Seal Team 3 Squad Kilo
Lame.
Capitalism is the Devil.
The US Armed Forces are used as pawns.
There a small number of families that control everything...
Its not easy to see from inside the box.
I know what Im talking about.
Im a Vet.
Please do all of us and yourself a favor by taking your medicine.
There are no natural causes at age 49. So sorry he died so far from home. We need to get out of there and every where else. We can no longer be the peace keepers of the world. We have too much of the world right here in our borders and that is why we are failing. Times have changed and Americans have changed. These new "Americans" rape our country and promise allegiance to their native countries. They do not adopt American ways. They can't wait to return home after they have taken away American jobs and resources. We need to take care of our own, close our borders, and stop meddling in affairs beyond our control.
Uh, plenty of people die from heart attacks at 49, genius.
My husband died of a ruptured aortic aneurism at age 37 so yes there are natural causes at young ages.
There are "Natural Causes" of people dying at the age of 49---Genetic, or predispositions to clogged arteries; congenital heart from birth, aneurysms, strokes, high blood pressure, blood clots etc. It does happen. We've known several people that have died at 42, because they had arteriosclerosis; (one was a doctor) who had the arteries of a man 99 years old-----experienced a family member with stroke at 48 years old. Or was it cancer?
The full story is not out.
It could be the Taliban that got him---I think it could be more of something like that---Our Government investigates, then the truth comes out--
It's time to wrap up the War in Afghanistan. 2013 is not soon enough. Will we leave the War, as the US is leaving Iraq---a full contingency of babysitters, Contractors to rebuild, and Drones to hover over their Government?
Condolences and sadness for Brigadier General Terrence Hildner. May he rest in Peace.
No you haven't "been there", obviously. Not much need to point out how fallacious your statement is.
My greatest respect and sincere regard for Brigadier General Hildner. May he rest in honor and peace. And may I thank dadoftime, below #8 post, for the poem he wrote. It's heartfelt and put me closely in touch with every soldier who gave his life to defend us from terrorists.
I esteem Brigadier General Hildner, and wish inappropriate speculations and politicizing could, just once, be restrained here. This is the death of an esteemed man. For the sake of everything each of us holds dear, can't we just once, table our controversies in these kinds of threads for another time?
Can none of us simply revere a remarkable man and try to allow him peace?
Hearts Quest:
Yes, it certainly is a Politic Issue---we are at War with Afghanistan. He was a the highest Level of Brigadier General in the US Military there at War who died--
The Article is about Hilder and Afghanistan. How can an Author of the Article leave that Major point out?
Only the Government knows what truly happened. Americans are "fed" untruths; The Government may be embarrassed. They may not want us to know this fact.
The Taliban have taken over in Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Our Enemies.
Brigadier General Hildner led the troops. Yes, and let him rest in Peace. He will have it now.
Well, Hawaii2, as this news was presented it did NOTHING to encourage politicizing, especially as you are doing. This was, in fact, objective and simply announced the natural death of a famous, accomplished man. I doubt you read the whole thing as his assignments and expertise were primarily to augment peace
When any of us die, and there are those who care about us beyond immediate family, where we die is always included in an obituary, together with lists of accomplishments of the deceased. That is exactly what this article did.
You are disrespectful and worse, accomplish nothing with your tirade but my contempt. Even your final sentence is sarcastic.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
Hearts Quest:
My comments were in no way to be sarcastic to you.
The truth is when a person at such a high-level job as the Highest Ranking US Military person in Afghanistan dies, the Articles presented, always have a Political aspect to them. Not in the case with Celebrities who die. Thus, the War in Afghanistan. Read others comments here. They also mention, Political twists---such as it could be the Taliban--
Sorry, you have a real "Chip" on your shoulder. My last remarks were sincere.
Actually your comments indicate MSNBC should not report important deaths. They should just be obituaries written in Local and America's newspapers. Ridiculous.
Someone up there said, "There are no natural causes at age 49."
COOL! So all we have to do is lock ourselves in a concrete safe-room, reinforced with enough steel & lead to withstand a Mag-10 earthquake & direct hit from a 15 MegaTon, obviously with triple filtered air in case of a Sarin attack. Growing our on food in a little inside garden & only drinking completely distilled water (no taste ---- ACK!) then SHOULD guarentee that we live to .... well .... at least 50.
Something not right there. My granny died at 97 & drank cheap Scotch every day of her life since about age 17 as a night-cap, along with pigging out on hamburgers from the nearby Burger King for her last 30 or so years. And even at age 80 she could still whoop my ass, even though I'm an amateur bodybuilder & 14-year Army paratrooper. Only thing that saved me after that was she broke her hip falling out of dad's 18-wheeler. She never could run as fast as me after that.
As a member of his command, I say to his family our thoughts and prayers are with you all!! BG Hildner, may you rest in peace, and watch over your fellow warriors as they continue the mission in OEF.
A 49 year old Brigadier General dying a natural death in an unnatural war?
The ignorance on this blog is astounding!
The ignorance on this blog pales against the ignorance of the wars.
so true barry barry.Fools trying to put a stupid spin on something that will overtake all of us someday.Shame
That's a shame,had a star at 49 he was on the fast track for sure.
Rest in peace...
Maybe it was stress related?
We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As taps began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here 'neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you've given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore.
@DadofTim
Thank you for that.
That was beautiful , made me cry ,as General Terence Hildner was my father. Thank you
We are very sorry for your loss and would like express our gratitude for your father's and your family's service and dedication to this country and our freedom. While words on this forum may do little to provide comfort during this tough time in your life, just remember that your father was a far better man than virtually anyone commenting here and better than most this country has to offer. It takes a great man to accomplish what your father did. A great quote that was used when my father passed was "It's not what you do while you're here, it's what you leave behind when you go".
@ Vanessa Webster ... you are NOT General Hildner's daughter. I can't believe the rediculous comments that people leave on here. For those of us that personally knew General Hilder, the military has lost a wonderful person and leader. And his family has lost a husband and father. Anyone that is trying to capitalize on this by saying you are related is very disrespectful to the Hildner family and to the military.
Thank you, dadoftim, for that. And, thank you General Hildner for your service.
@pamTexas: as I noted to @sal95 below, can any of us ever really *know* a person? There is much precedent among the great men of history which allows for situations of this kind. It is not unknown for those of such stature to have, perhaps, a few parts of their life not commonly or popularly known to others. Isn't it possible that, maybe, General Hildner might have a daughter after all? In no way do I mean to insult his family, friends or comrades in arms but one must admit that the picture of this young woman - if genuine - does favor the features of the General.
Regardless, the truth is known to those most intimately involved and it is not for any of us to cast aspersions one way or the other. My own father served with distinction as a career military officer and it is with that spirit that I wish the loved ones of General Hildner the blessings of love and peace. Thank you all for your service and your sacrifice for the families of service members serve and sacrifice right alongside them. You have done more for your country than any of us would ever have a right to ask. Rest in peace, sir; godspeed your soul on it's journey.
I thank you for your poem. This thank you comes from a soldier who was under his command when this saddness happen. If you don't mind I would like to use this poem at his memorial. For those who claim to be his relatives, please do not use this as a way to exploit a very sensitive matter. His family, friends and soldiers deserve to mourn with no bs being said. Please keep the family in your prayers. Thank you once again for the poem.
Good catch, pamTexas. From Vanessa's facebook page..https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2442059371372&set=a.2442019530376.2143767.1248472542&type=3&theater
Vanessa Webster
September 17, 2011
My dad Ralph Guyer ... putting rotten chicken necks in the crab traps... MAN THAT WAS STINKY!!!
— atNags Head NC.
That was very beautiful and i hope his family will in the days ahead will find peace in his dealth.
OK MSNBC: I clicked on this article fully expecting to read of an ambush or IED and got duped again. As if the home page headline wasn't bait enough, the article heading says highest ranking American to die there. Double bait! There's no way to save face here folks, unless the enemy is using "natural causes" as a weapon.
Take those freshman journalists to the field and teach them how to write the story correctly.
Imnotlost, I think you might be a little lost. He was a high ranking officer, he was in Afghanistan and he did die there. Whether you think it is news or not, it is a story, and the title "General is the Highest Ranking American to Die in Afghanistan" is not misleading.
Should the journalist be sorry his story didn't have car chases, exploding bombs, IEDs, intrigue and spies to be compelling enough to hold your attention? It wasn't like you invested an evening reading a novel with a lousy ending. It is a short concise article. You spent more time writing your two paragraph comment than you did reading the article (I hope).
Any story of someone dying so young is sad and worth talking about, especially someone as honorably decorated as this soldier was. If anyone should "save face here folks" it might be you. To me, it looks like these "freshman journalist" wrote the "story correctly." But then again, what do I know, I write for a living.
this article is only saying what it's been told. Truth is , when the family found out about this friday morning by officers knocking the door down , this was the exact information we received . Reading this is like reliving friday morning all over again .
I am very sorry for your loss Ms. Webster. My best wishes go with you and your family.
Pen Wordsmith: I see the article is no longer on the front page. I left as soon as I posted this morning and just now got back, so I know there's little chance you'll have saved it but I'll take a shot.
As a writer you should know, as my daughter's friend knows, that journalism courses almost always have some classes on "bait" headlines and how to use them. A responsible journalist reporting on a ten year viscious war should not write a headline that implies a tragic enemy action and then down play it in the story. You said ".......should the journalist be sorry the story didn't have car chases, exploding bombs, etc..............". Well, that's what the headlines implied, should I expect less? But then, you should know, you write for a living.
Regardless, condolences are in order, the real tragedy is the family's loss.
@Hal
Are you that damn gullible?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2442059371372&set=a.2442019530376.2143767.1248472542&type=3&theater
She's just some attention-starved wannabe, which by grabbing a gain for her own personal self is utterly disrespectful to the general's real family.
Mortally disgusting. Shame on you Ms. Webster for feeding on the loss of others. Worse thing is, all your real family and friends on Facebook can most likely see this, showing your true selfish and coldhearted colors.
Guy from Orlando..... Miss Webster is his STEP DAUGHTER. If you all had bothered to look at her FB page properly you would have figured that out. Stop being so damn mean to her.
Loose lips sink ships.
Brigadier General Terrence J Hildner death can not be natural. He probably knew to much.
Thats when they take you out for dinner.
GOD Bless his SouL, only He knows.
It is kind of creepy, stress-out.
Condolences and prayers go to his family and friends.
Thank you for the prayers, and as for the creepiness, well lets think about this, before deporting over seas soldiers get physicals to make sure they are able to do the jobs they are trained to do , yes this is very creepy . Or maybe i just need something or someone to blame , he was in great health and very physically fit, so what really happened? We may never know , but he will never be forgotten, He loved his career and his country , which is why he worked so hard to get to the rank he was blessed to hold.
R.I.P dad, til we meet again
I feel for you and your family for to lose loved ones is bad but to lose a loved one who is serveing our country iis worst. I know he is with our LORD AD SAVIOR NOW AND HE CAN REST IN PEACE WITH GOD.
This was our division commander in Texas. I remember him being a strong and fair leader. Before I got out of the Army he was promoted from Colenol to BG and you could tell he was quite pleased with it. Very upsetting to hear about his death. He was very capable, the kind of leader you would not expect BG to be the end of his military journey.
That's right Jeffrey Parks, "only He knows", so why do you say his death cannot be natural? It just might be. You don't know.
honestly I cant swallow the " natural cause " thing. He was my dad and I know he was very healthy , in very god shape, strong, and worked hard. I cant find peace in any of this until I know for sure how he died. This hurts so bad, and i am so confused and feel like my heart keeps breaking. If anyone here has ever met him or knows him , then you should understand what im saying . rest in peace dad we love you and already miss you so much .
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS MRS. WEBSTER ; lost my dad , really doing a very healthy and prosperous time of his rough life. i was on the job , and got that unbelieving call , i know it hurts. it takes time to heal from sudden death , '' especially a parent '', just getting over it , '' after 20 years ,and counting.
Mrs. Weber: My condolences to you and your family for your loss. Cherish the moments you enjoyed him instead of suffering for the loss. And please accept the thanks of a nation for the sacrifices made, despite those who want to use this as a political tool.
Ms. Webster. . .please stop the charade. He had two sons and no daughters.
Ms Webster is his STEP DAUGHTER. Ever heard of that???
WIth all due respect to the general, as I am sure he was a good man. What about headline stories for every one of our patriots who has died in action in these crazy wars.....not news worthy?
Hilda, what draws the attention is that is the first general to die out there. I don't think that the writers of this story were thinking whether the general individually was more important than his troops.
He probably died from being exposed to all the DU that our wonderful military uses against the enemy.......
Much respect for anyone serving in the military or has made the ultimate sacrifice while doing so. My hat's off.
I knew and served with Terry Hildner back in the mid-eighties when we were both Scout Platoon Leaders with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Terry was a good guy with a great sense of humor. He was a good officer and a humble man. RIP Terry.
Rest In Peace General. A star at such a relatively young age is quite impressive and the Army and his men will surely miss him as will his family.
Find Major Margaret Houlihan. I bet she knows what happened.
Natural causes. The ratio of enlisted to generals in the US military is the largest its ever been. Many of these high ranking guys are getting their last big pay hike before their retirement average. It has added alot of expense to the US budget for no military advantage as there is a shortage of enlisted to command. Romney needs to send his five boys to give these generals some bodies to order around, maybe. Sure.
This is a clear cut case for accelerating promotions so that we have YOUNG generals. Im tired of our military being run but fat lazy generals, i want thin young generals that are healthy enough to fight on the frontlines with our soldiers. In ancient times generals were always young and usually fought on frontlines.
This general did NOT look healthy at all he actually looked like he had radiation sickness. He looked like one of those mutants from The Hills Have Eyes.
The only offspring of Brigadier General Hildner's whom I could find mentioned in earlier news are two sons. Another poster here says that Ms. Webster is not the General's daughter.
I have no opinion one way or the other. However, I admit, although well written, I find the posts submitted by Ms. Webster rather unusually numerous for the day after his death.
I wish MSNBC would clarify this; they have the resources, we don't.
VANESSA WEBSTER. . .the General had two SONS, no daughters!!!
Rest in Peace Sir. Thank you for your service.
@Sal95: do we ever *really* know a person? Perhaps the General DID have a daughter but few, if any, knew about it? Such things are not unknown; not even unusual for great men...
I mean to cast absolutely no aspersions on the life and accomplishments of this obviously amazing man. As a daughter of a life-long service member I thank him and his family for their service and their sacrifice to our country and I wish his soul godspeed on its journey. Blessings, love and peace to all.
Sacrifice to our country??? Since when? These generals live like kings. Chauffeurs, private planes, mansions, valets, aides, the finest food and wine, waited on hand and foot. What a sacrifice! They live like billionaires on the back of the American taxpayer.
There are more generals and admirals in today's service than at any time in the history of the country!
After they retire they accept lucrative job offers in the defense industry and use their influence in the pentagon to further rip off the taxpayers on defense contracts. What general since WWII has led the troops into battle? I mean was right there physically leading the charge?
"What general since WWII has led the troops into battle?"
You didn't know Schwarzkopf did you? I did.