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Guyanese in US Army killed in Afghanistan

A Guyanese who rejoined the US Army years after leaving it was killed last week Thursday in Afghanistan.

According to reports in Newsday and the New York Daily News, Sergeant 1st Class Joseph A McKay died along with Spec. Mark Palmateer and Sgt 1st Class Matthew Hilton when a roadside bomb hit their convoy last Thursday. The man, who would have been 52 tomorrow, had rejoined the army after the 9/11 attacks, leaving his job as a butcher.

The men were serving with B Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry, based in Jamestown, N.Y., which is helping to train the Afghan Army.

The reports said that the man’s relatives on Tuesday remembered him as a calm, caring man who called home daily to enquire about his loved ones.

The man’s relatives told reporters that he joined the military since 1977, one year after his father sponsored his immigration to the United States. With the exception of a brief return to civilian life, McKay spent most of the past 31 years in the military.

“He joined because it was instrumental in getting the rest of the family here,” Army Staff Sgt. Roy Smith, one of McKay’s 16 siblings, was quoted as saying in Newsday. “He got my mom here and she got the rest of us,” he added.

And it is not just his brother who followed him into the army, as the man’s daughter, Tiffany, only returned a few months ago from her own second tour in Iraq. A nephew serves in the Marines.

“The military was his life,” said another brother, Trevor Bascom, of Hollis, who hosted Tuesday’s informal family gathering.

“He’d say ‘life’s too short for that,’“ said Waveney Hohenkirk-McLeod, a sister who lives in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Newton Baptiste, who described McKay as his best friend, said McKay had become concerned by rising violence in Afghanistan, and had confided that he intended to leave the service when his deployment was over. That was never to be.

According to the newspapers at least 27 U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan in June, the deadliest month there since the U.S. invaded to topple the Taliban in 2001. For the second consecutive month, more U.S. troops were killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq.

“He called me Wednesday and said, ‘Baptiste, these boys are stepping up the action here,’“ Baptiste said. “‘They are sending me to an area that is really, really bad.’“

It was reported that McKay’s mother, Sheila Smith-Bascom, also got a call from McKay that day.
“He said, ‘When you hear from Roy, tell him to be careful. It’s rough out there,’“ Smith-Bascom told reporters.

“The last thing I said to him was ‘Joseph, be careful. Mommy loves you’“ she said.

“And he said ‘I love you too, Mommy.’ That was the last.”

McKay leaves behind a wife, a daughter and two sons.

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21 Responses to “Guyanese in US Army killed in Afghanistan”

bvbocan
on July 3rd, 2008 9:06 am

RIP. Sergeant Mckay. We honor your military service to the US and Guyana.

[Reply to this]
Williebee
on July 3rd, 2008 9:17 am

My sympathy goes out to the relatives of this brave man.
Imagine the story of two men, both Guyanese and gained an oportunity to migrate to the USA.
Joseph McKay migrated in 1976 and assisted his whole family to also migrate to the USA. There he paid the ultimate price while serving nobly in Afghanistan
The other man, most likely migrated as a child there. Deported after serving time in a US prison. Instead of changing, he continued a life of crime. He died like a dog on the street while fleeing like a coward after committing robery.
I hope parents and all those who plan to migrate reflect on their decision and the upbringing they provide for their children. Both died but with great differences.

[Reply to this]
ankoko
on July 3rd, 2008 9:25 am

Condolences to the family.
These ‘Bush’s wars’ are hell on anyone who America touches.

[Reply to this]
LoveGT4Real
on July 3rd, 2008 9:58 am

My condolences to the family.
Rest in peace Soldier

[Reply to this]
Voice-Max
on July 3rd, 2008 10:29 am

If Ron Paul was president of America, he wouldn’t be there…. this is sad and unnecessary.

[Reply to this]
ms guyana
on July 3rd, 2008 11:09 am

another victim of bush

[Reply to this]
kmatt
on July 3rd, 2008 12:08 pm

My condolences goes out to the family and friends of Mr.Mckay.. You did Guyana proud..

Mr Bush “THANKS FOR NOTHING”..

[Reply to this]
truegt
on July 3rd, 2008 12:29 pm

well done mr bush.you took another life.

[Reply to this]
Voyager
on July 3rd, 2008 12:54 pm

I would like to convey my most sincere condolences to the family and beloved of Sergeant 1st Class Joseph A McKay, may you find peace and comfort.

SFC. McKay was an honorable soldier whose selfless service to his country is most distinguished, for he aspired to something greater than himself. Rest-in-Peace my “Brother-at-Arms”, sleep well for you have done well, in the line of duty.

It is said that “if you haven’t something good to say, then don’t”, especially for the dearly departed. I say this because I take umbrage for the political implications that cast hyperbolic utterances for the Government of the day is sanctimonious. Like him I was Guyanese and an American soldier.

Sincerely,
Command Sergeant’s Major (Retired)

[Reply to this]
soldier_girl
In reply to the above comment on July 4th, 2008 9:48 am:
CSM,
Thank you very much, I am also Guyanese, serving in the Army (SSG )
Rest in Peace Soldier Boy you are loved and will be missed. I would like to give my condolences to SFC McKay’s family.

[Reply to this]
Voyager
In reply to the above comment on July 4th, 2008 1:33 pm:
Carry-On (SSG) soldier_girl you’re in good company with my Marine son and Soldier daughter in the officer corps.

CSM,
Semper Fidelis

Linden 4ever
In reply to the above comment on July 9th, 2008 11:40 am:
CSM I was agreeing with everything that you were saying until the end. You need to remember that once a Guyanese always a Guyanese.

[Reply to this]
Incognegro
on July 3rd, 2008 3:05 pm

RIP to him. I am sure he died doing what he loved.

On another note, i respect all Guyanese men and women who join foreign forces and fough for foreign land. It makes me wonder why they did not do the same for their country when they became of age, if they were in Guyana at that time? Like the USA, our forces need people also.

[Reply to this]
GT
on July 4th, 2008 4:45 am

GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY.HE DIE FIGHTING FOR ME ALL OF US IN THE USA

[Reply to this]
A
on July 4th, 2008 5:06 am

Well my condolences to a dead man’s family. I always took Guyanese to be smart people.bush is sitting in the white house and sending a couple thousand to die in the middle east. You play with the pups you gna get bitten by d fleas.bush want to fix whats not broken. Leave those people to live their lives in peace and you live yours.

[Reply to this]
humphrey
on July 4th, 2008 7:44 am

JOE SORRY U DID NOT EVEN GET TO SEE UR GRANDSON THAT WAS BORN ON JULY 2. BUT U DIE DOING WHAT U LOVE SO R I P FROM ALL OF THE HUMPHREY’S .WE WILL MISS U.

[Reply to this]
humphrey
on July 4th, 2008 7:45 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SOLDIER

[Reply to this]
fensic
on July 6th, 2008 6:23 pm

Sergeant 1st Class Joseph A McKay. You did NOT have to join the US Military but chose to do so knowing you would be in harm’s way.

I still maintain though it is better to let the other side’s guy die for his country.

Still what is done is done. RIP Sergeant 1st Class Joseph A McKay.

[Reply to this]
annb2023
on July 7th, 2008 11:25 am

RESPONSE TO FENSIC
My uncle SGT. 1st Class Joseph McKay most certainly did not have to join the US military but he chose to do so in order for you and I to enjoy the freedom that America has to offer. How quickly do we forget Sept. 11. My uncle joined the military in 1977 and was in the army reserve for sometime before enlisting full time following the events of Sept. 11. Through his and his fellow troops hard work patrolling Grand Central Station, Penn Station, and other locations, there has not been another terrorist attack. Whether the war is just or unjust to you FENSIC our troops need to be supported. Those soldiers are somebody’s brother, sister, uncle, aunt, daughter, son, etc. Our family is grieving for a beloved individual who sacrificed his life for a noble cause. REST IN PEACE MY UNCLE, WE WILL MISS YOUR CHARISMA, WIT, ELECRTIFYING PERSONALITY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU.

[Reply to this]
Linden 4ever
on July 9th, 2008 11:42 am

Coming from one Army SSG to the family of the fallen SFC my heart felt condolences goes out to you . To the rest of the family that is serving stay strong and always remember stay alert stay alive.
One Love

[Reply to this]
Ricky Cooper
on September 5th, 2008 11:54 pm

Sorry to hear of this soldiers death. May he rest in peace. I’m looking for my old friend, Trevor Bascom. Trevor, if you read this message, please send me an email message at: rckycooper@embarqmail.com

[Reply to this]