A Solemn Time
The Memorial Wall
Their friends and fellow Soldiers told us about them in their eulogies; they were husbands, fathers, and sons. And they were United States Army Soldiers all.
Their stories differed, to be sure, but they all came back in the end to the impact they made – the NCO who was a friend and mentor, the cheerful soldier who never left a comrade without a good word or thought, the soldier with the great desire to serve and to help. The final call of the roll, Taps being played…it hits home in a way that is hard to describe.
I hope all of you will spare a thought or a prayer for the families of the three latest to give their last and their all, and tus were added to the solemn roll; SSG Juantrea T. Bradley, SPC Tenzin L. Samten, and SPC Dustin C. Jackson. Though I know it unlikely, I hope to God they are the last names placed on the Memorial Wall here.
UPDATE: I have closed comments on this. Take the arguments elsewhere.
posted by LTC John at 12:00 PM
26 Comments:
I will pray for them. Bring all our heroes back home NOW.
Money for healthcare and education of our veterans, not war
I do pray for all of our soldiers. Maybe if the Democrats had not virulently opposed bomb proof permanent shelters, these men might be alive! As it is now they stay in the equivalent of soft motor homes. We need to fight this battle now or it will get even worse if we run away. I'm tired of liberals and Democrats aiding and abetting the enemy to the point where the enemy sounds just like them when they speak!
You, the men and women who serve with you, and all our military are in our hearts and prayers. You are doing the Lords work in freeing the people in Iraq and Afghanistan, in being at the forefront in the battle for freedom and human rights, and for keeping our homeland safe (even for fools who write a post like above).
Thank you.
These our honored dead will always be remembered in our hearts and prayers. The war they were fighting is nearer to victory because of them. Their comrads in arms will take the fight to our nations enemies until there is victory and peace.
God Bless them and keep them in his care in heaven.
1st commenter - We still have work to do. Mine happens to be with the Iraqi Army. The three who gave their lives were supporting this AND other operations. Don't drag down their sacrifice with an appeal to retreat and receive a check...
You misunderstand me, I think all our troops are heroes but I think it is time to wrap it up because in my heart I do not believe the war was worth it.
I think they must be brought home because there is only so much you can do militarily and if the Iraqis are not going to do their part we should show them we do not have an open-ended commitment to them.
I think we should be more committed to the education and health care of our heroic troops and the Americans they defend and less committed to a failing Iraqi government.
Just my opinion. Politics aside, we must all support our troops and never stop praying for them!
-1st commenter
If you had heard tghe eulogies, you would have heard how much the departed would have disagreed with you about it not being worth it. I happen to share that viewpoint as well.
I read of the loss of the three Soldiers on mnf-iraq.com, one of my daily reads since my son deployed to Iraq. I am so sorry. I hope the responsible parties were found and killed.
God bless you all, Major. I want you all home too -- but after the job is done, not before.
Oh, and first commenter -- defense is a proper function of the federal government, not healthcare or education. If we don't need to spend money on a war, that money should be returned to taxpayers, not wasted on social programs.
Major, thank you.
My prayers for these heroes, may their indomitable American spirits lift out of darkness those whose hearts wish for defeat.
Major John a day that goes by without a prayer in my heart and thoughts of victory in my mind.
Prayers going up Major John.
Bill, with all due respect, Iraq was never a threat to us so let's not make the mistake of calling the intervention a defensive maneuver.
I think it is regrettable that our loved ones are there for no reason.
I agree with the first commenter: even if our leaders are irresponsible in sending our loved ones to battle, we must continue to pray for our troops and never stop praying for their safe returns home!
And actually, the health and education of the American people are just as important as the security and freedom of the American people.
So I'm not sure why our government should be putting added importance on pointless wars. We haven't been threatened since WW2, just saying.
Pray for our troops and our President!
God Bless you and your men Major, I am grateful for your service and share your sorrow.
Anonymous - *&^% you and the horse you rode in on.
Temper, temper! Your personal attack, Tim, coupled without any rebuttal whatsoever of the facts I have laid out, shows that you have been intellectually defeated.
Pray for our troops and our country!
God Bless you, Major. You've been one of the most insightful and intelligent commenters I've discovered in the last six years, and you've always been respectful, even to those who didn't deserve it. You deserve commenters with enough class not to turn your beautiful tribute to your fallen brothers into yet another political squabble.
Keep up the good work, and take good care of yourself and your soldiers.
I think we all can agree this war has been an utter waste of life and limb. Let us pray for the souls of the 4,000 American heroes and the 600,000 Iraqi heroes who gave their lives.
There will never be peace where war exists.
I think it is regrettable that our loved ones are there for no reason.
How regrettable is it that some people can't get off their soapboxes long enough to pay proper respect to departed heroes?
You guys are in my prayers, Major John. Deeply sorry for your loss.
B Moe
I think we can pay respects and grieve at the same time.
As someone who supports the troops but not the war and has friends over there, I will grieve in my own way, and you will not question my motivations.
Capische?
oh, I'll question them alright, who asked for your opinions? offer condolences and STFU. what does healthcare and education have to do with greiving?
to absent comrades.
Major John,
You and your troops are in my heart and in my prayers.
If there is anything you need, just say the word.
anonymous,
There is a time and a place for everything, this is neither.
Show some class and respect
If you think that showing class and respect means resigning myself to the fact that 3 heroes died unnecessarily, then you're dead wrong.
They would still be with us today if it weren't for our government's misguided and lazy foreign policies.
Also, if our heroes are truly fighting for our way of life and are supposed to be dying to make our country better, then universal healthcare and better education are definitely related to their sacrifice.
Pray for our heroes, God please bring them home safe!
Father, please watch over our armed services. Amen
It is unbelievable that anyone is so hypocritical as to say they support the troops, but hate the mission.
It's a volunteer military, those brave men died doing what they believe in. A more noble death does not exist, and the cravenness of claiming "this war has been an utter waste of life and limb", on a post honoring these men who gave their lives, as they believed, for their country, is repulsive.
No wonder you use anonymous.
Anon - Don't smear these brave souls with your political agenda and cowardice. You, who lack the guts to even make up a name on the internet don't deserve to utter their names.
I lost a friend over the summer and he was a strong, intelligent, brave, good man who knew exactly what he was getting into. For you to disparage his memory and his service with your politics of thievery in the name of social programs is shameful and disgusting.
May the souls of these brave men rest in peace.
Also, if our heroes are truly fighting for our way of life and are supposed to be dying to make our country better, then universal healthcare and better education are definitely related to their sacrifice.
we have universal healthcare? are you in Canada?
so p.s. it's not related. show some tact.
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