They will not be the same; for they'll have fought
In a just cause: they lead the last attack
On Anti-Christ; their comrades' blood has bought
New right to breed an honorable race,
They have challenged Death and dared him face to face."
"We're none of us the same!" the boys reply.
"For George lost both his legs; and Bill's stone blind;
Poor Jim's shot through the lungs and like to die;
And Bert's gone syphilitic: you'll not find
A chap who's served that hasn't found some change."
And the Bishop said: "The ways of God are strange!"
--Siegfried Sassoon
I began this series of reminders months ago. I keep doing this for several reasons. Selfishly, this forces me to read through the long
sad list of young men and women who will not be coming home. I do not know these that have given their lives for us--but I stop by every name and lift them and their families up to the care of the Father. As the war goes on and the war news slips from the front pages of our newspapers I do this as a reminder to those that read that we must not forget those that have served and that this terrible war goes on. Will you join me in remembering?
Sgt. Daniel M. Angus / age 28 / Thonotosassa, FLA / One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / January 24, 2010.
Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Poole / age 22 / Bowling Green, KY / One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / January 24, 2010.
Lance Cpl. Zachary D. Smith / age 19 / Hornell, NY / The third Marine killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / January 24, 2010.
Lance Cpl. Jeremy M. Kane / age 22 / Towson, MD / Died while supporting combat operations in Hewlmand province, Afghanistan / January 23, 2010.
Petty Office 2nd Class Xin Qi / age 25 / Cordova, TN / One of two Marines killed when a roadside bomb detonated while supporting combat operations in southern Afghanistan / January 23, 2010.
Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montomery / AGE 29 / West Yellowstone, MON / Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident at Korengal Outpost, in Kunar province, Afghanistan / January 20, 2010.
Pfc. Gifford E. Hurt / age 19 / Yonkers, NY / Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related vehicle accident in Mosul, Iraq / January 20, 2010.
Tech. Sgt. Adam K. Ginett / age 29 / Knightdale, MC / Died of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan / January 19 / 2010.
Capt. Paul Pena / age 27 / San Marcos, TX / Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a roadside bomb in Arghandab River Valley in Kandahar province, Afghanistan / January 19, 2010.
Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon / age 52 / Canadensis, PA / Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Kabul, Afghanistan / January 17, 2010.
Spc. Robert Donevski / age 19 / Sun City. AR / Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Abad, Kunar province, Afghanistan / January 16, 2010.
Sgt. Christopher R. Hibek / age 25 / Westwood, NJ / Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand, province, Afghanistan / January 14, 2010.
Sgt. Lucas T. Beachnaw / age 23 / Lowell, MICH / Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire in Darya Ya, Afghanistan / January, 2010.
Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Merriweather / age 25 / Collierville, TN / One of two soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with a roadside bomb in Logar province, Afghanistan / January 13, 2010.
Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt / age 21/ Taylors, SC / The other soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle in Logar province, Afghanistan / January 13, 2010.
Spc. Kyle J. Wright / age 22 / Romeoville, IL / Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a roadside bomb in Kandahar province, Afghanistan / January 13, 2010.
Staff Sgt. Matthew N. Ingram / age 25 / Altoona, PA / One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan / January 11, 2010.
Cpl. Jamie R. Lowe / age 21 / Johnsonville, IL / The second of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Now Zad district, Afghanistan / January 11, 2010.
Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski / age 21 / Tomball, TX / The third Marine killed while supporting combat operations in Now Zad district, Afghanistan / January 11, 2010.
Pfc. Michael R. Jarrett / age 20 / North Platte, NEB/ Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Balad, Iraq / January 6, 2010.
two boys the same age as my son... too much to fathom, and yet i can't help myself.
ReplyDeletea young man from taylors, a place i spent so much time in
and finally, the deaths in non-combat related incidents... those may worry me most
Please keep reminding us. On December 19, 2009 I had the great privilege of officiating at my grandniece's wedding in Suffolk, Va. Her new husband William has received his orders: a year in Afghanistan beginning April 1. So as I pray daily I will carefully follow activities in Afghanistan and Iraq and remember William and all those who serve.
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