We Remember the Fallen

Military Historian Andrew Bachvich was interviewed on Bill Moyers' Journal last Friday, April 9. As he talked about Afghanistan he reminded us that:

•  We spend 31/2 billion dollars every month in Afghanistan alone.           
• The War in Afghanistan has cost 264 billion dollars to date.
• We are in our ninth year there.
• This is the longest war in our history and there is no end in sight. 
• 1/2 of 1 percent of our citizens carry the burden of this war.
• 99.5 per cent of us go about our business as if this war did not exist. 

Weeks ago I wrote about the bedrooms of some of those killed in this War. This week's Time Magazine has a moving section called "Coming Home". The sad story of Staff Sargeant William "Seth" Ricketts, 27, who was killed by small-arms fire in western Afghanistan on February 27, 2010. He was in his fifth tour since joining the Army the day after 9/11. Time Magazine tells the story in words and pictures of his homecoming to Corinth, Mississippi where he was laid to rest. Read the article for yourself and remember all the fallen. CNN provides this service of giving us the names of the fallen every day.

Senior Master Sgt. James B. Lackey / age 45 / Green Clove Springs, FL / One of two airmen killed along with another US soldier when their aircraft crashed near Zabul province, Afghanistan / April 9, 2010.

Maj. Randell D. Voas / age 43 / Lakeville, MN / The second soldier killed in that aircraft crash near Zabul province, Afghanistan / April 9,2010.

Sgt. Roberto ED. Diaz Borio / age 47 / San Juan, Puerto Rico /  Died in Mombassa, Kenya / April 8, 2010.

Pfc. William A. Blount / age 21 / Petal, MS / One of two soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with a roadside bomb in Mosul, Iraq / April 7, 2010.

1st Lt. Robert W. Collins /age 24 / Tyrone, GA / The second soldier killed whe enemy forces attacked their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq / April 7, 2010.

Sgt. Kurt E. Kruize / age 35 / Hancock, MN / Died of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Baghdad, Iraq / April 4, 2010.

Lance Cpl. Curtis M. Swenson / age 20 / Rochester, MN / Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / April 2, 2010.

Lance Cpl. Tyler O. Griffin / age 19 / Volontown, CN. / One of two Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / April 1, 2010.

Sgt. Frank J. World / age 25 / Buffalo, NY / The second Marine killed while supporting combat opertions in Helmand province, Afghanistan / April 1, 2010.

Lt. Miroslav Ziberman / age 31 / Columbus, OH / Killed when his aircraft crashed into the Arabian Gulf / March 31, 2010.

Staff Sgt. Scott . Brunkhorst / age 25 / Fayetteville, NC / Died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with a roadside bomb in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan / March 30, 2010.

Pfc. Raymond N. Pacleb / age 31 / Honolulu, Hawaii / Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Baghdad, Iraq / March 29, 2010.

Pfc. James L. Miller / age 21 / Yakima, WA / Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with a roadside bomb in Dashat, Afghanistan / March 29, 2010.

Lance Cpl. Randy M. Heck / age 20 / Steubenville, Ohio / Died from a non-hostile incident in Djibouti / March 28, 2010.

Lance Cpl. Ricck J. Centanni / age 19 / Yorba Linda, CAL / One of two Marines killed during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / March 24, 2010.

Sgt. Maj. Robert J. Cottle / age 45 / Whittier, CAL / The second of those two Marines killed during combat opeations in Helmand province, Afghanistan / March 24, 2010.

Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Ross / age 19 / Gilette, WY / Died while supporting combat opertaions in Helmand province, Afghanistan / March 24, 2010.

Sgt. 1st Class Carlos M. Santos-Silva / age 32 / Clarksville, TN / Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a roadside bomb in Kandahar province, Afghanistan / March 22, 2010.

Lance Cpl. Justin J. Wilson / age 24 / Palm City, FL / Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand proince, Afghanistan / March 22, 2010.

Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown / age 36 / Hot Springs, ARK / Killed in a battle with heavily armed militants in Afghanistan / March 18, 2010.

Spc. Robert M. Rieckhoff / age 26 / Kenosha, WIS/ Killed when enemy forces attacked his unit with    rocket-propelled grenade fire in Baghdad, Iraq / March 18, 2010.

Sgt. Joel David Clarkson / age 23 /  Fairbanks, Alaska / Died in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landsthul, Germany of wounds sustained during a firefight after his unit was attacked by Taliban fighters in Farah province, Afghanistan / March 13, 2010.