The number stood out as I read through today's Boulder Daily Camera. It was not on page one, and it was in a short news section that runs every several days. It was not about the year 1968 [which I wrote about here] but rather it was the heading for the number of military deaths in Afghanistan. The number seems to be at odds with other statistics, but that is nearly irrelevant. This is the longest 'war' in US history but certainly not the most deadly - however, it does rank right down there with other 'what-in-the-world-are-we-doing-there' military excursions. While Washington diddles and most Americans don't pay attention, it is a good reminder that folks continue to die in a conflict that most of us do not understand.
CARSON, Sean P., 32, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician First Class, Navy; Des Moines, Wash.; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit, San Diego.
COPES, Gregory T., 36, Staff Sgt., Marines; Lynch Station, Va.; Third Marine Special Operations Battalion.
DEBOSE, Coater B., 55, Sgt. First Class, Army; State Line, Miss.; First Army Division East.
DEMARSICO, Michael R. II, Pfc., Army; North Adams, Mass.; First Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Third Stryker Brigade Combat Team.
ENOS, Darrel L., 36, Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer First Class, Navy; Colorado Springs; Third Marine Special Operations Battalion.
ESSEX, Richard A., 23, Sgt., Army; Kelseyville, Calif.; 25th Infantry Division.
FEEKS, Patrick D., 28, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer First Class, Navy; Edgewater, Md.; Naval Special Warfare, West Coast.
GALBREATH, Luis A. Oliver, 41, Sgt., Army; San Juan, P.R.; 25th Infantry Division.
HORNSBY, Brian D., 37, Chief Warrant Officer, Army; Melbourne, Fla.; 25th Infantry Division.
JUSTICE, James A., 21, Specialist, Army; Grover, N.C.; Second Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
KRAUSE, Suresh N. A., 29, Chief Warrant Officer, Army; Cathedral City, Calif.; 25th Infantry Division.
WARSEN, David J., 27, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer Second Class, Navy; Kentwood, Mich., Naval Special Warfare, West Coast.
"Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best and it removes all that is base.”
ReplyDelete― George S. Patton Jr.
"Bravery without fear is stupidity" to which Satchel [from Get Fuzzy] responds "But stupidity without fear is quite pleasant."
ReplyDeleteOS - we went over this before; you think Patton is most wonderful whilst others of us think that without the military engaged in a war, he would have been a deranged serial killer. It takes a crazed person to start a big war, and generally it takes other crazed folks to help end it.
I like your quote. Reminds me of what someone once said, "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise.
ReplyDeleteDidn't say I agreed with what Patton said, just quoted what he said. Since there will always be groups of people trying to steal other groups of people's stuff, it is kinda sorta nice to have a guy like Patton around. He just really loved his job.
The Afghanistan war doesn't seem justifiable to me because they aren't trying to take any of our stuff.
Well, then, Sarge, if Afghanistan doesn't fit the mold of a justifiable war, then it didn't make sense to quote Patton, unless you are too "ole" to think straight, or simply trying to goad Dr. S.
ReplyDeleteNo goads needed to get me on a roll!! :-)
ReplyDelete