Last week, the Department of Defense released the obituaries of 18 military personnel killed in and around Iraq, ranging in age from 19 to 48, including Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsor, 25, of Garden Grove, California, a Navy Seal who was killed in the battle to wrest Ramadi from insurgent control.
In addition, the Defense Department released the obituary of one soldier killed in Afghanistan. He was Angelo J. Vaccaro, 23, of Deltona, Florida. Specialist Vaccaro was killed by a rocket propelled grenade on Tuesday, while trying to rescue fellow soldiers wounded in an ambush near Korengal in eastern Afghanistan's Kunar province.
Enclosed is a photograph, taken in Iraq, of (l to r) Marine Lance Corporal Eric Hodges, Pfc. Christopher Adlesperger, and Lance Corporal Ryan Sunnerville.
Two days after this picture was taken, Hodges was killed and Sunnerville was wounded. Subsequently, in the same battle, which took place in Fallouja, Adlesperger attacked the insurgent stronghold responsible for his friend's death and killed at least 11 insurgents. He killed them with his M-16 and with his grenade launcher. He killed them at such close range, "he could hear the blood gurgling in their mouths and noses," according to an article in the LA Times.
At the same time, he protected two wounded squad members from attack and saved innumerable Marines. When it was over, his face was bloodied by shrapnel and he had bullet holes in the sleeve and collar of his uniform.
He refused to be evacuated until Hodges' body was recovered.
One month later, Adlesperger led Marines in storming another building, at which time he was shot in the heart and died instantly.
The native of Albuquerque has since been nominated for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest recognition of bravery, reserved for those who have shown conspicuous gallantry, above and beyond the call of duty.
As of Friday, 10/6, total U.S. deaths amounted to 2,729, in and around Iraq, and 280, in and around Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon.
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Comments: 15
The whole support the troops thing makes me think how the efforts of the soldiers in Vietnam were scorned. And they were draftees! Didn't ask to be there. Maybe they were scorned as the hapless victims that they became.
The men and women over there now volunteered. It's part of the calculations of risk they take when they sign up. Thanks Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice and the rest of the stooges in the administration and congress. Many dark days ahead.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., many of those who are not in harm's way choose to denigrate what these men believe in though these people are not sacrificing a damn thing. Gall, arrogance and disrespect for our military men aplenty, methinks.
Best regards, Ben
All of our military men...and women were committed to winning this war and by virtue of their choice of the profession were cognizant of the risk involved. And those near three thousand brave, loyal, and dedicated young warriors who have paid the ultimate price in doing their sworn duty to follow the orders of their Commander and Chief have done so in the face of great peril. The mission to win a war as trained soldiers was accomplished. It was the change in their mission, to become untrained police officers and arbitrators in a civil war, is where most of them became victims.
, we are all in harm's way, left less protected by the loss of three thousand of our guardians and tens of thousands more who remain in jeopardy. And our leaders, sad to say,< these people are not sacrificing a damn thing. Gall, arrogance and disrespect for our> Constitution, our values and our protection.!
To say they are fighting for American democracy is absurd. First, these are mostly 18-24 year old kids who knew little about that part of the world before they enlisted. I am not for a moment criticizing them. They are mostly honorable and want to do the right thing. But they are being used, and far too many are dying or having limbs blown off. The death rate is awful, but the numbers of injured are far, far greater.
And what about the death toll for Iraqis? Or don't they count?
Sorry to get riled up, but this whole thing makes me crazy.
Our leaders have dropped the ball on this mess on terrorism and how to correct it...it is not the fault of the military....now it is our leaders job to negotiate a resolution of some sort, and bring whats left home...!
As far as your comments go, Ben, I can only conclude that you have no idea of which you speak.
A relative recently returned from Iraq. He is getting much counseling to help him deal with what he saw and experienced over there. He says the soldiers are living in abject fear, never kinowing if their next step, or their next ride, will be their last.
He says it is wearing them down, and they are further disheartened when they hear that those who have completed their tour are being extended. Many are feeling that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
We keep hearing that we are fighting the terrorists over there so we don't have to fight them here. Bet the Iraqis love having their country turned into a shooting gallery. And now we've got them killing each other!