A friend of mine from high school is deployed in Iraq. Even though he's a year or two younger than me (but I'd never admit it), he's not a youngster anymore and looks at the war and his deployment with (!) mature eyes. I check into his blog every now and then to make sure he's doing all right and silently offer a prayer for him, my cousins' kids, and all those serving over there and elsewhere abroad.

Somedays I don't have the slightest idea where I stand politically. But I do know where I stand humanitarily.

'Doc' wrote this on his blog not too long ago. I think he would be okay with me sharing this with you. I really feel it's rather important. It's so easy for us in the states to sit back and debate the pros and cons of the war when we have never been anywhere near it. But 'Doc' lives it, day in and day out. As a Medic, I feel he probably has a unique perspective on the daily lives of our men and women.

Please read...


I don't really know what to say... I lost a really True friend today.. He was a dedicated son, Faithful Friend, Kind Human being, A Truely Great Soldier, and one of the Best NCO's Ive ever worked with. I met him about 3 years ago, on the train up for my last deployment... We became quick friends.. He was the guy that showed me around the unit.. Introduced me around, he was the one that took me to leavenworth to get paperwork squared away.. He was always there.. he helped me become comfortable within the unit. But that was the way he was.. He loved to help people out. I really don't know what to say.. So Im just gonna repeat something that our Battlion Col here in Iraq said.." I just want everyone to remember one thing about Courtney, he died serving his country." And I will add...Doesnt matter if he died via the enemies bullets, or bombs.. He died upholding what he believed in, he made that sacrifice.. When others at home, wake next to their loved ones and go about thier safe and comfortable lives and they take the time to swear at our president, or they grow "weary" of this war.. I hope they will remember my friend.. my brother.. Died doing what he thought was right. When the democrats scream GET THEM OUT!! and make our funding get dangerously low while they debate the fate of Iraq, so low that we only get a shower every 3 days.. Our funding gets so low that they run out of food at the chow hall.. and Id hate to even wonder what other more unfortunate units, the ones out in the shit, that dont get showers except once a month, and they dont have a chow hall.. What does the delay do to them.. Anyway.. I hope that people remember, Every EVERY soldier that dies here, has someone close to them.. be it a parent or a wife.. or even if they are a single orphan.. they have their brothers in arms.. Most of us fight for the guy standing next to Us...