Marine says goodbye, weeks before his death

Image courtesy: Meinert family/The Journal Times

"I love you, and I will miss you all."

Lance Cpl. Jake Meinert is pictured above, showing the note he wrote to his family in December. A few weeks later, he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan's Helmand Province and lost his life.

The Journal Times in Meinert's home state of Wisconsin reports on Meinert's life and death. While his family is foremost on my mind, my head is also shaking in disbelief that the national media has not noticed this stunning story.

Standing in front of a mirror, wearing a "Jay and Silent Bob" T-shirt, Meinert snapped a picture. It's likely the last picture he ever took of himself.

In one hand he held a note, written backwards. In the other hand he held a digital camera, a Christmas present for his brother back in Wisconsin.

Meinert sent the camera, and the picture, with the rest of his personal belongings, back home to his family in Fort Atkinson, just before he shipped out to Afghanistan, where he died Sunday.

The 20-year-old Marine lived in Wisconsin, where friends and family across the state now grieve his loss. The article says joining the military was a lifelong dream for Meinert, who followed in the footsteps of his beloved grandfather. He even wrote in his elementary school yearbook that he hoped to someday be stationed in Hawaii, which came true.

Meinert's heartbreaking final note to his family should not overshadow his accomplishments as a Marine. He was a highly-decorated Purple Heart recipient who also served a tour of duty in Iraq. All before he could legally have a beer.

Everyone will miss you too, Jake.