The Royal We

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell

So far in 2011, hype surrounding the April 29 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton has probably attracted more media attention than the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq combined. As this British ceremony is force-fed to us by a ratings-hungry American press, perhaps we can take a moment to notice a ceremony of far greater consequence.

On April 11, Gen. David Petraeus visited Forward Operating Base Joyce in eastern Afghanistan. He was there to thank the battle-hardened soldiers of Task Force No Slack, who, along with so many other brothers and sisters of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), have made an incalculable number of sacrifices on America's post-9/11 battlefields.

The Afghanistan War commander specifically wanted to shake the hands of Capt. Edward Bankston and Sgt. Joshua Bostic. During several chaotic firefights, beginning on March 28, these valiant warriors helped overcome hundreds of insurgents, a blinding snowstorm and the painful loss of six fellow soldiers to defeat Taliban forces in the area.

"They're all heroes," Tony Berry told The Unknown Soldiers. "They all did the same job; some made it home and some didn't."

As you may have read in last week's column, Berry's stepson, Pfc. Jeremy Faulkner, was one of six Screaming Eagles to not make it home from the eastern Afghanistan mission. In an emotional April 9 ceremony at Faulkner's Jonesboro, Ga., church, I had the honor of witnessing the soldier's Bronze Star being presented to his grieving family.

When Bankston and Bostic both received the Silver Star from Petraeus, with Afghanistan's deadly mountains as a backdrop, the emotions were overwhelming.

"I would trade all the medals to get our lost guys back," Bankston, who is from Decatur, Ga., reportedly said at the ceremony.

An article by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell, who is doing incredibly valuable work by reporting for the Army from the front lines, explains how Bankston and Bostic earned our nation's third-highest military decoration.

Bankston, who was shot in the leg earlier in his third and current combat deployment, rallied fellow troops amid booming machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade fire, which tragically killed several soldiers among them.

"The way I look at it is that I was walking in the footsteps of heroes throughout the mission, so I was covered," Bankston said.

Burrell also reports that Bostic refused to leave the mission to seek medical care after he was wounded trying to pull one of his fellow paratroopers, who later died, to safety.

"I know the other guys would do the same for me," Bostic, who is from Spring City, Tenn., said. "It really wasn't a thought."

Petraeus has traveled all over Iraq and Afghanistan to personally attend these important ceremonies. He believes that if battlefield heroism goes unnoticed within the military and in the general public, then the contributions of this "new greatest generation" — as the general calls those to step up since Sept. 11, 2001 — will be forgotten.

"There's such a pace of operations, there's such a high tempo, that the last thing that our great soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines out there want to do when they come back from a mission is write each other up for awards," Petraeus said in October. "But we need to do that better, we need to capture the history of our operations better."

Every facet of this British royal wedding, from gowns and flowers to guest lists and gossip, is being captured by American journalists. For many weeks, our television, computer and smartphone screens have been filled with information that has absolutely no relevance to our daily lives, as ceremonies honoring men and women who protect us are almost completely ignored.

We don't need to watch a royal wedding in London to find heroes. Instead, we can do a better job noticing events like the one our media failed to capture in eastern Afghanistan, and line the streets of American cities when our heroes return home.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

A heavy heart

On the evening of April 29 at the United States Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., The Unknown Soldiers won a MilBloggie Award for best military blog run by a U.S. Reporter. My sincere thanks to everyone for voting, and for continuing to support this blog.

I also want to urge everyone to follow the fine blogs that were nominated in the same category, all of which are worthy of this year's award: War On Terror News, The Long War Journal, Michael Yon Online Magazine, The War Report, The Rumor Doctor, and Susan Katz Keating.

Considering that many of the stories you read on this blog and in my weekly Creators Syndicate column are about brave American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice, I accept this award with a heavy heart. While I am unable to attend the 6th Annual MILBlog Conference due to obligations related to family and a new job with the USO, I sent in the following acceptance remarks, which I thought I would share here.

Acceptance remarks:

It's been one year since I had the honor of standing in front of you to accept a Milbloggie on behalf of The Unknown Soldiers blog. I regret that because of a new job at the USO here in Arlington, with a new baby back in the Atlanta area, this period of transition and frequent travel made it impossible to attend this year's conference. Thank you so much for this award, and congratulations to all the other U.S. Reporter nominees, all of whom run amazing blogs.

Writing about the personal stories of our brave troops, honorable veterans, and their devoted families is a privilege, especially for a career journalist who hasn't served in the military. While hundreds of articles I worked on for my blog and Creators Syndicate newspaper column over the past year have stayed with me, there is one in particular that's on my mind tonight.

Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter was shot by a sniper in Afghanistan on Valentine's Day. Five days later, the Marine's wife, Crissie, had to make the crushing decision to remove her husband from life support. Because she was eight months pregnant at the time, she could not travel to Germany to say goodbye to the love of her life.

After an emotional February 28 memorial to honor this Marine, I drove through the city of Columbia, Tennessee, as part of the procession to the cemetery. What I saw that day would give everyone at this conference hope. Thousands of people -- from young children to the elderly -- stood in the evening mist with hands on their hearts in tribute to this fallen hero. In an age where celebrity is often placed over sacrifice by our nation's media, the people of Tennessee showed us that real patriotism still exists.

Crissie Carpenter told me that while the pain was still unbearable, what she saw that day helped her get through the next month. On March 18, Landon Paul Carpenter entered the world his father left as a hero. In the hospital, a nurse gave baby Landon a onesie that reads "Born Free...Because My Daddy Fought For Me."

I think we do what we do to ensure that children like Landon grow up knowing that their moms and dads are heroes. To receive this honor from you, especially since so many military bloggers are American troops, veterans, or members of military families, is something I treasure. Thank you, and may God bless our men and women in uniform, their loved ones, and especially their kids.

Image courtesy: Marcia Truitt/Inara Studios

In Memoriam

The last time I drove by the United States Air Force Memorial was on Christmas Day, on my way to Arlington National Cemetery. The soaring memorial honors the service and sacrifices of our nation's airmen, including more than 54,000 who have died in combat. As President George W. Bush said while dedicating the memorial on October 14, 2006, its location is full of meaning.

"This memorial lies in sight of Arlington National Cemetery, where so many of those fallen airmen are buried. This memorial also lies in sight of the Pentagon, where our nation came under attack," the 43rd president said. "It is a fitting location. Under these magnificent spires we pay tribute to the men and women of the Air Force who stand ready to give all for their country. And looking from this promontory to a place once filled with smoke and flames, we remember why we need them."

The war in Afghanistan, launched less than a month after the attacks of September 11, 2001, continues today on the orders of the second commander-in-chief to oversee the war effort, President Barack Obama. While our nation's political leadership changes over the course of history, the brave men and women of the Air Force are always there to follow orders and perform with brilliance.

On Friday evening, our nation received a stark reminder of the branch's sacrifices, when eight airmen who were killed Wednesday at Kabul International Airport were identified by the Pentagon. The horrific act of mass murder, which is under investigation, was reportedly committed by an angry Afghan pilot.

Maj. Philip Ambard, 44, Edmonds, Washington
Maj. Jeffrey Ausborn, 41, Gadsden, Alabama
Maj. David Brodeur, 34, Auburn, Massachusetts
Master Sgt. Tara Brown, 33, Deltona, Florida
Lt. Col. Frank Bryant Jr.., 37, Knoxville, Tennessee
Maj. Raymond Estelle II, 40, New Haven, Connecticut
Capt. Nathan Nylander, 35, Hockley, Texas
Capt. Charles Ransom, 31, Midlothian, Virginia

The three spires of the Air Force Memorial represent integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all that is done. These highly accomplished airmen spent their entire adult lives living those values. No cowardly act of murder could ever diminish what these men and women, or their Branch, stand for.

The next time I drive by the United States Air Force Memorial, I will stop my car, bow my head, and pray for the families of these eight fallen airmen.

"To all who have climbed sunward and chased the shouting wind, America stops to say: Your service and sacrifice will be remembered forever, and honored in this place by the citizens of a free and grateful nation."

Update: A ninth American killed in the attack has been identified as retired Army Lt. Col. James McLaughlin Jr., 55, of Santa Rosa, California. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, he was working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. Our deepest condolences to the McLaughlin family. This update was posted at 10:28 p.m. on April 29.

The only thing I like about airplanes

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

The fourth post in this blog's history was called 'The only thing I like about airports,' which conveyed my pride as an American in seeing so many U.S. troops walk through terminals. Eighteen months later, after witnessing the kindness of airline employees toward men and women in uniform dealing with the stress of a delayed flight, it's time for Part II.

I am on a plane to Atlanta, Georgia, a city dealing with deadly tornadoes that ravaged parts of the South throughout the day on Wednesday. Three uniformed active duty service members, two soldiers and one airman, are also in business class, with a fourth warrior on the way. After noticing an empty seat in this section, our flight attendant asked the soldier in front of me if he knows of any other troops on the plane. He said there is one service member toward the back who isn't wearing his uniform.

"I want him sitting up here," the flight attendant responded with a grin.

I am only seated up here because of a frequent flier program. The brave men and women in uniform beside me are relaxing in business class because they deserve it.

The AirTran Airways flight attendants on this plane are showing kindness that all airline employees, and all Americans, should show to the people who protect us. The lone fact that someone can post on his or her blog from a plane is a tribute to the sacrifices our troops have made since four airplanes were hijacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, placing the future of American air travel in doubt.

If there are any senior military officers reading this post, you need not worry, as these fine troops have all turned down the free alcoholic beverages. I am honored to a raise my glass to these American heroes, as well as the flight attendants who lifted their spirits on this stormy night.

Storm front

Images courtesy: Staff Sgt. Brian Lautenslager

As much of the United States is gripped by severe April weather, it is starting to seem like these storms are blowing in directly from Afghanistan. After ten announced American casualties in the past nine days, a terrible tragedy at North Kabul International Airport, the home of NATO Air Training Command Afghanistan, will lead to even more solemn knocks on the door for military families. When it rains, the old saying goes, it pours.

NATO's International Security Assistance Force said an Afghan military pilot opened fire on coalition troops during some sort of argument, leaving eight service members and a contractor dead. NATO, per its policy, has not identified the nationalities of the fallen, although numerous reports say all nine killed were Americans. We will wait for further information to be released by U.S. officials, as priority number one for the Pentagon during these tragic hours is making sure families of the fallen are properly notified.

With hundreds of missions going on in Afghanistan at this very moment, it's important to note that most news from the front is encouraging. Our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines make incredible progress around the primitive, war-torn country on a daily basis, as the terrific accomplishments of Task Force Storm show us.

The 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division recently completed a six-day mission in the Baraki Barak District Logar province, parachuting into the war zone under cover of night. According to an article by Sgt. Cooper Cash, the dangerous mission, aimed at clearing weapons and hunting for insurgents and terrorists south of Kabul, went better than some previous efforts to secure the area.

“It’s been a rough area for any units who stayed in this area,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gabriel Temples.

Homemade explosive labs were destroyed, weapons caches seized, suspected terrorists were captured. Because of the sacrifices of our troops, village elders were able to hold a rare meeting to discuss issues and concerns, knowing that American and Afghan service members were nearby to protect them from murderous Taliban or al Qaeda terrorists.

Task Force Storm performed brilliantly, but with heavy hearts. Just ten days before the assault commenced, soldiers lost a brother in arms, Spc. Keith Buzinski, in combat. The 26-year-old Daytona Beach, Florida, soldier was killed when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire, according to the Pentagon.

“Sgt. Buzinski was the epitome of a soldier,” 1st Lt. Sean Cockrill said. “He loved his job, his fellow soldiers and his family. He is an inspiration to all of us and a true hero.”

The storms coming our way from Afghanistan are powerful and serious. Yet because of our valiant men and women in uniform, who shine as our nation's brightest stars, these dark clouds will someday pass.


Note: This post was updated at 11:48 a.m. EDT on April 27.

For the kids

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross

I find it deeply moving that so many children -- Afghan, Iraqi, and American -- are protected every day by U.S. troops risking their lives in war zones. What I didn't realize is that sometimes, children protect our men and women in uniform too.

"They definitely know better than we do where the IEDs are," Cpl. John Gizzi told Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross in an interview about dangers braved by Marines along the Helmand River. "The IED threat is so high, and when you see the kids running around it makes you feel safer."

Could you imagine spending every waking moment knowing that you, or a child in your midst, could be blown apart by a terrorist's bomb? I have never been in a life-or-death situation, let alone the unrelenting danger of combat, making it impossible to comprehend what our troops are experiencing at this dangerous hour. As a civilian on the home front, All I can do is hope and pray for their safety.

While our brave volunteer warriors have saved the lives of many children this past week, including at least 65 in the Dangham district of Afghanistan's Konar province, devastating news continues to trickle out of both war zones, as the national media mostly looks the other way. From coast to coast, and even outside our shores, at least 12 more military families have received tragic knocks on their doors in the past eight days.

Afghanistan:

Spc. Sonny Moses, 22, Koror, Palau
Sgt. John Castro, 25, Andrews, Texas
Staff Sgt. James Justice, 32, Grimes, Iowa
Chief Warrant Officer Terry Varnadore II, 29, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Sgt. Sean Callahan, 23, Warrenton, Virginia
Lance Cpl. Dominic Ciaramitaro, 19, South Lyon, Michigan
Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Bitner, 37, Greencastle, Pennyslvania
Sgt. David Day, 26, Gaylord, Michigan
Capt. Joshua McClimans, 30, Akron, Ohio
Sgt. 1st Class Bradley Hughes, 41, Newark, Ohio

Iraq:

1st Lt. Omar Vazquez, 25, Hamilton, New Jersey
Pfc. Antonio Stiggins, 25, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

The stories of all these departed warriors are consequential. In the sad case of Spc. Sonny Moses, he became the sixth 101st Airborne Division paratrooper to die as a result of a disgraceful April 16 bombing by an apparent terrorist sleeper agent at at Forward Operating Base Gamberi in Nangarhar province. Sgt. John Castro, killed in a separate incident, was also part of the 101st, meaning that at least 12 Screaming Eagles have been killed in Afghanistan since March 29. Our hearts are with their families, as well as the entire community of Fort Campbell, which sits along the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

Despite the far-reaching impact of events on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past week, journalists have barely noticed. A check of the CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News websites shortly before midnight eastern on Tuesday yielded zero stories in top story sections about anything you've read about so far inside this blog post. The total of Afghanistan or Iraq-related articles in all three sections combined was three, the same number as the NFL lockout.

To brave troops in the field, however, what matters isn't how many news articles or soundbites result from their missions. It's that more children are alive.

“Seeing as to how they’re the future of Afghanistan, we always treat them well,” Cpl. Gizzi, a tough, compassionate Marine serving with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, Regimental Combat Team-8, said.

Several of the 12 fallen warriors listed above left behind sons and daughters of their own. While this tragic reality is tremendously painful to even think about, the extraordinary acts of these brave men define heroism. While protecting children in faraway lands, they made this troubled world just a little bit safer for kids back home.

Image courtesy: Sgt. Jesse Stence

Note: This story was updated at 4:04 p.m. EDT on April 26 to reflect new casualty information from the Department of Defense.

Winning

Image courtesy: Facebook

Pfc. John Kihm was an all-American guy who loved the simple things in life: Family, friends, and having a cold Dr. Pepper while sitting in the bleachers at a ballgame. He also loved his country, and viewed joining the military as a simple choice.

"This is really where I want to be," the 19-year-old soldier once told his mother.

As many Americans may not realize, military life is far from simple, with frequent moves around the country, overwhelming stress, multiple deployments, and separation from loved ones. Yet according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Pfc. Kihm would often make the six-hour drive home whenever he had time off from his duties at New York's Fort Drum. While he undoubtedly shared a bond with his Army buddies, home was still home.

There would be no weekend drives to Philly while Kihm was deployed to Afghanistan's Kandahar province, one of the most dangerous areas in the world. Still, according to Kia Gregory's article, Kihm was excited about 15 upcoming days of leave, beginning July 8. The soldier hoped to take in a Philadelphia Phillies game during the break, and had supreme confidence that because he and his family would be in the Citizens Bank Park stands that day, his favorite team was invincible.

"I know they're going to win," Kihm said.

On April 19, Kihm, an honor student who wrestled and ran cross country in high school, died in the volatile war zone he had been deployed in for just a month. The Pentagon has not released the official cause of death for the soldier, who was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

While Kihm was from Pennsylvania, the state of New York, where he was stationed before his deployment, will lower flags at all state buildings to half-staff on Tuesday in his honor.

"I, along with all New Yorkers, extend the deepest sympathies to Private 1st Class Kihm's family, friends, and fellow soldiers, whom we join in honoring his service and mourning his loss," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

In addition to his parents, Kihm also leaves behind two older sisters. The soldier returned to American soil in a solemn dignified transfer ceremony on Thursday at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base. After his flag-draped casket is brought to nearby Philadelphia, the departed warrior will be laid to rest.

"Get ready to show his family our love and support during this unbelievably difficult time," said a post on the official alumni Facebook page of Kihm's Catholic high school, Cardinal Dougherty.

While I can't imagine the pain the Kihms are going through, I hope they still get to attend that Phillies game. July 8, the day the soldier was scheduled to return home on leave, marks the beginning of a big weekend in Philadelphia, which will host the All-Star Game on July 12.

At first glance, Pfc. John Kihm's seat might appear empty during that mid-summer series against the Atlanta Braves. Yet like the magical baseball diamond in the movie 'Field of Dreams,' which only a few characters realize is filled with the spirits of legends, the Kihms will see their hero in his seat, cheering on his favorite team.

I know they're going to win.

Amazing Grace

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

While listening to the haunting bagpipes of "Amazing Grace" during an April 9 memorial service honoring Pfc. Jeremy Faulkner in Jonesboro, Ga., I realized I had no idea what the 1779 song's famous lyrics, written by John Newton, actually meant. Faulkner's pastor, family, friends and fellow soldiers, who filled the huge church to capacity, helped clarify the beloved hymn's resonance.

"With a hail of fire all around him, Jeremy saw amazing grace," Rev. Ron Little said.

On March 29, Faulkner, 23, was one of six Task Force No Slack warriors of the storied 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) to die fighting for our country in Afghanistan's Kunar province. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Ofren Arrechaga, 28; Staff Sgt. Frank Adamski III, 26; Staff Sgt. Bryan Burgess, 29; Spc. Dustin Feldhaus, 20; and Spc. Jameson Lindskog, 23.

"Our enemy had grown too large, too bold, too capable to ignore any longer," Lt. Col. Joel Vowell, Task Force No Slack commander, told grieving soldiers in a dramatic eastern Afghanistan speech delivered the same day one of their own was laid to rest in Georgia. "Task Force No Slack met that challenge, and we destroyed and killed over 130 insurgent fighters and wounded scores of others in our biggest battle since Vietnam."

As I learned at Tara Baptist Church, Faulkner began training for his defining moment as a little boy.

"Little Jeremy used to play Army in the yard," Little said, prompting rare smiles from the devastated audience.

Tony Berry, Faulkner's stepfather, knew "Remy," as many loved ones and buddies called him, since the future soldier was 11.

"He was one of those types of kids that made you mad one minute, but the next, he'd have you laughing," Berry told The Unknown Soldiers. "He loved being outside and camping, so he adjusted to Army life real quick."

Like so many U.S. troops, Faulkner developed an unbreakable attachment to his brothers and sisters in arms. Berry said he spoke to three soldiers from his stepson's unit at the memorial service.

"It's a bond that we can never know, unless you've been over there to share in it with those guys," Berry explained. "When one passes, the other one feels guilty, and they wish it was them."

Quotes from warriors who went into the fire with Faulkner on that treacherous day in Afghanistan were read aloud at the service.

"He was a very special person in my life," one mourning soldier said. "He could make everyone laugh and smile, even in the worst situations."

It doesn't get much worse than the ferocious battle that killed Faulkner and five fellow comrades and left many more wounded. Many casualties of those chaotic moments were just weeks from finishing their Afghanistan deployments.

"It's quite a shock to us," Berry said. "Being that close to coming home is just tragic."

In one of the service's most poignant moments, the fallen hero's mother, Judy Berry, and father, Joel Faulkner, were presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, awarded to their son posthumously.

The momentous events of March 29 in eastern Afghanistan received nowhere near the level of deserved attention from the national media. For too long, the public has languished in the darkness during the daily victories and struggles of America's post-9/11 conflicts, which marks a great injustice to those who serve and sacrifice.

"Our job is not over after today," Little reminded mourners at the service's conclusion.

Families of the fallen, as well as those wounded or suffering from the incalculable psychological toll of war, need more than our sympathy. They need — and merit — our constant focus.

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died," said renowned tough-as-nails Gen. George S. Patton, whose quote was read aloud at the service. "Rather, we should thank God that such men lived."

The grace shown by Pfc. Jeremy P. Faulkner and his fellow troops, who volunteered to serve during a time of genuine peril, is truly amazing.

"I'm going," the brave soldier said before heading off to war. "But if the worst happens, I know where I'm going."

Was blind, but now I see.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell

Heat

File image courtesy: Sgt. Teddy Wade

For some reason, American troops hunting for terrorists in Afghanistan, the country where the September 11th attacks were planned, is no longer considered newsworthy by some national media executives. I think what's been going on the past few days in eastern Afghanistan is a big deal, regardless of ratings-driven coverage decisions made in air-conditioned newsrooms.

In the heat of battle on Tuesday in Konar province, coalition forces killed 17 insurgents during a hard target search for an al-Qaeda terrorist in Dangam district, according to NATO.

As troops moved through the area, which as the file image above shows, is run down and extremely dangerous, they were ambushed, and took cover while an air weapons team eliminated the immediate threat. Brave service members then descended on several compounds, shooting enemy fighters after they refused to stop pointing their weapons at coalition forces.

In one of the buildings, NATO said an insurgent who fired on troops was hiding behind two Afghan women, who were tragically killed because of the enemy fighter's cowardly maneuver to use them as human shields. While the national media often blames U.S. forces for civilian casualties in war zones, this incident gives us a glimpse at the difficult life-and-death decisions troops are forced to make, as well as how many lives are ultimately saved because of their courageous actions.

"A total of 24 women and 65 children were present and they were protected by Afghan and coalition forces during this operation," NATO said.

While this blog is often critical of the media, it is important to point out that there are still journalists who risk their lives to bring the real story home, even if their fine work doesn't always end up in the spotlight. Tragically, two fine journalists who worked tirelessly to show us the dangers and complexities of war, Tim Hetherington, 40, and Chris Hondros, 41, were killed on Wednesday in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Two of their colleagues were wounded.

Hetherington, who co-directed the award-winning documentary 'Restrepo,' understood the sacrifices being made in Afghanistan, particularly in the east, where he spent many harrowing days embedded with U.S. troops in the deadly Korengal Valley. His skillful, brave filmmaking ensured that American heroes like Staff Sgt. Larry Rougle, who was killed in action during the making of Hetherington and Sebastian Junger's film, will never be forgotten.

As the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, I hope more journalists will emulate Tim Hetherington and his fallen and wounded colleagues. Regardless of ratings or recognition, they kept following important stories, recognizing that paying close attention to armed conflict is a journalist's duty, not a matter of convenience.

Image courtesy: Restrepo: The official website

'We will remember them'

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell

As commander of coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan and the face of the 101st Airborne Division, Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell carries enormous responsibilities on his shoulders. But in his pockets, and in his heart, the general carries daily reminders of the men and women who bravely follow his orders, in the form of index cards with names and key pieces of information about our fallen troops.

"We will remember them as not only soldiers, but as parents and spouses and siblings and coaches and mentors and friends, and most of all here, as Screaming Eagles, " Maj. Gen. Campbell recently told reporters. The 101st Airborne Division has lost at least ten soldiers in Afghanistan since March 29, with many more wounded.

Tragically, more index cards will soon rest inside the pockets of the general, who also carries information about service members outside the 101st with him around Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Eight American soldiers killed in two separate April 16 Afghanistan attacks were identified by the Pentagon on Tuesday night, meaning that all of their families have received knocks on the door from military messengers.

In the spirit of Maj. Gen. Campbell's admirable efforts to learn more about these men and women, let us list all eight fallen heroes, along with a quote to tell us more about who each of these special Americans were.

The following soldiers were killed in action on Saturday at Forward Operating Base Gamberi in Nangarhar province. According to the Pentagon, an Afghan National Army soldier, reportedly a terrorist sleeper agent, attacked them with multiple grenades. The first four fallen heroes were assigned to the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, while the fifth was part of he 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Adkins, 36, Sandusky, Ohio

"I've known Chuck since grade school," brother-in-law Josh Lane told The Toledo Blade. "He's one of those people that always made you smile."

Staff Sgt. Cynthia Taylor, 39, Columbus, Georgia

"Taylor is survived by a daughter, Maggie J. Taylor of Clarksville, Tenn.; a son, Joseph L. Goodwin of Oak Grove, Ky.; and her mother, Judy A. Hart of Clarksville, Tenn.," The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports.

Sgt. Linda Pierre, 28, Immokalee, Florida

“She was my backbone," the soldier's sister, Cindy Watson, told The Naples Daily News. "She was everything to me and my family.”

Spc. Joseph Cemper, 21, Warrensburg, Missouri

"Joe felt everyone needed to serve some way and that the military was his best opportunity," high school wrestling coach Don Schreimann told The World-Herald News Service.

Capt. Charles Ridgley Jr., 40, Baltimore, Maryland

"The love that I have for him will not go away until I go away from here," the soldier's mother, Dreama Brown, said in a statement printed in The Baltimore Sun. "He is a great man and a hero in my eyes."

The following three soldiers were killed on Saturday in Nimroz province, according to the Pentagon, when terrorists attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

Spc. Paul Atim, 27, Green Bay, Wisconsin

"Paul came to the United States from Uganda in pursuit of a better life, and shortly afterward joined the military to serve the country he loved," Brent Blahnik, director of international education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, told The Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Spc. Charles Wren, 25, Beeville, Texas

"The married soldier had deployed to Afghanistan previously," The Watertown Daily Times reports. "There he earned a Bronze Star and a Combat Infantryman Badge, a decoration awarded to infantry soldiers who are fired upon by enemy forces."

Pfc. Joel Ramirez, 22, Waxahachie, Texas

“It’s going to be some big shoes to fill,” younger brother Daniel Ramirez told The Waxahachie Daily Light. “It’s a big blow, but the best fighters get back up. … I will keep him proud.”

The compelling life stories of these eight American heroes could fill thousands of index cards, which Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell undoubtedly understands. While local journalists are doing a fine job spotlighting their hometown heroes, our national media continues to obsess over a British royal wedding that affects none of our lives, instead of the consequential deaths of our countrymen, which impact so many families, communities, and fellow troops. To fill this sad void, maybe we can start keeping index cards of our own.

Whether we carry the spirits of heroes in our pockets or in our hearts, knowing more about the men and women fighting to keep us safe will make us stronger Americans.

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Joseph Swafford

Redemption

Image courtesy: Facebook

During what may be the darkest days of the war in Afghanistan for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which has lost at least ten soldiers in battle since March 29, with many more wounded, there was a recent a flicker of light. About 250 brave paratroopers from Task Force Bastogne and Task Force Strike returned home from Afghanistan on April 13 to a hero's welcome on the Kentucky-Tennessee border.

According to Clarksville Online's Roland Woolworth, two returning warriors at the Fort Campbell ceremony were Spc. Stephanie Bridges and Sgt. Ben Miller. After risking their lives together in Afghanistan, they plan to spend the rest of their lives together, as the couple will wed in July, according to the article. Now that's my definition of a royal wedding!

Many soldiers of Task Force Strike and Task Force Bastogne, which was recently honored by Gen. David Petraeus at a remote Afghanistan outpost, have been through a year of hell. As the relative of one fallen 101st Airborne hero recently told me, many returning troops feel guilty about the deaths or injuries of their friends, often wishing they could trade places. Unless you've been in battle, which I have not, it's difficult to grasp the pain our combat veterans live with on a daily basis.

To America's returning heroes: we also mourn the dead and wounded, who will always be embedded deep inside in your hearts. But there is nothing wrong with feeling good about coming home to your families and friends, which is exactly what your fallen brothers and sisters would have wanted for each of you. In fact, this emotional struggle reminds me of a key scene from 'The Shawshank Redemption,' one of the great American films of the 1990s.

"There are places in this world that aren't made out of stone," Andy Dufrense, played by Tim Robbins, says while suffering as an innocent man inside prison walls. "There's something inside... that they can't get to, that they can't touch. That's yours."

"What are you talking about?" Red Redding, played by Morgan Freeman, asks.

"Hope."

The latest news from the front is difficult to bear, as at least four more fallen Screaming Eagles will be identified by the Department of Defense in the coming hours. Yet as the April 13 homecoming ceremony reminds us, even volunteer warriors serving in the desolate, war-torn mountains of Afghanistan still have reason to hope.

Image courtesy: NATO International Security Assistance Force

Know your enemy

File image courtesy: U.S. Army

This blog does not and will never pretend that the United States has been fighting an honorable enemy since September 11, 2001. No one who straps on a suicide vest, like the two pictured above, will ever earn even the slightest measure of my respect. The only thing a terrorist deserves is to be captured or killed.

In tragic, very rare cases, U.S. troops are proven to have committed atrocities against civilians in Afghanistan or Iraq, or are convicted of abusing suspected terrorists in military-run detention centers. Even though these instances are few and far between, and some accusations are eventually proven false, they often attract the most national media coverage, while the despicable tactics used by the terrorists and insurgents our brave troops fight against every day are downplayed, dismissed, or ignored.

Rather than fight head-on, our enemies disguise themselves as police officers, Afghan soldiers, or civilians to murder coalition troops, along with innocent bystanders, including children. On Saturday, April 16, five U.S. service members, including four paratroopers with the Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), were reportedly killed when a suicide bomber attacked a Laghman province meeting between Afghan security forces and coalition partners.

For reasons only known to news executives, this huge story has not gotten significant play. At least ten 101st Screaming Eagles have been killed in Afghanistan since March 29, and as I witnessed first-hand at a recent memorial service honoring one of these fallen heroes, which I will have more on in an upcoming Creators Syndicate column, the impact of these tragedies is simply staggering.

Late last week, terrorists also bombed a meeting of tribal elders in Konar province, killing 12 Afghans, including six children, according to NATO. The article said there are 44 documented cases of civilian deaths at the hands of insurgents so far in April, which is of course difficult to calculate in a war zone filled with remote areas.

There was also a suicide bombing at Kandahar police headquarters, which killed four Afghan police officers on April 15. Gen. David Petraeus was quick to condemn the terrorist attack.

"The police are brave Afghan men, dedicated to protecting the Afghan people and to providing a safer future for the people of Kandahar," our commanding general in Afghanistan said. "This attack was the act of cowardly insurgents desperate to prevent the empowerment of the Afghan Security Forces and the Afghan people."

In the last few hours, there have been reports of an attack on the Afghan Defense Ministry in Kabul and a car bombing outside the heavily-secured International Zone, more commonly known as the Green Zone, in Baghdad. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the Afghans and Iraqis affected by these despicable acts of terrorism.

In addition to the aforementioned 101st Airborne Division families, who are going through pain that most of us cannot imagine, five more American troops have been identified by the Pentagon since April 11 as killed in action in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jose Caraballo Pietri, 32, Yauco, Puerto Rico
Sgt. Brent Maher, 31, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Pvt. Brandon Pickering, 21, Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Spc. Donald Nichols, 21, Shell Rock, Iowa
Spc. Joseph Kennedy, 25, St. Paul, Minnesota

While there is no doubt that this post is filled with solemn news, there are almost hourly reports by the U.S. military and NATO announcing the capture of insurgents or the disabling of an improvised explosive device that could have killed troops and civilians. In Afghanistan and Iraq, there are many more victories than tragedies, thanks to the unparalleled dedication and skill of our armed forces. The Taliban and al Qaeda know they are no match for our men and women in uniform, so they plant bombs and run away, use civilians as human shields, and continue efforts to intimidate the local population, especially women, who have suffered for far too long under the ferocious ideology of terrorists.

We are the good guys, and 99.9% of American troops serve with honor, bravery, integrity, and the highest regard for civilians trapped in the hell of war. At a 100% rate, our enemies murder, terrorize, kidnap, and enslave. Instead of focusing on 0.1% of the story, this blog will continue to spotlight brave men and women confronting the terrorists who started this war.

The battle between good and evil isn't just for books and movies. The timeless clash is happening right now, for real, and impacting countless lives. Let's all do a better job paying attention, and rooting for the good guys.

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell


Note: This post was edited on April 18 at 5:01 p.m. eastern time.

Rudy

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

If you've seen the 1993 film "Rudy," based on a true story about a gutsy, undersized Notre Dame practice squad player who is carried off the field as a hero after the only game of his college football career, you probably haven't forgotten this scene.

"Rudy, are you ready for this, champ?" a teammate asks in the tunnel before the big game.

"I've been ready for this my whole life," Rudy responds.

"Then you take us out on the field," the player says.

On March 19, a different Rudy who once played football, Spc. Rudy Acosta, was asked by his sergeant to join him for an important mission on the treacherous battlefields of Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Acosta, a 19-year-old Army medic who loved his job, had his eye on eventually practicing medicine back home in Canyon Country, Calif., after serving his country.

"Instead of putting on a Band-Aid, he would really treat a wound," the soldier's father, Dante Acosta, told The Unknown Soldiers. "He'd really take the time to make sure a person was in good shape. That just spoke to his faith."

Rudy, nearing the end of his first combat deployment, also had faith in the Afghan people.

"His sergeant told me that when Rudy would help the Afghans they came across, he looked at them as people in need, not as potential enemies," his dad said.

By all accounts, Acosta was focused on his March 19 mission. Amid the relative calm of his base, he was also cracking jokes with a fellow soldier as they cleaned their weapons before heading into battle. Then, the battle came to Acosta and his friends.

"One of the guards walked past them, turned around from the hip and just started shooting," Rudy's father said. "I'm told that this guy was hired about nine or ten days prior. His intent all along was probably to hit as many soldiers as possible."

The terrorist, who reportedly infiltrated the base by working on it as a contractor, killed Rudy and a fellow soldier, Cpl. Donald Mickler, 29, before U.S. troops killed him. The tragic incident is under investigation. Four Americans were injured, including the soldier Acosta was kidding around with before a hail of bullets turned their laughter into screams.

Rudy's father spoke with his son's wounded comrade the night before our conversation.

"He has some movement in his toes, but there is nerve damage; this guy shot him up pretty good," Dante said. "This kind of thing is just terrible ... this kind of guy can't be armed on our bases."

The grieving father, while outraged by the way his son and Mickler died, spoke peacefully about Rudy's love for his parents, siblings, friends and God, as well as his decision to join the military.

"I felt very proud, and as a father, I was very nervous," Dante said. "He wanted to become a medic, and when he said he wouldn't settle for anything else, they let him."

Rudy, still a teenager, never let the hardening of his Army-strong biceps trump his sense of compassion.

"The last Sunday he was here, he left a note with one of our church's pastors," his dad said. "It does not say 'pray for me'; it says 'pray for the Afghan people' and 'pray for our soldiers.'"

Despite the cruel irony of his son dying at the hands of an Afghan terrorist disguised as a friend, Dante's patriotism and respect for the military is unflinching.

"I get choked up when I see the flag," he said. "I know — and now I really know — the sacrifice that has went on."

Between two packed Santa Clarita Baptist Church services, which many troops in Afghanistan watched online, and supporters lining Southern California streets, tens of thousands have paid their respects to Spc. Rudy Acosta, who never got his chance to take the field on March 19.

Chants of "Rudy, Rudy, Rudy," echo through the hit sports film's final scene as teammates carry their hero back into the tunnel. On March 20 at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base, fellow soldiers carried a real hero back onto American soil. The same chants echoed from the heavens.

Take us out on the field, Rudy.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Jason Minto

Finding Katie

Image courtesy: USO/Fred Greaves

After attending Wednesday’s rehearsal of the Sesame Street/USO Military Family Experience kickoff event in Columbus, Ohio, I was thinking about the genius of the Sesame Street developers who created ‘Katie,’ the new character who tells Elmo during the program that her military family has to move, once again, to another base.

Since the character says so much about what children of our service members have endured since September 11, 2001, I set out at Thursday’s event to find a real ’Katie,’ who is living the story that Sesame Street has so vividly created for military kids, as well as children who may not realize why some of their friends have to move away. After about 90 minutes of searching inside the Franklin County Veterans Memorial auditorium, I came across little Isabella Haas.

As Isabella awaited the appearance of her favorite Sesame character, Elmo, her father, Army Maj. John Haas, told me that she had just celebrated her third birthday the day before the special performance in Columbus. Maj. Haas and his wife, Dawnann, also planned on enjoying the day with their daughter, because soon, the soldier will be headed to Afghanistan, where he will spend 270 days apart from his little girl.

When I asked Maj. Haas what it will be like spending so much time away from his wife and child, he visibly shuddered, graciously deferring to his spouse to answer a very emotional question.

Note: Click here to read the full story on the USO blog.

All things must pass

Image courtesy: Spc. Michael Vanpool

It's getting warmer in most areas of Afghanistan. Not here.

"The air is so thin," Pfc. Gary Odon said. "I’ve never reached muscle failure so fast than putting snow chains on the trucks on the mountains."

Spc. Michael Vanpool, who has been doing an incredible job filing compelling stories from the front, wrote an article about the critical Salang Pass, which the 101st Sustainment Brigade uses to bring supplies to U.S. troops stationed in the north. The Salang Pass goes through brutal mountain terrain, connecting Bagram Air Field with Parwan and Baghlan provinces.

Needless to say, navigating these mountains is not easy work for our service members. They're already battling the Taliban and al Qaeda, and during these missions, they also have to battle nature.

"It’s not the easiest in terms of missions, but it’s definitely the most scenic," Pfc. Odon said. "It’s a complicated route. You need a lot patience to make it."

Spc. Vanpool reports that in February, an avalanche along the route killed 200 Afghans. Despite the clear and present danger, our troops press forward, knowing that their brothers and sisters in arms are depending on the supplies they are delivering.

It's easy to miss these stories at home, or think of Afghanistan as a flat, traditional battlefield. The national media has largely stopped covering this war, except when convenient for news executives sitting in the controlled climates of their Manhattan, D.C., or Los Angeles offices.

Most Americans appreciate the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. To the troops risking their lives in the cold mountains: At this hour, we're all up there with you.

More than words

Image courtesy: Marcia Truitt/Inara Studios

Landon Carpenter was born on March 18. His father, Lance Cpl. Andrew Carpenter, was shot in Afghanistan on Valentine's Day and died on February 19, less than a month before the Marine's widow, Crissie, gave birth to their first child.

This may be the shortest post I've put up on this blog. Yet the devastating, moving photo above says things far more valuable than any words I could come up with about America's post-9/11 conflicts, the impact on military families, and what our brave men and women in uniform are fighting for every day.

Landon's father did a noble thing by dying for his country. But he also died for the little boy he never got a chance to meet on earth. Hopefully, when Landon Carpenter becomes a man, there won't be any need for him to fight.

Note: Contributions to "Landon's Fund" can be made at any Regions Bank in middle Tennessee.

American Women

Image courtesy: Sgt. Jeremy Crisp

After becoming the first female soldier since World War II to be awarded the Silver Star, Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester was asked about the historic nature of her achievement.

"It really doesn't have anything to do with being a female," the humble hero told the American Forces Press Service in 2005. "It's about the duties I performed that day as a soldier."

Hester, now a police officer in Tennessee who recently re-enlisted in the Army National Guard, was only 23 years old when terrorists ambushed her convoy on Mar. 20, 2005 in Iraq.

After several soldiers in her military police unit suffered gunshot wounds, Hester, along with Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Nein, later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and Sgt. Jason Mike, later awarded the Silver Star, bravely charged out of their Humvees. The soldiers, putting themselves between the enemy and their exposed convoy, led a ferocious counterattack that killed 27 insurgents and led to the capture of seven more.

While Hester's remarkable story is one of the most prominent examples of post-9/11 heroism by a woman, many more should also touch the heart of a nation that often holds up actresses, singers and models as examples of women at the pinnacle of American society.

Spc. Faith Hinkley, 23, was excited about her upcoming return home when a rocket struck the Iraqi office building she was working inside on Aug. 7, 2010. The former high school cheerleader, who volunteered to leave her loved ones behind and serve our nation, returned home to Colorado in a flag-draped casket.

"As a soldier, she died fighting for our country," Chelsea Bowsher-Venable wrote to me four days after her best friend's death. "But through her passing, I know she will save so many lives just by inspiring others through her goodness, selflessness, and sincerity."

Sgt. Trista Moretti started Army basic training on June 12, 2003, less than three months after the invasion of Iraq. In a true act of bravery, she re-enlisted in 2005, one the conflict's toughest years, fully aware that a deployment was probably on the horizon. Moretti, who was known for her distinctive laugh and relentless pursuit of adventure, was killed in Iraq on June 25, 2007.

"I would have chosen Trista above almost all other soldiers I had the pleasure of serving with in the Army, to be the one watching my back in a foxhole," Austin Goodman posted on Facebook last month. "She was an awesome soldier, was hard to keep up with in physical training, and she had a huge heart."

While walking through Arlington National Cemetery on Jan. 21, 2010, I noticed a particularly striking headstone inscription:

"Be bold, be brief, be gone."

It was the grave of Maj. Megan McClung, who I later learned was the highest-ranking female U.S. Marine to be killed in the Iraq war, and the first female U.S. Naval Academy graduate to die in combat.

The motto on her headstone, which embodied how McClung lived for 34 years, has guided me every day since. Her father, who also served in the Marines, told me about something he learned in the years following his daughter's Dec. 6, 2006 death that inspires him.

"Another indication of how Meg touched so many lives are the seven little girls running around now who were named after her," Mike McClung said in a Jan. 23, 2010 e-mail. "In at least one case (and maybe more), the wife did know Meg. I can just imagine the scene when the husband says 'honey, I would like us to name our daughter (after) a girl I once knew.'"

When Lt. Gen. John Vines awarded Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester and her fellow soldiers their medals in 2005, he said something that resonates six years later.

"My heroes don't play in the NBA and don't play in the U.S. Open," the general said. "They're standing in front of me today."

As my daughter grows up, she will not hear talk at the dinner table about Snooki, Britney, Paris or Lindsay. She will instead hear names like Leigh Ann, Faith, Trista and Megan.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Note: A correction was appended to this article. Maj. Megan McClung is the highest-ranking female Marine to be killed in the Iraq war, not the first female Marine to lose her life in the conflict.

Lifting the fallen

Image courtesy: Spc. Michael Vanpool

When Army officers gathered on March 26 at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan for a professional development course, they did so under the most solemn of circumstances. They were there to learn about the painstaking process of caring for remains of America's fallen heroes from the war in Afghanistan at the Mortuary Affairs Collection Point, or MACP.

"It further helps them know the soldier is treated as a soldier from beginning to end," Cpl. Libtobra Swinson told Spc. Michael Vanpool. "What we do brings comfort to family and friends."

Tragically, service members who care for their fallen comrades have been busy this week. Since Monday, eight U.S. troops have been identified as killed in action in Afghanistan.

1st Lt. Robert Welch III, 26, Wylie, Texas
Spc. Keith Buzinski, 26, Daytona Beach, Florida
Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, 28, Brandon, Mississippi
Seaman Benjamin Rast, 23, Niles, Michigan
Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith, 26, Arlington, Texas
Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, 21, Santa Clara, California
Sgt. Scott Burgess, 32, Franklin, Texas.
Sgt. Michael Lammerts, 26, Tonawanda, New York

Five Army casualties have been identified from the war in Iraq this week, including two combat deaths, which are listed first.

Staff Sgt. Quadi Hudgins, 26, New Orleans, Louisiana
Sgt. Christian Garcia, 30, Goodyear, Arizona
Sgt. Jorge Scatliffe, 32, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Capt. Wesley Hinkley, 36, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Spc. Gary Nelson III, 20, Woodstock, Georgia

According to the Pentagon, 1st Lt. Robert Welch III was killed on April 3 in Afghanistan's Khost province, when terrorists attacked his base with indirect fire. The Texas soldier, assigned to the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Kentucky's Fort Knox, was beloved by his fellow troops.

"When the soldiers on the FOB found out, over 200 of them lined up to give blood for Robby," Morris Vincent, a longtime family friend, told The Star-Telegram. "They just couldn't retrieve the blood fast enough."

Chris Vaughn's article said that after 1st Lt. Welch's tragic passing, the soldier was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for uncommon valor he displayed in Afghanistan. He was also treated with the utmost delicacy and respect by each and every mortuary affairs specialist who handled the departed warrior's remains.

On April 5, retired Lt. Col. Robert Welch II received his son's flag-draped casket at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base. The fallen soldier, who is also survived by his wife, son, mother, sister, and stepmother, has returned to the country he fought for as a hero.

The Unknown Soldiers blog sends its deepest condolences to every family that has received a dreaded knock on the door from military messengers, who perform unimaginably difficult duty in delivering this devastating news. These families are not forgotten, nor are the fine troops working so tirelessly to bring their loved ones home.

Image courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Roland Balik

Note: This post was updated on April 9 at 4:52 p.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

Fathers and sons

Image courtesy: Capt. Jonathan Springer

When Sgt. Timothy Brown learned he would be awarded the Bronze Star for heroism displayed in combat, I doubt he expected America's commanding general in Afghanistan to pin the medal on his uniform. Yet on March 31 in Konar province, amid deeply emotional days of heavy fighting in the mountainous, rough terrain, Gen. David Petraeus showed up at Combat Outpost Honaker-Miracle to honor this warrior and his fellow troops.

“This is simply the best mountain fighting brigade in the United States Army,” Petraeus said of the 101st Airborne Division's Task Force Bulldog. “There is simply no other unit I would rather have fighting here.”

According to an article by Capt. Jonathan Springer, the 101st's 1st Battalion has lost 15 soldiers and seen another 143 wounded since deploying to Afghanistan last spring. Heavy fighting near the Pakistani border also involves 2nd Battalion, which tragically lost six Screaming Eagles in a single day of fighting last week, with many more wounded.

Sgt. Brown, who will return home as a hero to Fort Campbell in the near future, along with the rest of Task Force Bulldog, has incredible stories and at least one impressive photo to show his family back in Alva, Oklahoma.

“I’m proud of the effort each and every one of you have put into this fight," Gen. Petraeus said during his visit to the remote outpost near the Pakistani border. "You should all be proud as well."

Aside from his patriotism and commitment to service, I think there may be another reason Petraeus constantly travels to dangerous areas, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, to express pride in the men and women following his orders. Perhaps, when he looks into the steady, focused eyes of warriors like Sgt. Brown, he is reminded of his only son.

In March, while testifying before Congress, the general revealed that 2nd Lt. Stephen Petraeus served a combat tour in Afghanistan, which was kept quiet for obvious security reasons. With a prestigious degree from MIT in hand and many opportunities undoubtedly before him, 2nd Lt. Petraeus, pictured below, volunteered to serve his country in uniform.

"It's hard to lead from the front if you are in the rear of the formation," Gen. David Petraeus is fond of saying. By making a point to honor heroes like Sgt. Timothy Brown, who fight so bravely in the country where his only son once risked his life, the general helps keep America's sons and daughters in the forefront of our minds.

Image courtesy: Pfc. Donald Watkins

Around the world

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Bradley

American service members do more than fight. I've written about volunteer warriors who have put themselves at risk in Afghan and Iraqi villages simply to give toys or crayons to children caught in the middle of war zones. For a glimpse at military heroism that is often overlooked, let's take a brief spin around the globe.

In Japan, fighting is not part of the mission, giving our men and women in uniform a chance to focus exclusively on compassion. The eye-opening Navy image above shows a sailor, Petty Officer 1st Class Jimmy Zachary, working with an Air Force counterpart, Senior Airman Christian Coleman, to clear debris from the city of Noda.

The wreckage is difficult to comprehend, but 80 service members from Misawa Air Base, including some Marines, are working hard to understand and meet the needs of the Japanese people during this ongoing crisis. Operation Tomodachi is making a difference because of the dedication of our troops in the Pacific, as well as their families.

Operation Odyssey Dawn has officially concluded in Libya, with NATO taking over the mission's reigns. Yet as some still argue over the conflict back home, there is one point that cannot be disputed. America's armed forces, ordered to risk their lives in Libya, saved lives. For example, on March 28, Navy and coalition forces discovered a Libyan coast guard vessel "firing indiscriminately" on merchant ships, and intervened to stop the slaughter, according to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Public Affairs office.

Operation New Dawn is the official name for the mission in Iraq, once named Operation Iraqi Freedom. While current events on the ground mostly center around training Iraqi forces and rebuilding a country devastated by decades of tyranny and war, thousands of Americans still in Iraq are still risking their lives, and still deserve recognition.

The 94th Military Police Company is a good example. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Dudley explained the wide-ranging responsibilities of his platoon at Joint Security Base Prosperity near Baghdad.

"It includes providing personal security details for humanitarian missions like delivering wheelchairs to disabled Iraqi children," Sgt. 1st Class Jason Dudley said.

Think about that for a moment. American troops are risking their lives so kids can have wheelchairs. That's amazing, and makes me proud.

Operation Enduring Freedom is filled with triumph, tragedy, and new challenges on a daily basis. Sunday in Kabul, Gen. David Petraeus condemned the burning of the Quran by a Florida pastor, which has purportedly caused deadly riots in parts of Afghanistan.

“We condemn the action of the individual in the United States who burned a copy of the holy Quran," Gen. Petraeus said. "That action was hateful; it was intolerant, and it was extremely disrespectful."

In the northwest province of Faryab, Bloomberg reports that two U.S. service members were killed Monday when an Afghan border officer apparently turned his gun on Americans visiting for a "routine" meeting. We are praying for the families of these fallen heroes, who will be identified after their loved ones have been notified.

We are also praying for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), which lost six brothers in arms on March 29, with many more wounded. Despite last Tuesday's tragedy, the Screaming Eagles have turned up the heat on the Taliban during Operation Strong Eagle III in Konar province. Over the weekend, the 101st and Afghan troops seized the weapons pictured below from terrorists operating in the area, saving countless Afghan and American lives.

From hauling debris in Japan to confronting evil in Afghanistan, the U.S. military is showing the world what our country is all about. We are tough and resilient, but we also care.

Image courtesy: Pfc. Cameron Boyd

The Long Way Home

Images courtesy: Digital Diamonds Photography, Clarksville, Tenn.

"This may be the highlight of this game," Fox Sports announcer Dick Stockton said after Sgt. Mark Foster stunned his wife, daughter and country with a surprise return from Afghanistan on the 20-yard-line of an NFL football stadium. During the Washington Redskins-Tennessee Titans game on Nov. 20, 2010, millions watched a tearful family embrace, filling their television screens with the raw emotions of war.

As the initial shock began to subside in the stands of Nashville's LP Field, the 101st Airborne Division paratrooper's spouse, Jodi, asked a dreaded question.

"When do you have to go back?"

Sgt. Foster, 38, hated having to tell his wife and youngest child that not long after Thanksgiving, he'd be back in a war zone.

"My 12-year-old daughter, Kayla, put it best — (rest and recuperation) kind of sucks when you're deployed," Mark told The Unknown Soldiers. "You have to go back and miss your family all over again."

Foster's feisty wife, who jokingly chastised her Army husband during our conversation for not doing enough laundry while he was home, wholeheartedly agreed.

"It was really hard," Jodi, 33, recalled. "It's almost like they tease you with R&R — they dangle him being home in front of you."

The sergeant had already been through four combat tours in Iraq, but the last 12 weeks of his first deployment to Afghanistan, after returning from his surprise trip home, were among the most difficult of his life.

"It was probably the longest three months I've ever spent, although they're always longer after leave," Mark said. "It was rough, it was cold and it snowed a lot."

On March 10, Jodi and three anxious kids stood near the Tennessee-Kentucky border at Fort Campbell, waiting for the first glimpse of a returning hero and his brothers in arms. This time, the family would reunite on an Army airfield instead of a football field, but there was still a minor surprise in store for the soldier's wife.

"I didn't recognize him at first because he lost so much weight over there," Jodi admitted. "The last few minutes waiting to get to hug him were tough, but it's great having him home."

As a career journalist who has never served in the military, I naively asked the soldier how he was enjoying his time off. The sergeant told me he went back to work at 5:30 a.m. the day after getting home.

"When we come back, there is a mandatory reintegration period," Mark explained. "But it's only a few hours a day, and then you get to come home and spend time with your family."

I asked the soldier how he is doing emotionally after his fifth overseas deployment in support of America's post-9/11 missions. Foster told me that loud noises and large groups of people make him uncomfortable.

"I'll be honest — the hardest part is going to work and still not having peace and quiet," Mark said. "It's nice to just play a video game or watch a movie without having anyone, even the kids, running around. That's the most overwhelming thing because I'm just not used to it."

Like so many military families around the nation, the Fosters are either dealing with being apart or moving around together. In the fall, they will transition from Fort Campbell to Fort Hood, a massive Army post about an hour from Austin, Texas.

"It's been an adjustment for all of us," Jodi said. "You get into a routine, and then you have to change the routine."

Sgt. Mark Foster, who struck me with his up-front, no-nonsense demeanor during our November and March conversations, said it's critical for a nation fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and now Libya, to comprehend war's impact on hundreds of thousands of American families.

"It's kind of like they get stuck holding the bag," the soldier said. "People have got to understand that when we leave, it's not necessarily because we want to. It's because we have to."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM