Those Who Serve

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Matthew Smith

While dining with the families of fallen U.S. Naval Academy graduates Friday night in Annapolis, Md., an honorable man stood and delivered a stirring speech.

Cmdr. Jeff Eggers is a Navy SEAL who currently serves on the national security staff at the White House. He's been to Iraq and Afghanistan, repeatedly risking his life to keep others safe. Now, he's using his academic and military expertise, coupled with his combat training and experience, to improve the lives of our men and women in uniform and civilians on the ground.

Commander Eggers wanted us to think about an oft-used word -- service -- and challenged us to think about its true meaning. The word is personal to this Navy SEAL, who has lost several dear friends in combat. He spoke of the one percent of our population that volunteers to protect us, while also rightfully pointing out an additional one percent that serves: our country's military families. Never in our country's proud history, the SEAL said, has such a small percentage of Americans shouldered the heavy burden of protecting a nation.

He also gave a stirring account of accompanying President Obama to Dover, Del., on Aug. 9, to salute the caskets of 38 brave Americans and Afghans who were killed in a tragic Afghanistan helicopter crash three days earlier. As someone who was in Dover that day, Eggers' account was both vivid and eye-opening. After the grueling, emotional series of dignified transfer ceremonies, the president turned to the SEAL, who was thanking the commander-in-chief for being in Dover to honor his fallen brothers.

"Today is all about the families," the president said.

Less than three months later, today is -- once again -- all about the families. On Saturday morning, reports out of Kabul, Afghanistan, began informing Americans of a stunning, tragic loss. More than a dozen people -- including several U.S. troops -- were reportedly killed in a terrorist attack in the southwest section of the Afghan capital, which evil Taliban spokesmen are already taking credit for. As initial reports filter out of the war zone, we must remember that the situation is fluid, and information often changes.

What will never change is what these troops were doing when they died. They were serving our country. As Eggers brilliantly articulated just hours before their deaths, service isn't just a word. It's a big idea that embodies the very best of America. In a nation that's been at war for more than ten years with an all-volunteer military, those who serve are part of a small, exclusive community of Americans who ask themselves the same question that 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who was killed in Iraq in 2007, pondered before his final deployment. "If not me, then who..."

But today is all about the families. Soon, more moms, dads, wives, and husbands will receive knocks on the door from military messengers, informing them of their loved one's ultimate sacrifice. Even during this time of incredible loss, it is crucial for these families to know that they will never grieve alone. As I witnessed last night in Annapolis, America's newest families of the fallen will join a growing community of wonderful people who did not deserve to lose a loved one. While the pain these families experience is unimaginable, their compassion and wisdom, especially for one another, is unparalleled.

Even in the wake of Saturday's horrific terrorist attack in Kabul, the fight goes on in Afghanistan, from the country's war-torn cities to remote forward operating bases in some of the world's most desolate places. As Cmdr. Jeff Eggers made clear from half a world away, these men and women in uniform define a new, profound idea of service.

Back home, their families are serving too. This weekend, and every day, is all about them. Our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of the warriors who fell today in Afghanistan, as well as the brave Americans who continue to risk their lives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world. Civilians like me owe everything to humble heroes like you.

Image courtesy: Senior Airman Grovert Fuentes-Contreras

An Early Thanksgiving

Image courtesy: DVIDS

At first glance, Oct. 16 was just another Sunday in Everson, Wash. Without relevant football to watch during a Seattle Seahawks bye week, many citizens enjoyed the crisp fall air swirling through the foothills of the snow-capped Cascade Mountain Range.

Still, something remarkable happened that afternoon, when a young Marine said a prayer before an early Thanksgiving dinner with his wife and relatives. Despite what lay ahead, Cpl. Reece Lodder had something to be thankful for.

"I knew that God had given me some exceptional gifts that I could put to use as a Marine," Cpl. Lodder told the Unknown Soldiers.

While most Americans stuff themselves with turkey on Nov. 24, Lodder will be risking his life in one of the world's most violent places: Afghanistan's volatile south.

"My company commander ... he's going on his sixth combat deployment," Lodder, 22, said. "This is my first combat deployment."

After just completing six grueling weeks of pre-deployment training with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment in California's Mojave Desert, Lodder believes he is physically and mentally prepared for war. The emotional part is toughest.

"Preparing to say goodbye to the most important person in your life for seven months ... it hurts," the concerned husband said. "It's a struggle."

In this time of war, the Marine firmly believes that God and country are calling.

"If nobody was prepared to make that sacrifice, then we wouldn't be blessed with what we have," said Lodder, who was 12 years old on Sept. 11, 2001.

As the future Marine grew up just south of Canada, he saw two close church friends deploy to dangerous provinces of Iraq. While he didn't feel guilty for the good life his parents and four siblings built through hard work, Lodder felt he could do more.

"I was very comfortable with just being here," he said. "But I never felt like I was really giving anything up or contributing to the greater good."

After graduating from high school and then earning his associate degree, Lodder joined the Marine Corps in April 2009. In addition to his will to fight, the ambitious young patriot offered another set of skills.

"I've always enjoyed writing ... I've always had a very strong passion for it," he explained. "And photography I've always loved, but I never had the chance to do it."

As a military journalist, Lodder gets to interview heroes like Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient and fellow Marine. But Lodder's best training for adjusting to life as a combat correspondent may have come in the Mojave Desert's intense heat.

"It's searing; it's scorching; it dehydrates you," Lodder said. "But we take a lot of pride in knowing that we can endure this — we can laugh through it; we can sweat through it; we can bleed through it — but when we come out on the other end, we've done it successfully."

The Marine knows he cannot walk between Taliban fighters and the improvised explosive devices they plant because he's carrying a camera. As he covers sacred ground on which so many fine Americans have bled during the past decade, Lodder will be in grave danger.

"First and foremost, I'm a Marine, so I'm going there to support the Marines to my right and left," he explained. "We're all going there to support each other ... to accomplish our mission as a team."

Instead of worrying about his safety, Lodder is thinking about a rendezvous with destiny.

"I'm going to be moving around a lot, doing my utmost to tell the stories of as many Marines and Navy Corpsmen as I can," Lodder said. "I really believe in my job, not only as a Marine, but being able to tell their stories ... I can't think of anything more rewarding."

As he packs for Afghanistan, Cpl. Reece Lodder's overriding concern is his wife's well-being.

"For her, I'm going to be in danger, and that's something you think about every day," he said. "But we've got the strongest perspective that God's taking care of us."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: Cpl. Reece Lodder

Media Circus

File image courtesy: U.S. Navy

While looking for cable news coverage of America's ongoing wars on Wednesday morning, I was encouraged to see an Iraq story leading the MSNBC website. It is a New York Times article about the return of the Baghdad circus.

Unfortunately -- judging by the top story sections of the MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN websites -- clowns and circus elephants are just about it as far as morning online war coverage is concerned. As of 10:00 a.m. eastern, the only other story about Iraq or Afghanistan in all three top story sections was a CNN political column about President Obama's Iraq policy.

Right around the 2008 campaign season, when I was still working at CNN, covering the daily sacrifices in Afghanistan and Iraq became a matter of convenience for the national media. The campaign horse race and ratings-driven Britney Spears-Lindsay Lohan-Paris Hilton coverage came first, while our men and women in uniform were an afterthought. It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

On Tuesday, this blog discussed a violent weekend in Afghanistan that was filled with victories and some painful setbacks for our troops overseas and their families at home. Since writing the post, I've been thinking a lot about the story of 1st Lt. Ashley White Stumpf, a 24-year-old soldier from Alliance, Ohio. She was tragically killed alongside Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij, 29, and Pfc. Christopher Horns, 20, when an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists blew up in Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Saturday.

In Stark County, Ohio, a local newspaper called The Canton Repository is treating the tragic death of this American soldier as front page news. In addition to its fine news coverage of a sad event that touched this tight-knit community from thousands of miles away, the newspaper is running an editorial urging citizens of all backgrounds to unite around the fallen soldier's family.

"The family of 1st Lt. Ashley White will find another common denominator as well in the coming days," the editorial board wrote. "Their neighbors, friends and total strangers will reach out to comfort them, and to convey their pride in and respect for a young woman whose passion was to serve her country."

Imagine if this was being done at the national level, outside of this Associated Press article, which the news organization deserves credit for. Imagine if an entire nation was being asked to rally around the families who suffered losses in Afghanistan over the weekend. Imagine if the national press had the guts to put patriotism and newsworthiness above a flawed strategy to boost ratings. Imagine if all of us -- not just the one percent that volunteers to fight -- felt like a nation at war.

From the newspaper, we've learned that the soldier's husband, Capt. Jason Stumpf, also serves our country. Our hearts go out to Capt. Stumpf and all the loved ones, friends, and fellow troops left behind in the wake of this terrible loss.

While the national media's unpatriotic behavior is frustrating, we know that the patriotic dedication of our men and women in uniform will never change. Brave soldiers like 1st Lt. White Stumpf aren't going overseas to become famous. As the local editorial makes clear, many of these selfless men and women believe so strongly in the cause of freedom that they sign up for missions that could result in death.

"She was serving in a role that made her an ambassador as well as a soldier, serving on a cultural support team that worked with Afghani women and children," the Canton Repository editorial board wrote. "It was an assignment she volunteered for."

The story of 1st Lt. Ashley White Stumpf and her fellow soldiers is extremely important. It's real news. As journalism continues its downward slide into becoming one of America's least respected professions, perhaps reporters, producers, and executives should take some cues from the nation's most lauded institution: the military.

Our men and women in uniform are beloved because they take enormous risks to preserve freedom. After a decade of war, it's time for journalists to leave the media's 24/7 circus tent and finally take notice.

Image courtesy: U.S. Army


Note: This post was edited on Nov. 2 at 12:14 p.m. EDT.

The Weight

Image courtesy: Sgt. Thomas Dowd

About one percent of America's population carries the weight of the world on its shoulders. These are the men and women who volunteer to fight during a time of war, while often spending years apart from their families as they do an entire nation's heavy lifting.

Instead of bickering over politics or obsessing over the celebrity fluff that often fills our television screens, the 99 percent of us who haven't signed up to fight for our country, including me, need to do a better job of supporting our men and women in uniform. We can start by playing closer to attention to a war our military has been fighting for more than a decade.

First Lt. Ashley White Stumpf, 24, didn't get dragged into the war in Afghanistan. According to her brother, who spoke to The Repository in Canton, Ohio, she wanted to be there.

"She wanted to go, it was her choice," Josh White told the newspaper. "We didn’t really fight with her. We knew the passion she had. We were scared to death when she went over there. We knew the risk. We supported her 100 percent because we knew that is what she wanted to do."

First Lt. White Stumpf, who was assigned to the Army's 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, was killed on Saturday in Afghanistan's Kandahar province when terrorists attacked American soldiers with an improvised explosive device.

Two brave Army Rangers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, were tragically killed alongside White in the same attack.

Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij, 29, San Diego, California
Pfc. Christopher Horns, 20, Colorado Springs, Colorado

To the northeast in Logar province, our nation lost another soldier, Cpl. Paul Rivera, 26, who wanted to fight for his country. Cpl. Rivera's closest buddy, Senior Airman Nick Carmona, told the Austin American-Statesman, that 9/11 inspired the friends to join the military straight out of their Round Rock, Texas, high school.

Senior Airman Carmona also told reporter Benjamin Wermund that while his friend remained inspired to serve, this had been a tough deployment to Afghanistan.

"I could tell he wanted to come back home, but the soldier that he was, he didn't let other people see that," Carmona said.

According to the Pentagon, Rivera died Saturday when his vehicle rolled over during an attack by enemy forces.

The Department of Defense said Tuesday afternoon that a Marine, Lance Cpl. Jordan Bastean, was killed on Sunday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province. The 19-year-old warrior hailed from Pekin, Illinois.

All around Afghanistan, brave U.S. troops are helping each other carry heavy gear through mountains, villages, bases, and deserts.

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Ryan Matson

While news of brave men and women in uniform being killed or wounded is incredibly difficult to accept, there are also many victories to celebrate.

In eastern Afghanistan, coalition troops continue to pound the Haqqani terrorist network, which has been behind many recent attacks in Afghanistan. In addition to the terrorists captured and killed, many improvised explosive devices -- which kill so many of U.S. troops and Afghan civilians -- were seized.

"We yielded significant finds which will reduce the [insurgent network’s] ability to conduct attacks against Afghan and ISAF forces and to further destabilize Khowst province," Army Maj. Ed Hollis said. "We reduced their supplies of ammunition, explosives, bomb-making material, [improvised explosive devices], various medical and logistical supplies."

I hope everyone will spend some time looking at the below photo, which shows the Dover Air Force Base dignified transfer ceremony honoring Pfc. Horns, who died Saturday. While the image captures a fallen hero's return to American soil, to me, it also signifies how much one percent of our population sacrifices for the other 99 percent.

While all of us have heavy lifting to do in our own lives, especially during very tough economic times for millions of American families, we also need to remember those who shoulder the heaviest burdens. Starting today, let's join together to give them a lift.

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


Note: This post was updated at 3:15 p.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

A Story for Us

From left to right: David Simpson, Sgt. Jonathan Simpson, Cpl. Paul Simpson, Lance Cpl. Abraham Simpson

Maria Simpson vividly recalls the day her oldest son, Abraham, first met his teenage cousin, Jonathan, who was visiting from Quebec. The adults were chatting downstairs at her family's Chino, Calif., home when they heard a small commotion above them.

"They were upstairs playing with the (toy) Army men," Maria told The Unknown Soldiers. "Jonathan had hidden snipers in the dog's fur."

Even as teenagers, the mutual respect the cousins shared for the military eclipsed all communication boundaries.

"Jonathan hardly spoke English at the time," Maria explained. "But they got along great."

When Jonathan, who became a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen on July 4, 2001, graduated from boot camp shortly after 9/11, Abe was there to congratulate him.

When Abe enlisted out of high school, his parents were not surprised. Maria's Navy husband, Jim, has always encouraged their three sons to serve.

"I knew he would be going into the military since he was young," Maria said of Abe. "Everyone who knew him knew he was going to become a Marine."

As Jonathan navigated C-130 aircraft in Okinawa, Japan, Abe trained hard to make their shared dream of military service a reality. He graduated from basic training and began preparing for a deployment to Iraq.

"Abe seemed pretty focused," the Marine's mother said. "I don't think he was scared at all."

Before he left for Iraq, Lance Cpl. Abraham Simpson, 19, told his parents that if anyone in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment had to die in battle, he wanted to be the one to make the ultimate sacrifice. As a young man of deep faith who gave a portion of every dollar he earned to his church, Abe viewed death as a new beginning.

"He knew where he was going," Maria said. "He would have taken a bullet for another Marine."

On Nov. 9, 2004, Abe, who had just switched places with another Marine in a mortar line, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by terrorists in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. He died instantly.

The next morning, Maria, who knew Abe was in grave danger, was getting in her car when she saw a military van driving slowly down the street. The Marine mom knew the war had hit home.

"I thought, Oh my Gosh, Abe's in the battle of Fallujah," she said.

The van drove past her house, prompting Maria to worry that another family had lost a son or daughter. She had almost backed out of the driveway when the van turned around.

It was then that she knew Abe was in heaven.

"The Marines were very respectful," Maria said.

Upon learning of his cousin's death, Sgt. Jonathan Simpson boarded a flight in Japan.

"Jonathan was a pallbearer at the funeral," Maria said. "At that time, he told me he would make the switch to infantry in order to honor Abe's service."

On Oct. 16, 2006, Jonathan, who once hid toy snipers in the fur of Abe's dog, died in the same Iraqi province as his cousin. He was killed by an enemy sniper's bullet.

"We had already done this and never wanted to do it again," Maria said while describing her 25-year-old nephew's Quebec funeral. "He was such a polite young man and very respectful."

Incredibly, Maria watched another son, Cpl. Paul Simpson, deploy to Afghanistan last year.

"We hadn't had a Simpson come back from combat alive," she said. "I was always looking at the door to see if someone was knocking."

The knock never came. Paul, 23, who served in the same Marine unit as his big brother, made it home safely. Maria's youngest son plans to join the military as well.

The loved ones Abe left behind aren't intimidated by death.

"Our protection is placing our situation in God's hands," Maria said. "Nobody wants it to happen to them, but on the other hand, why should it happen to other people and not me?"

Seven years after losing Abe, Maria shares his story, as well as Jonathan's, so fellow Americans know what's been sacrificed for their freedom.

"He was our son, but at the moment he died, he became an American son," she said. "I think his story belongs to all of us."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Images courtesy: Maria Simpson

'If Not Me, Then Who...'

Images courtesy: Travis Manion Foundation

When 1st Lt. Travis Manion was asked why he had to repeatedly risk his life in faraway lands, his response was simple, but direct:

"If not me, then who..."

That stirring quote sits on my desk every single day, engraved on a silver plaque. Along with "be bold, be brief, be gone" -- the unforgettable mantra of Marine Maj. Megan McClung -- 1st Lt. Manion's words have guided this humble chapter of my career.

Manion, 26, was killed in Iraq's Al Anbar province on Apr. 29, 2007, while attacking the enemy, saving the wounded, and diverting sniper fire away from his fellow Marines. In awarding the Silver Star to this fallen American hero, Gen. John R. Allen, who now commands U.S. forces in Afghanistan, referred to Manion as one of America's greatest post-9/11 heroes.

"Travis strode like a giant wherever he went," the general said. "He had a personal role in the liberation of Fallujah...and the shining example Fallujah has now become."

The son of Col. Tom Manion and Janet Manion, the example set by this Marine is one for an entire generation of Americans to follow. Among the first to take his lead was one of Manion's closest friends, Lt. Brendan Looney, the Marine's Naval Academy roommate who dedicated the rest of his Navy SEAL training to Travis. "If not me, then who..." wasn't just a quote to Lt. Looney, it was how he would live the rest of his life.

I first spoke to Ryan Manion Borek, Travis' older sister, about three weeks after Looney, 29, was killed in a tragic Sept. 21, 2010, helicopter crash that killed nine American troops in Afghanistan's Zabul province. Her brother's grave had just been moved from Pennsylvania to Arlington National Cemetery so he could rest in eternity next to Brendan.

While interviewing Ryan for what would later become my first syndicated newspaper column, she mentioned the Travis Manion Foundation, which was spearheaded by her mother's tireless dedication to honoring Travis and all fallen heroes. The foundation was doing wonderful things for Gold Star families and the entire nation.

"We have to continue their mission of service," Travis' big sister said. "We will carry on the foundation in Travis' name and Brendan's name as well. They left this world with so much to give."

About a year later, Ryan, who is the Travis Manion Foundation's Executive Director, asked me to become the organization's Community Manager. As I told her on Monday, to help this fine organization, in the spirit of Travis and Brendan's enduring legacies, is the honor of a lifetime. Without hesitation, I accepted the offer.

The Travis Manion Foundation honors the fallen while challenging the living. The Unknown Soldiers blog fully embraces this cause, and is humbled to join forces and learn from the foundation's leadership team, distinguished board of directors, and expert advisory board.

Most of all, I am honored to work for Janet Manion, Travis' mother and the Foundation's Chairman. For beginning this noble effort during a period of such overwhelming grief, and for seeing it through, you are a true visionary for all Americans to admire, Mrs. Manion. I didn't have the privilege of knowing your son, but I know he would be proud of you, Col. Manion, and your daughter.

I urge everyone to read about The Travis Manion Foundation's innovative programs. The foundation awards Challenge Grants to survivors of fallen heroes who challenge themselves in a creative way to honor their loved one. It also partners with The Mission Continues to help wounded and disabled post-9/11 veterans serve their communities in honor of fallen heroes.

The Character Does Matter program brings "If not me, then who..." to children, some of whom may not realize that America is still at war. Through heartfelt, informative school presentations, students are challenged to adopt a fallen hero and perform meaningful service projects in his or her memory. Students then write essays about their work, with the chance of being awarded scholarships for the most moving examples of character-driven service.

The 9/11 Heroes Run started with a single event in the Manions' Philadelphia-area hometown of Doylestown, Pa., where the foundation is based. By Sept. 11, 2011, more than 15,000 people were participating in 29 U.S. cities and 8 international locations, including Afghanistan, Guam, England, and Italy. The incredible success of this unifying event, which brings Americans together on each 9/11 anniversary, is a shining light in a nation at war.

Soon, the silver "If not me, then who..." plaque sitting on my desk will arrive at its rightful destination: 1st Lt. Travis Manion's hometown.

While I am nothing compared to a man who a general called a giant, I hope that my writing about our warriors and their families can, in some small measure, live up to this legacy of great significance.

As I am learning more and more each day, 1st Lt. Manion didn't go to Iraq to become a hero. He wanted to do his duty as a Marine and protect the people around him. That's why there are only five words that can adequately sum up how we should challenge ourselves to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

"If not me, then who..."




Note: Please consider supporting the Travis Manion Foundation's worthy cause by making a financial contribution or volunteering your valuable time.

Lions in Winter

File image courtesy: Derek and Julie Ramsey

As the winter fighting season begins in eastern Afghanistan, the citizens and soldiers of this war-torn nation remind me of one of their country's most enduring symbols.

Toward the end of his life, Marjan the lion was tired, wounded, and half-blind after a decade of suffering. Given to Afghanistan as gift from a German zoo in 1978, Marjan survived an invasion and occupation by the Soviet empire before a terrible, tragic incident in 1993, when an arrogant agitator jumped into his Kabul Zoo habitat and began petting the lioness, Chucha.

Believing his companion was under attack, Marjan killed the intruder. Wrongly blaming the lion, the intruder's brother returned to the zoo with a grenade, which badly injured Marjan upon exploding. The lion lost one eye and was never able to eat normally again due to a badly injured mouth.

Despite his terrible wounds, Marjan became a fixture of the Kabul Zoo, and survived post-9/11 bombings of the city by the U.S.-led coalition after the evil Taliban regime refused to hand over Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda terrorists. The plight of the lion and the terrible treatement of other zoo animals by the Taliban was discovered after coalition forces removed the terrorist regime from power.

After so many years of constant conflict, many Afghans must feel like Marjan once did: tired, wounded, and half-blind, unable to get a full picture of outside events due to the fog of war. Yet like Marjan, a lion that survived some of the most brutal conflicts of the last half-century, the Afghan people still stand with pride.

On Oct. 15, terrorists made the grave mistake of attacking Forward Operating Base Lion in Panjshir province. NATO said five attackers wearing suicide vests were killed during the assault. Sadly, two Afghan civilians were killed when a car bomb exploded during the chaotic firefight.

Image courtesy: NATO

Afghan troops would not have the necessary organization or means to defend themselves against terrorism without the incredible sacrifices made by American-led forces over the past ten years. That fact is tragically underscored by the deaths of seven more U.S. service members over the past week in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jorge Oliveira, 33, Newark, New Jersey
Chief Petty Officer Raymond Border, 31, West Lafayette, Ohio
Lance Cpl. Scott Harper, 21, Winston, Georgia
Staff Sgt. Robert Cowdrey, 39, Atwater, Ohio
Spc. Jeremiah Sancho, 23, Palm Bay, Florida
Spc. Michael Elm, 25, Phoenix, Arizona
Staff Sgt. Houston Taylor, 25, Hurst, Texas

As the Oliveira, Border, Harper, Cowdrey, Sancho, Elm, and Taylor families mourn, while wrapped in the sympathetic arms of a grateful nation, U.S. troops, on the orders of Gen. John R. Allen, are moving into position throughout eastern Afghanistan to battle the Haqqani terrorist network and prevent attacks originating from the border with Pakistan.

While Marjan's self-defense and survival instincts have forever endeared the lion to the Afghan people, there are also similiarities between Marjan's struggle and the ongoing mission of U.S. troops. Of course, lions outside captivity do not sit around waiting to be attacked. They go on the offense, relentlessly stalking their prey for the sake of survival.

After the deaths and injuries suffered by so many brave American troops during the past ten years, our military, like a lion with battle scars, has been tested. But despite daunting challenges, our men and women in uniform begin another Afghan winter at war, confident in their abilities and ready to complete their crucial mission. Every terrorist who buries bombs or attacks innocent people should know that no matter where he hides, the lions are coming.

Marjan, a lion that lit up the world since 1976, died at the Kabul Zoo in 2002. While his country is still at war, this wounded animal's strength, loyalty, and spirit live on. Someday, his country will be free.



Note: This post was updated on Oct. 25 at 10:40 a.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

The Last Marines

Images courtesy: Staff Sgt. Rauel Tirado

Maj. Monte Powell isn't a reporter or media pundit reciting statistics and political rhetoric about Iraq. He's one of the last U.S. Marines to leave the country.

Speaking with The Unknown Soldiers on Monday, Maj. Powell brought up an extremely important aspect of the U.S. withdrawal that has been mostly absent from recent media coverage. Leaving Iraq -- a place where so many U.S. troops have served, sacrificed, and bled -- is an extremely emotional experience for our men and women in uniform.

"I'm deeply honored," Powell said. "The humility is there, because I understand that over 4,000 service members gave their lives.

"They're the ones who served," the Marine continued. "So there's humility in what I'm doing; trying to get the gravity of the sacrifices that were made."

This is Powell's fourth tour in Iraq, after previously serving two deployments around Baghdad and one tour in the volatile city of Fallujah, where so many American troops were killed and wounded as they defeated Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda terrorists.

On this deployment, as part of Operation New Dawn, Powell commanded a 13-Marine unit from I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of California's Camp Pendleton. Their mission was to train Iraqi marines to guard oil platforms and prevent terrorist attacks.

"It's very important for a country to be in a situation to be able to defend itself," Powell explained. "The training teams are very important because they take the basic Iraqi civilian and put them in the position where they can fend for themselves, their country, and their national interests."

The 43-year-old Tulsa, Oklahoma, native finished his mission on Oct. 14, when he and his fellow Marines made the short, but emotional journey from the Iraqi port city of Umm Qasr to Kuwait.

"When you finish combat or end the mission, it's just as important as the beginning," Powell said. "Because over time, what people realize or remember is the last thing that they've seen or experienced."

Powell and the Marines he commanded on this final tour care deeply about the future of Iraq. Even though they will eventually head home from Kuwait to be with their families, these warriors have a personal stake in the future of Iraq.

"We made a lot of friends with the Iraqi marines and the interpreters that we used, and they'll be missed," Powell said. "But there's no doubt the Marines are looking forward to getting back to home court and to their future assignments."

As American troops continue risking their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and now four countries in Africa, Maj. Monte Powell wanted to make something perfectly clear about the U.S. Marine Corps. Despite all the sacrifices made by Marines over the past decade, these warriors remain ready to fight anywhere, anytime.

"Wherever their nation calls, they're prepared to defend it," he said.

True Patriotism

Image courtesy: New England Patriots

While watching my alma mater of Rutgers University play a tight Oct. 15 football game against the United States Naval Academy, I was having a tough time rooting against the Midshipmen. Navy and all the service academies play with so much heart -- week in, week out -- that it's almost impossible not to pull for them unless they are playing against your school.

As many of us get ready for an NFL football Sunday, I want to make sure the story of LTJG Eric Kettani stays in the spotlight. While the national media, for once, has done a good job covering this story, we need to make sure every American, especially young people wearing their favorite player's jersey, is familiar with this story of service.

Kettani was a standout football player at Lake Catholic High School in suburban Cleveland when terrorists attacked America on Sept. 11, 2001. In a time of war, he made the brave decision to attend the United States Naval Academy, where in addition to his rigorous study and training routine, he played football all four years, becoming Navy's starting fullback in his senior season. Kettani had one of the best games of his career in a 2008 defeat of my Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Because of Kettani's hard work and dedication, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, whose son plays football at Rutgers, wound up signing Kettani to the New England practice squad. Kettani was hard at work helping one of the NFL's premier teams prepare for its games when the United States Navy said he would have to report back for duty.

While intensely loyal to his country, Kettani is also loyal to Coach Belichick and the team that signed him to a professional contract. He explored an appeal of the Navy's decision, while always maintaining that he would serve if his nation needed him. In denying the appeal, the Navy sent this letter:

"As our nation is at war, it is important to ensure we maintain our commitment to the nation's defense. As such, a release from active duty would be inconsistent with that effort.

I appreciate your Patriotism and service to our nation and encourage you to pursue your goal to play professional football after completion of your service in the Navy."

LTJG Kettani's response to the letter, which admittedly shocked him? "God Bless America." According to The Capital newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, he reported to the USS Klakring earlier this month.

"I love my country, I love serving and I love doing my duty," Kettani told Capital reporter Bill Wagner. "However, I also loved playing for the New England Patriots and there is a policy in place for all three service academies that should allow me to do that now that I have served more than two years on active duty."

Notice that even though he politely disagreed with the decision made by his superiors, Kettani followed orders and reported for duty. The 235 lb. fullback may be a New England Patriot, but he is an American patriot too.

Kettani still keeps in touch with his New England teammates, including former Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty, who gently ribbed his friend Saturday on Twitter after the Scarlet Knights escaped with a 21-20 victory over the Midshipmen. Many Americans have expressed their gratitude to Kettani on Twitter as well, which is undoubtedly lifting his spirits as he makes an unexpected transition back to military life.

As you're watching football today, and an announcer inevitably calls a player a "warrior" or calls his performance "heroic," think for a moment about LTJG Eric Kettani. This is a man who has spent his entire adult life pursuing two dreams: serving his country and playing football. We can only hope that someday soon, those dreams can merge once again.

Until that day, thank you for your service to our country, LTJG Kettani. You are a true Patriot, in every sense of the word.

Image courtesy: U.S. Navy

In Their Shoes

Image courtesy: Dequenne family

Capt. Jason Dequenne was sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner with his wife and son in Stafford, Va., when he got the stunning news. His friend and fellow Marine, Sgt. Jason Smith, had been killed in Afghanistan.

"I remember collapsing into the chair I was standing closest to," Capt. Dequenne told The Unknown Soldiers. "You're just in disbelief."

As excruciating pain sunk in, hundreds of memories raced through Dequenne's mind, with one in particular sticking out.

"I remember him asking me if EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) was the right thing to do," the Marine recounted. "I didn't plan the years after he joined EOD, but you can't help but second guess."

Dequenne knows his friend's death, which occurred half a world away on Nov. 19, 2010, wasn't the fault of anyone other than terrorists who plant bombs to murder our troops and innocent civilians.

"He went off and did something he was very proud of," Dequenne said. "He saved lives."

In the weeks that followed, Dequenne, the grandson of a heroic Marine who survived the historic World War II battle of Iwo Jima, scanned news outlets for stories about his fallen friend. In addition to reading about other troops making the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, Dequenne also hoped to read more about Iraq, where he once served.

The results were disappointing.

"As an EOD guy, (Sgt. Smith) saved so many lives, and as I looked in the media, I saw almost nothing about it," Dequenne said. "The real tragedy is for (service members) to pass and to have nobody know who they are or what they did."

Like the day he started basic training 16 years ago, Dequenne, who became a Marine Corps officer in 2005 and was promoted to captain two years ago, resolved to hit the ground running and never leave a Marine behind.

Image courtesy: Pfc. Tabitha Bartley

Starting Oct. 15 at the Marine Corps' Philadelphia birthplace, Dequenne will run 236 miles to raise money for the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation, which gives higher education scholarships to children of the fallen.

"I can't think of a charity that better makes sure that these kids have the best chance to be successful," the Marine said. "They've (lost) a mom or dad, but at least they'll have an education."

While the 236 miles signify the upcoming 236th birthday of the Marine Corps, Dequenne wants to go an even greater distance. For each mile of his run, which will culminate Oct. 30 at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, Dequenne will honor a different Marine or Navy Corpsman who made the ultimate sacrifice. He calls it "running a mile in their shoes."

"For some of these folks, it's been years since someone outside of their local communities where they grew up showed interest," he said. "What I hope to do is let the families of these fallen Marines and Corpsmen know that their lost loved one's sacrifice hasn't been forgotten."

While training for the long run has been exceptionally intense, filling most of the Marine's personal time, the hardest part may have been asking for a father's permission to honor his daughter. Dequenne described his phone call with Michael McClung, a retired Marine who lost his 34-year-old daughter, Maj. Megan McClung, in Iraq on Dec. 6, 2006.

Image courtesy: McClung family

"It's like when you're nervous, as a teenager, about asking a girl to dance," Dequenne said, adding that Megan's dad was kind and supportive. "Like any good father, he's very protective of her."

Major McClung's enduring mantra — "be bold, be brief, be gone" — has inspired thousands around the world, including this writer. What moves me equally is the service and dedication of Capt. Dequenne, who is ensuring that his fallen brothers and sisters in arms are always remembered.

"I would say it has probably been the most enriching experience of my entire life," the 38-year-old Marine said.

Early in his 236-mile run, Capt. Jason Dequenne will spend a mile in the shoes of Sgt. Jason Smith. He'll remember the good times, as well as Thanksgiving, when he learned of his 28-year-old friend's passing. But first and foremost, he'll remember one enduring truth about a warrior and his legacy.

"Once a Marine, always a Marine," he said.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: Smith family

Note: You can learn more about Capt. Jason Dequenne's 236-mile run, the kind individuals making his journey possible, and the Marines and Navy Corpsmen he's honoring by visiting the Freedom Through Sacrifice website.

My Sweet Lord

Image courtesy: Cpl. Logan Pierce

My sweet Lord,

As another weekend at war begins, please protect our men and women in uniform fighting for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Please guide their vehicles around bombs buried beneath roads by evil men. Please help them find safety when enemy snipers open fire.

Please give extra strength to the soldier on patrol in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, which is some of the world's most brutal terrain.

Please watch over the Marine fighting in the volatile provinces of southern Afghanistan, which must come close to resembling hell on earth.

Please bless the Navy Corpsmen who risk their lives to care for Marines in combat. Our compassionate, brave Corpsmen are true unsung heroes of this decade at war.

Please guard our heroic Navy SEALs as they embark on secret missions in faraway places. While these remarkable patriots are some of the world's toughest men, the helicopter tragedy of August 6 reminded us that Navy SEALs still need our prayers.

Please lead our airmen through the dark clouds of war as they protect the skies. And don't forget the airmen on the ground, particularly the Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams that disable deadly bombs.

Like any diverse group of Americans, some in our Armed Forces believe in God and some don't. This prayer is my own, as I ask the God I believe in to keep a special eye on the men and women who make it possible for my family to live in peace.

Most of all, my sweet Lord, please bless the thousands and thousands of military families who have an empty spot at their kitchen tables this weekend. Bless the wives looking longingly at their wedding rings, bless the husbands worrying about the safety of their beautiful brides, bless the children missing their mom or dad, and bless the parents who check every day for news about their son or daughter.

For those who have lost someone they care for, or for the combat veterans who have suffered physical or mental wounds, God, please surround them with calm. These men and women have made incalculable sacrifices, and deserve to be at peace.

My sweet Lord, I pray for the day that terrorism and the evil ideologies that encourage it no longer threaten innocent men, women, and children around the world. But before and after that day comes, I thank you for the bravery, dedication, and spirit you have helped instill in the valiant men and women of the United States military.

It isn't easy to protect a nation of more than 300 million people. As the greatest fighting force in human history spends another weekend in the mountains and sands of Afghanistan and Iraq, may God bless our troops and their families.

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith

Heroes in the Mist

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 1st Class Mark O'Donald

More than ten years after 9/11, America is a nation reawakened to danger. On Tuesday, a terrorist plot to attack targets in our nation's capital -- connected to agents of the Iranian military -- was revealed to the public.

Had our dedicated intelligence professionals not broken up this plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States and bomb the Saudi and Israeli embassies in Washington, this attack could have marked another 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. FBI Director Robert Mueller may have summed it up best.

"Though it reads like the pages of a Hollywood script, the impact would've been very real and many lives would've been lost," he said.

Iran is governed by evil men. For years, Iran's leaders have not only given financial and moral support to terrorists around the globe, but according to testimony delivered over the past several years by retired Gen. David Petraeus, who now leads the CIA, Iran has smuggled weapons to terrorist groups in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When I recall the emotional conversations I've had with families of our fallen troops, I shudder at the thought of these heroes being killed by guns or bombs provided by the Iranian regime. Every single American should be outraged by the Iranian government's complicity in the murders of our men and women in uniform.

As U.S. troops in Iraq wind down operations to Iran's west, thousands of American warriors are fighting near Iran's eastern border with Afghanistan. Despite the incredibly serious implications of a foreign military plotting a terrorist attack on American soil, the national media has once again lost sight of the brave men and women who spend every single day confronting al Qaeda and the Taliban on America's post-9/11 battlefields.

Since Thursday, at least five valiant American Soldiers and Marines have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan for our freedom and security.

Sgt. Nathan Wyrick, 34, Enumclaw, Washington
Capt. Joshua Lawrence, 29, Nashville, Tennessee
Capt. Drew Russell, 25, Scotts, Michigan
Spc. Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, Salinas, California
Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt, 24, San Antonio, Texas

These are not just names on a list to help make a broader point. Sgt. Wyrick, Capt. Lawrence, Capt. Russell, Spc. Cerros, and Lance Cpl. Schmidt were young men who leave behind grieving families. While we join their loved ones in mourning, we also thank God that these brave warriors lived. They protected each and every one of us from more evil men who are trying to reach our shores.

Like the day terrorists turned planes of peace into missiles of murder, the Iranian plot shows us the harsh reality of the modern world. While we often hear that there are still people "out there" who want to kill Americans, we often dismiss it as political rhetoric. As we saw Tuesday, it is a cold, hard fact.

Fortunately, the best percentage point of our population has volunteered to confront evil. Our brave troops are making sacrifices at this very moment in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world, far away from their families and friends in all 50 states.

As the national media obsesses over every detail of a presidential election that's more than a year away, while also making sure to keep us up-to-date on celebrity weddings and Jersey Shore, a thin mist now separates a vast portion of the American public from its valiant protectors at home and abroad. While there are isolated examples of fine reporting on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we hear far too little about the daily sacrifices our fellow Americans are making overseas.

To see through the mist, all it takes is a little patriotism. Starting today, let's show terrorist groups like al Qaeda and the Taliban, and state sponsors of terrorism like Iran, that when it comes to protecting our country, America's vision is crystal clear.

Image courtesy: Spc. George Hunt


Note: This post was updated at 4:42 p.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

The Road to Hope

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class James Fidel

During the height of the Iraq war, I often asked fellow journalists why we declined to report on the openings of new schools or roadways in the war zone. Troops risked their lives to achieve these milestones, so shouldn't the media occasionally report on them?

Aside from a few isolated examples, the press ignored these signs of progress. Today, the national media is doing the same during a critical phase of the war in Afghanistan. It was a mistake then and it's a mistake now.

That's why it's time to salute the Army's Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. These fine warriors just finished reopening a key road in Afghanistan's Zabul province that was once infested with improvised explosive devices planted by terrorists.

Their brave actions to take back the road didn't just help connect Mizan and Qalat. The soldiers saved lives.

"The importance is that for the first time in two years, we have implemented an enduring route that allows the people of Mizan unimpeded access to highway one and the capital, Qalat," Lt. Col. Jeff Stewart said. "It’s a huge success for our unit."

Image courtesy: Sgt. Francis O'Brien

An Army story about Operation Fairbanks notes that in addition to helping clear bombs and reconstruct the road, the Alaska-based troops built checkpoints along the key route that will be manned by Afghan troops. If the Afghans do their jobs, the road -- nicknamed "Route Chicken" -- will never again be a deadly stretch where terrorists can murder and maim.

"Opening Route Chicken was a wonderful opportunity to connect the good people of Mizan to the great people of Qalat," Capt. Gregory Benjamin said.

It turns out that Capt. Benjamin deserves special recognition for his critical role in this dangerous war zone road project. An article on NATO's International Security Assistance Force website notes that Benjamin was personally thanked by Zabul province governor Mohammad Ashraf Naseri in a meeting that is pictured below.

"Thank you for all you have done for the people of the Mizan valley," Naseri reportedly told the soldier. "I am very happy about the route being open, especially when the people stand up and say that they are happy as well."

While I no longer work in a newsroom, I will ask the same question of my former colleagues. Why is this supposedly not news? While it may not be as "sexy" as the celebrity fluff now filling many networks, I believe men and women risking their lives to make measurable progress during a ten-year war is a big story.

Soldiers of Charlie Company didn't dig up bombs and rebuild this road in order to get headlines back home, however. They performed these difficult tasks to ensure that innocent men, women, and children -- along with fellow U.S. troops -- could safely travel through a section of southeastern Afghanistan without a high likelihood of getting blown up.

We thank these soldiers for their sacrifices. Because of them, there is new hope.

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class James Fidel

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

Images courtesy: Kristi Pearson

Christmas will never be the same for Kristi Pearson. Instead of a day to rejoice and relax, the holiday is a time to remember and reflect.

During the 2006 holiday season, Kristi, at the insistence of her husband, Pfc. Andrew H. Nelson, flew home to central Michigan from Germany, where the soldier trained for his first combat tour. As the 19-year-old warrior spent Christmas fighting during the height of the Iraq war, he wanted his bride surrounded by loved ones.

After a Christmas-morning video chat with her husband and a nice afternoon with her family, the 19-year-old Army wife suddenly panicked.

"I looked at my brother and said, 'Something doesn't feel right ... I feel like something has been taken away, and I don't know what it is,'" Kristi told The Unknown Soldiers.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, military messengers knocked on the door of her family's home in St. Johns, where Kristi and Andrew met in 4th grade. At almost the precise moment that a sense of dread began to consume her, Kristi's husband lost his life on the battlefield.

According to the Pentagon, Pfc. Nelson died when an improvised explosive device blew up near his Army vehicle. The Baghdad terrorist attack also killed Sgt. John Bubeck, 25, and Spc. Aaron Preston, 29.

"All of this was a giant blur to me," Kristi bravely recounted four and a half years later, while admitting that the tragedy still spurs panic attacks. "I don't know how to explain it."

Kristi grew up in a military family. But when Andrew decided to join the Army after high school, she couldn't help but worry.

"It's different when it's your husband instead of a parent," she explained, while emphasizing Andrew's love for the Armed Forces.

Kristi and Andrew married on Nov. 5, 2005, just before the soldier left for Germany. She joined him there in the spring, when they would finally be able to take a honeymoon to London and Paris.

"I am really thankful we were in Germany together," Kristi said. "Whenever I think of our marriage, I think of all the amazing things we got to see and all the places we got to go."

Andrew was a "jokester," but as a soldier, he was intensely prepared. Fellow troops told Kristi that her late husband brought an almost ridiculous variety of tools with him on every mission, earning him the affectionate nickname "Ranger Rick."

"He was a soldier who had everything," Kristi said. "Everyone always joked about that and gave him a tough time."

After Andrew's sudden death, communities throughout central Michigan and the U.S. military embraced the soldier's widow, his loving parents, Alan and Tami, and Andrew's loyal siblings, Jessica and Stephanie. For Kristi, picking up the jagged pieces of her shattered life after the worst Christmas imaginable would not be easy.

In the years to come, Kristi fell in love with another brave American soldier, Staff Sgt. Aaron Pearson.

"I want people to know that it's okay to move on and be happy again," she said.

Sadly, Kristi's grandfather passed away last fall. With the horror of Christmas 2006 still looming, Kristi again flew to Michigan with a husband in a war zone; this time it was Afghanistan.

"I was terrified to go home because I was so scared that if I went there while my husband was deployed, something would happen again," Kristi recalled.

Staff Sgt. Pearson was injured in Afghanistan a few months later, within days of Christmas 2010.

"He called me later and said 'I was medevaced, but I am fine,'" Kristi said, her voice trembling. "There were a lot of coincidences, and it was really scary."

With her second husband home, Kristi feels a fragile sense of ease. But with her first husband departed, a sense of loss still remains.

"It's always there, and I always think about it," she said.

On Dec. 25, Kristi Pearson will observe the five-year anniversary of Pfc. Andrew H. Nelson's tragic passing in Iraq while also reflecting on how fortunate Staff Sgt. Aaron Pearson was to survive Afghanistan. Indeed, Christmas will never be the same.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Colors of Sky

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob Kusay

As I drove through metro Atlanta to a memorial service celebrating the life of Lance Cpl. John Cagle on Thursday afternoon, I couldn't find a single cloud in the October sky. The only cloud on this beautiful fall day, I thought to myself, was looming over Stone Mountain, where hundreds of heartbroken citizens were gathering to say goodbye to a fallen Marine.

I was wrong. As Lance Cpl. Cagle's childhood pastor told a packed congregation at Mountain West Church, the sky was always blue for this Marine, even as a young child. But unlike many of the other children in Sunday School, he had questions about what was above. Why was the sky blue?

"Most kids are content with the answer 'because God wanted the sky to be blue,'" Pastor Victor said. "That wasn't good enough for John."

While listening to this touching story of a little boy's intellectual curiosity, something struck me like a bolt of lightning. Lance Cpl. Cagle, who died at the young age of 19, was just a little boy when terrorists declared war on America and attacked our cities. Believing he was called by God and country to serve, the skinny child, who weighed just 2 lbs., 7 oz. at birth and just over 100 lbs. when he joined ROTC, trained for his life's mission.

"We're not having a service for a great kid," Cliff Johnson, Mountain West youth minister and a close friend of Cagle's, reminded mourners. "We're having one for a fantastic young man."

Friday, as we mark the ten-year anniversary of the post-9/11 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, the sky is still blue, but with a touch of darkness. This is illustrated in the above photo, taken at Afghanistan's Combat Outpost Ouellette, which is named after another heroic fallen Marine: Cpl. Michael Ouellette.

Nowhere is the blue sky's tragic mixture with darkness more evident Friday than in Empire, Alabama, where Cagle, who died in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province on Sept. 28 in an incident that is under investigation, will be laid to rest ten years to the day after President George W. Bush announced the coalition's mission to remove the Taliban from power and hunt down vicious al Qaeda terrorists.

While listening to pastors reflect on Cagle's life, which I will write more about after hopefully having the honor of speaking with the Marine's family, I looked around the church to bear witness to the raw emotions of a decade at war.

A beautiful young woman buried her face in a towel, crying as a touching song played over the church speakers. A little boy asked his mother questions after a pastor spoke of what it means to make the ultimate sacrifice. An elderly woman nodded her head in agreement as the importance of those who protect our freedom was acknowledged, likely leading her to recall the brave American warriors of World War II.

Most tragically, Lance Cpl. Cagle's beloved mom was presented a Gold Star, meaning that she has joined a growing community of American mothers who have lost a son or daughter in this long struggle for freedom, security, and peace. Carolyn Cagle is in our thoughts and prayers, as is every mom who has buried her baby over the past decade.

Image courtesy: U.S. Marines

Standing beneath a screen showing Cagle's proud Marine Corps photo and behind his friend's flag-draped casket, Johnson, who gave a stirring speech, said something that hopefully comforted one of America's newest Gold Star mothers.

"John...his life was so complete," the youth minister said. "Being so young, and having that sense of completion...many in this room will never get to where he was at age 19."

Nobody wants a young man or woman to die or suffer physical and emotional wounds in Afghanistan. Yet these volunteer warriors are so brave, so selfless, and have accomplished so much in such a short time, that when they are taken from us, we can all be grateful that they lived.

As I drove away from Stone Mountain after the service, I looked up again at the bright blue sky. There were still no clouds infringing on its beauty. Then I looked at the entrance to a bustling Atlanta highway, where thousands of Americans were driving to places of their choice on a busy Thursday, and asked myself a question that I probably once asked my Sunday School teacher as a boy.

Why are we free?

As a man, I finally know the answer. It's because of brave American patriots like Lance Cpl. John Cagle.

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

The Ring

Images courtesy: Facebook ("Find Aaron Vaughn's Wedding Band")

While standing in a Dover Air Force Base community center on Aug. 9, I saw a woman walk through the door with a little boy. She was likely the widow of one of the 30 American troops killed three days earlier in Afghanistan, but I wasn't sure, nor did I want to intrude on her grief.

Nearly two months later, it's hard to imagine what Kimberly Vaughn has been through.

On Aug. 6, she lost her husband, Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron Vaughn, 30, in the tragic eastern Afghanistan helicopter crash that took 22 sailors, five soldiers, three airmen, and seven Afghan troops from their families.

As someone who witnessed the dignified transfer of every flag-draped casket carrying remains of these fallen heroes and a military working dog, I can tell you that the images and sounds from helping the USO serve these families on that solemn day, from the faces of grieving relatives and fellow troops to President Obama's salutes, will stay with me until the day I die.

For Kimberly, every day of the past sixty has been filled with memorials, memories, and mementos. That's why we all have to step up -- right now -- to help her find one of her family's most precious possessions.

Mrs. Vaughn said that at some point during a recent journey from Texas, she lost her husband's wedding band, which he left at home with her during his overseas deployments.

"In Charlotte I switched planes boarding US Airways flight 1327 to DCA (Washington's Reagan Airport) at gate C13," Kimberly wrote on a special Facebook page she created to ask for help finding the ring. "I did stop at a women's restroom ... hopefully it did not slip off my hand when I washed/dried them... Then a quick stop at TCBY and finally boarded at gate C13.

"I sat in seat 10A when the horrible realization hit me... I HAD LOST MY HUSBAND'S WEDDING BAND!" she continued. "A flight attendant took every step to help me find it aboard, but to no avail (even dismantling my seat to check every crevice!)."

Kimberly will always treasure the time she spent with her husband and vividly remember their special moments. After all, their two beautiful children are a constant reminder. But the ring is also very special to Kimberly, and she desperately wants it back.

"IF YOU HAVE SEEN OR FOUND MY PRECIOUS MEMENTO, PLEASE CONTACT ME, KIMBERLY VAUGHN AT NavySEALring@gmail.com."

Here is what you can do to help Kimberly. First, please 'Like' both the "Find Aaron Vaughn's Wedding Band" and the "In memory of Navy SEAL Aaron Carson Vaughn" Facebook pages. Then, please share this story, or any articles about her wedding band search, with your family and friends by Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail. You never know who may have been walking through the airport that day.

Back in Delaware on Aug. 9, I still wasn't sure which fallen hero the woman and little boy were related to until the mom called out her little boy's name: Reagan. That's when, after having read an article about her husband's ultimate sacrifice the night before, I knew it had to be Kimberly and Reagan Vaughn. Immediately after this realization, I felt tightness in my chest, sweat on my forehead, and tears flowing down my cheeks.

While I've had the privilege of meeting with many family members of fallen heroes, seeing this Navy SEAL's widow and their little boy on such a painful occasion drove home the meaning of what our troops and military families put on the line for us. That's why when a valiant American warrior makes the ultimate sacrifice, we must stand ready to do whatever is necessary to help the loved ones he or she leaves behind.

Here is something for us to do. Two months after Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron Vaughn and his brothers in arms were killed in Afghanistan, let us all unite to help Kimberly Vaughn find the ring she put on her husband's finger.

Big Weekend

Image courtesy: Senior Airman Alexandra Hoachlander

It was an important weekend in Afghanistan, where on Saturday, NATO revealed that a vicious terrorist named Haji Mali Khan was captured earlier in the week.

Khan is part of the Haqqani terrorist network, which U.S. officials said is responsible for attacks on troops and civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Because of the sacrifices of so many brave men and women in uniform, who laid a strong enough foundation to bring a fiend like Khan to justice, this moral coward will never be able to hurt another man, woman, or child.

On the heels of last week's killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American traitor in Yemen with ties to the massacre of U.S. soldiers at Fort Hood and additional al Qaeda plots inside the United States and around the world, Khan's capture is more fantastic news. Ten years after the United States went on offense in the war on terror, groups like al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Haqqani are crumbling. As the world watches terrorist after terrorist brought to justice, the fraudulence of their hateful ideologies is repeatedly exposed.

I wish The Unknown Soldiers blog could report that all the weekend's news was positive. It wasn't. With great triumph comes great tragedy, especially for nine families of valiant service members identified by the Pentagon over the weekend as recently killed in action in Afghanistan.

First Sgt. Billy Siercks, 32, Velda Village, Missouri
Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Caleb Nelson, 26, Omaha, Nebraska
Spc. James Butz, 21, Porter, Indiana
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Sprovtsoff, 28, Davison, Michigan
Sgt. Christopher Diaz, 27, Albuquerque, New Mexico
First Lt. Ivan Lechowich, 27, Valrico, Florida
Spc. Steven Gutowski, 24, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Pfc. David Drake, 21, Lumberton, Texas
First Lt. Andres Zermeno, 26, San Antonio, Texas

As we rise and applaud the capture of Khan and the death of al-Awlaki, we also bow our heads to ponder the immeasurable losses of the Soldiers, Marines, and Navy SEAL listed above. From a Florida beach community on the Gulf of Mexico to the New Mexico desert, families, friends, and fellow citizens of these fallen warriors are feeling the deepest impact of our country's longest war. As Americans, we must grieve with them.

Nobody knows what will happen in Afghanistan this week. While we hope and pray that no more American families get dreaded knocks on the door from military messengers, ten years of war has taught us something crucial. Without the blood, sweat, and tears of our troops and their families, evil men like Khan, al-Awlaki, and Osama bin Laden would still murder, terrorize, and enslave the innocent. As so many American heroes have proven, our nation will not stand idly by as terrorists try to hold a post-9/11 world hostage.

Every weekend in Afghanistan is important. So starting today, let's all do a better job of paying closer attention. As we learn from these battlefield triumphs and tragedies, many lives -- including our own -- could be hanging in the balance.

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke

'Radio Ga Ga'

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

I'd sit alone and watch your light
My only friend through teenage nights
Everything I had to know
I heard it on my radio

In much of the western world, the days of children gathering around radios, as Roger Taylor wrote in the hit Queen song "Radio Ga Ga," are long gone. In an age of iPods, iPhones and SiriusXM, antenna radio's once strong signal is fading rapidly.

In Iraq, which has been in a perpetual state of war for three decades, many children still congregate around radios. It is in Baghdad, where Saddam Hussein's iron fist was left on the ash heap of history, that Staff Sgt. Brad Ruffin has served since December.

Staff Sgt. Ruffin, 42, served in the Marines before joining the Army. This soldier is ready for battle. Yet while deployed to the Iraqi capital, one of his most important jobs has been entertaining U.S. troops and Iraqi citizens on American Forces Network-Iraq's Freedom Radio.

With the number of American boots on the ground shrinking by the day in the midst of a continuing U.S. withdrawal, AFN-Iraq is shutting down. While speaking with the Unknown Soldiers from Baghdad just hours before its final broadcast, Ruffin reflected on the station's legacy.

"I guess for me, being on the radio during this deployment is the one thing I'm going to reflect on most," the soldier said. "Hopefully someone out there — maybe a little kid — it inspired them to become a musician or get into TV."

Radio, what's new?
Someone still loves you

The first song ever played on Freedom Radio, as the Iraq war took shape in 2003, was Paul McCartney's "Freedom." The last was Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" on Sept. 23, 2011.

Ruffin is proud of what the radio station meant to war-ravaged Iraq.

"The locals are appreciative," he said. "I've been talking about this to other troops who I come in contact with."

Still, the Plano, Texas, soldier desperately misses his wife and child. They are waiting near Charlotte, N.C., for his return, which is expected sometime this fall.

"Sometimes it's frustrating to be away from home," Ruffin admitted. "But it's great to be helping others out."

As soldiers with the Army's 206th Broadcast Operations Detachment spent months taking phone, email and Facebook song requests from around the world, Ruffin realized the continuing power of music, which connected troops and their families through the spirit of radio.

"People in the United States are asleep, and they wake up in the middle of the night to get a message to their son or daughter," he explained. "Or even a soldier that's returned home — they'll call or email to request a song."

Ruffin, who knows first-hand about the stress of deployments, was deeply moved by the burst of patriotic enthusiasm.

"That stuff blows me away," Ruffin said. "These people are obviously either staying up or waking up just to let us know how much they appreciate what we're doing here."

Hours before Freedom Radio's swan song in Iraq, requests were still pouring in on Facebook from the home of the brave.

"I'm sending a shout-out to my son stationed in Iraq, Spc. Justin Buderer," Lynn Buderer posted on Sept. 23. "Play 'Rocky Top' for him and all of the other Tennessee Volunteers deployed there!"

"I would like to send a shout-out to my husband, Sgt. Micheal Picon, serving there in Iraq," Christina Vara-Picon wrote the same day. "Be safe and hurry home. Godspeed!"

Iraqis were also emotional about the end of Freedom Radio in their country.

"Thank you AFN-Iraq for all the great songs and the beautiful memories," Hassan Timimy wrote. "We will miss you, and you will always be in our heart and soul for all the good times that we spent with you."

Freedom Radio has signed off in Iraq. But in Afghanistan, one of the world's most dangerous, impoverished countries, Afghan children and American troops still sit alone, watching a radio's light flicker during the abundant darkness of war. On Freedom Radio Afghanistan, the hard work of soldiers like Staff Sgt. Brad Ruffin endures.

You've had your time
You had the power
You've yet to have your finest hour
Radio

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