Citizens On Patrol

Image courtesy: Spc. Amber Leach

When an American citizen is tragically killed, injured, or missing after a plane crash or cruise ship accident, it is rightfully a big story in the United States. When a U.S. citizen who volunteers to defend our country is killed or wounded in Afghanistan, however, it is rarely national news.

In the past week, at least three U.S. soldiers have died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Wise, 34, Little Rock, Arkansas
Pfc. Michael Pyron, 30, Hopewell, Virginia
Pfc. Neil Turner, 21, Tacoma, Washington

Sgt. 1st Class Wise tragically passed away on Sunday in Germany after being wounded six days earlier in Afghanistan's Balkh province when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire, according to the Pentagon. Officials said Pfc. Pyron was killed in action on Jan. 10 in Parwan province. Pfc. Turner died the following day in a non-combat related incident in Logar province, according to the Department of Defense.

At this hour, wounded heroes like Army 1st Lt. Nick Vogt, 24, who just endured a serious lung operation, lay in hospital beds after making enormous sacrifices for our country. At the same time, their brothers and sisters in arms are performing heroically in missions like Operation Tageer Shamal, a joint U.S. Marine-Afghan operation that's liberating innocent people from the Taliban's grip west of the Helmand River.

"Together, we can operate in areas he (the enemy) has rarely seen us in," Col. Roger Turner, commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 5, told Cpl. Reece Lodder. "By removing enemy safe havens, we’ll prevent him from being able to insert himself into the district center and attack the population."

Every American should care when one of our fellow citizens is affected by a natural or man-made disaster. That same compassion should be extended -- every day -- to the men and women of our military, veterans, and their families. Without their willingness to go on patrol in dangerous countries like Afghanistan and make extraordinary sacrifices, the world itself would be a disaster zone.

Image courtesy: Spc. Crystal Davis