The Fight of Our Lives

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Jason Epperson

Our lives depend on what's happening right now in Afghanistan, where terrorists trained, planned, and plotted to attack America on Sept. 11, 2001. You just wouldn't know it by monitoring popular news sources in the United States.

An 11:30 a.m. scan of the CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC websites yielded exactly one mention of the war in Afghanistan in the top story sections of the three most prominent U.S. cable news home pages. Amazingly, the Jan. 31 captures of two Taliban leaders in Helmand and Kandahar provinces are apparently not newsworthy, especially during presidential primary season.

To me, the most serious decision any president can make is putting our brave men and women in uniform in harm's way. To repeatedly downplay or ignore a war in which brave Americans die and suffer devastating wounds every week, as journalists have done in several GOP debates and presidential press conferences, does a grave disservice to our democracy, which generations of brave Americans have laid down their lives to protect.

On Jan. 25, Army 1st Lt. David Johnson was killed by an enemy improvised explosive device in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, according to the Pentagon. The 24-year-old soldier leaves behind his parents, two younger brothers, and a younger sister. The Appleton Post Crescent in Wisconsin has been covering the Horicon/Mayville soldier's tragic passing.

Andrew and Laura Johnson, who traveled to Delaware's Dover Air Force Base to meet their son's flag-draped casket, released a written statement.

"We are very proud of our son. He is a hero. He first was a man of God. He has been a strong leader at Mayville High School, at Evangel University and to the men in his unit. David had no fear of adversity; he lived life to the fullest. There are no regrets. He is an American hero. We love him very much and miss him very much."

How could America not be paying attention to this story? When the Taliban, al Qaeda, or other enemies of freedom murder one of our volunteer warriors, we should all take it personally. If we continue to look the other way as men and women we largely don't know fly around the world to confront evil, I firmly believe the horror we all witnessed on an initially bright fall day in 2001 will return to our shores.

As journalists obsess over the latest presidential polling numbers and Demi Moore's 911 call tapes, valiant men like Spc. Robert Irwin, pictured above, and courageous women like Capt. Katherine Redding, pictured below, risk their lives in a dangerous, primitive country. Someday, when there is peace, many will finally realize how important their sacrifices have been to the cause of freedom. But instead of waiting for history books to be written, let's all take notice right now.

Image courtesy: Spc. Crystal Davis

Uncle Nick

Images courtesy: Olivia Hoffman

Only days after her brother lost his legs in Afghanistan, Olivia Hoffman learned that she and her husband were expecting their second child. Already overwhelmed with emotion as her big brother fought for his life, Olivia asked God for strength.

"I cried many nights following that wondering if this baby would ever get to meet (his or her) Uncle Nick," Olivia said in an email to The Unknown Soldiers. Her account of the months since Army 1st Lt. Nick Vogt was nearly killed in a Kandahar province terrorist attack on Nov. 12, 2011, is among the most poignant pieces of writing one will ever encounter.

"Although he only got to meet my other daughter in the hospital when she was born (he deployed two days later) he would always mail her stuff and Skype with us," she continued. "After his brain surgery, his memory is a little rocky, and he hadn't remembered that I had a daughter, but he got to see her through the door at Christmas and he by far gave her the biggest smile."

First Lt. Vogt has undergone countless surgeries since his life was saved by soldiers on the battlefield and doctors in Afghanistan, Germany, and the United States. The amount of blood needed to keep the Army Ranger alive, according to family members, is among the most ever given to a wounded service member.

"His biggest hurdle right now is getting rid of the ventilator," Olivia wrote on Jan. 13.

As I initially worked on this column, Olivia asked me to pause after Nick's condition suddenly deteriorated. According to doctors, Nick almost died on the operating table during surgery on one of his lungs. Even amid a frightening setback, the Vogt family, friends, and thousands of supporters on the "Nick Vogt Family" Facebook page simultaneously dropped to their knees in prayer.

About 48 hours later, their prayers were answered.

"Nick has been very stable these last two days, and doctors are optimistic the surgery was a success in repairing the lung," Olivia wrote.

Nick, who turned 24 in the hospital on Dec. 13, 2011, is the oldest of five siblings. As their brother fights for his life, Olivia, 22, cares for her two younger sisters and brother in Crestline, Ohio, while her parents spend countless hours at Nick's Bethesda, Md., bedside.

"They are up at 6 every morning walking to the hospital and don't leave until around 8 (p.m.)," she explained. "They put on such strong faces for Nick. We always tease mom because she is such a 'crier' and very emotional, but her and Dad have really been Nick's rock throughout this whole ordeal."

The community is not only rallying around Nick because he is a wounded warrior. From relatives to folks who barely know Nick, everyone I've corresponded with says he is a genuinely splendid person.

"Nobody has ever not liked him," Olivia said. "He's also one of the most humble human beings I know."

Even while dealing with unimaginable pain in the hospital, Nick's warm personality brightens the smiles of his caregivers.

"Mom just shared a funny story with me," his sister wrote. "The other day there were four nurses working around him, and one was very cute.

"Nick woke up and mouthed 'you're beautiful,' then realizing he didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, he mouthed the same to the other nurses," Olivia continued. "That's totally Nick!"

A decision this selfless patriot made earlier in life is also "totally Nick." After being accepted to medical school following his West Point graduation, Vogt chose to first attend Army Ranger School. He wanted to deploy as quickly as possible.

"I want to be a warrior in order to take care of warriors," Olivia quoted her brother as saying.

Even though doctors now take care of him, 1st Lt. Nick Vogt will always be a warrior. And as his next niece or nephew grows up, the child will want to be just like Uncle Nick.

"Despite being stuck in the ICU for two months and still not being able to talk, he will mouth the words 'thank you' to his nurses," Olivia said.

Let's all join together in mouthing those words right back.

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

We Can Beat Them

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam Henderson

I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins
Like dolphins can swim
Though nothing
Will keep us together
We can beat them
For ever and ever
Oh we can be heroes
Just for one day

While the David Bowie song "Heroes" is about a couple that meets at the Berlin Wall, I can't help but associate the chorus with heroic men and women who continue the fight for freedom. While every branch of the military honorably serves and sacrifices, the Navy SEAL community continues to distinguish itself as one of America's most reliable, important weapons against evil.

The latest example of bravery and courage was in Somalia, where Special Operations warriors -- possibly including Navy SEALs, according to various reports -- freed American and Danish hostages from the grasp of pirates. Numerous articles said that both hostages were safely rescued during the daring raid, in which nine terrorists were killed and no Americans were killed or wounded.

"This successful hostage rescue, undertaken in a hostile environment, is a testament to the superb skills of courageous service members who risked their lives to save others," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in a written statement.

As The Boys of Abbottabad dramatically showed the world in May by killing Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, Navy SEALs are always ready to deploy around the world to fight some of the world's most difficult, crucial battles. Yet it's important to recognize that SEALs, despite unparalleled training, are not terminators. They are men with families who make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe.

During recent months, including a tragic August day in Dover, Delaware, I've gotten the chance to meet several members of the SEAL community. What amazes me most, aside from the enormous amount of training and time away from home SEAL families must endure, is how extraordinary things are portrayed as ordinary during the course of a given conversation. While no SEAL would call himself a hero, quietly embodying those traits is clearly part of the job.

During the course of a long war against terrorists, many Americans have openly wondered whether our nation would ultimately be victorious against its enemies. Whenever doubt creeps in, I urge you to think of our Navy SEALs and their families. From Virginia to California, where they live and train, to dangerous places like Afghanistan and Somalia, where they fight, defeat is simply not an option for these warriors, who have been protecting America for 50 years.

To any terrorist thinking of attacking the United States or its citizens: You are no match for our nation's silent superheroes. Whether by air, land, or sea, they are always ready to administer justice, and you'll never see them coming.

Oh we can beat them
For ever and ever
Then we can be heroes
Just for one day

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Harding

America Needed Them

File image courtesy: U.S. Marine Corps

After six U.S. Marines were killed in a Jan. 19 helicopter crash in Afghanistan's Helmand province, it's difficult to write anything that will put such a devastating loss in perspective. The best way to honor these remarkable men, in my opinion, is to focus on who they were.

Capt. Daniel Bartle, 27, Ferndale, Washington

According to The Seattle Times, Capt. Bartle graduated at the top of his high school class before being accepted to the United States Naval Academy, where he studied electrical engineering. Bartle, who leaves behind his parents and two siblings, was one of the CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter's pilots.

Capt. Nathan McHone, 29, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Capt. McHone was on his second deployment to Afghanistan with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, or the "Red Lions," as the Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii-based Marines are nicknamed. According to the Northwest Herald, McHone was in the Marine Corps for more than six years. He was piloting the helicopter with McHone when it crashed. No cause has been formally identified, although NATO has said there was no apparent enemy activity in the area when the helicopter crashed.

MSgt. Travis Riddick, 40, Centerville, Iowa

The Marine Corps was what Master Sgt. Riddick knew and loved. But nothing was more important to this warrior than his wife and six children, including one who serves in the U.S. Coast Guard. The Des Moines Register reports that Riddick joined the military in 1990 and had served on three deployments to Iraq and two to Afghanistan. According to the article, he was only about "four or five weeks" from beginning his journey home.

Cpl. Jesse Stites, 23, North Beach, Maryland

According to a press release issued by Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Cpl. Stites enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2008 and was on his second deployment to Afghanistan. The decorated Marine hero leaves behind his wife.

Cpl. Kevin Reinhard, 25, Colonia, N.J.

Kathleen Reinhard hoped for a call on her birthday from her brother and only sibling, Cpl. Reinhard. As she explained to The Daily Record in New Jersey, the call never came.

"He was my best friend," Kathleen, 27, told the newspaper. "We were very, very close. He was my confidant."

Reinhard, who had only a few weeks remaining on his second deployment to Afghanistan, also leaves behind his parents.

Cpl. Joseph Logan, 22, Willis, Texas

Cpl. Logan's mother, Deborah, told The Houston Chronicle that her son conquered a serious arm injury to become a Marine.

"He had lots of surgeries and he overcame it and he brought himself back because that was his love: He wanted to be a Marine," she told the newspaper.

Logan leaves behind his parents, wife, and siblings. While the pain being experienced by the Willis family and loved ones of the five heroes their son died alongside cannot be imagined, perhaps what they were doing in Afghanistan will provide some comfort.

"They went in when the Marines on the ground were in trouble," his mother told the paper. "They went in and got them out."

I believe that everyone is put on earth with a purpose. Whether we choose to fulfill that purpose is up to us. When it comes to these Marines, there is no doubt which path they chose.

"These men were not only experienced Marines, but they were husbands, sons, brothers and dear friends," 1st Lt. Diann Olson, spokesman for Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said. "The memories of our fallen Marines are engraved in each and every one who had the privilege to know and serve alongside them, and we will never forget the sacrifice they made to our country and our Corps."

America needed these Marines to repeatedly step up during a time of war. Now, with their missions complete, perhaps God needs them to patrol the skies of heaven. They kept others safe in life, and in death, their honorable legacies still shield us from the darkness.

File image courtesy: Pfc. Andrew Johnston

Fathers and Sons

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

Almost every American sports fan has heard of Hickory, Ind., which was immortalized in the 1986 film "Hoosiers." Yet many who recite the movie's unforgettable lines think Hickory actually exists. It doesn't, although some real-life towns come close.

The northern Indiana town of Hamlet is about 100 miles from New Richmond, where most of "Hoosiers" was filmed. Like the fictional community that Hickory High unites on its way to an improbable men's basketball state championship, Hamlet is tiny, with just 300 households full of fathers and sons who love Indiana sports.

Spc. Robert Tauteris III just returned to the Hoosier State from Afghanistan, where he was serving with the 713th Engineer Company of the Indiana National Guard. Instead of a welcome home celebration, though, the 22-year-old soldier came back to the United States for a Jan. 8 dignified transfer ceremony.

The soldier escorted the flag-draped casket carrying his father, Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr., home from Afghanistan. On Jan. 6, alongside Staff Sgt. Jonathan Metzger, 32, Spc. Christopher Patterson, 20, and Spc. Brian Leonhardt, 21, the elder Tauteris, 44, was killed by an improvised explosive device planted in the volatile Kandahar Province, according to the Pentagon.

Surrounded by his family, the grieving son spoke to reporters on Jan. 11. Quotes from the news conference are provided by WSBT-TV reporter Clifton French, an Iraq war veteran.

"It was an honor being able to escort my father and the other fallen soldiers home from Afghanistan," Tauteris said. "It's something I'll never forget, and I'm more honored to do that than I have been to do many things in my life."

Long before the father and son served together in Afghanistan, the younger Robert and his brother, Matthew, looked up to their dad.

"He stood up as our boy scout leader from the time we were very young to being too old to be in boy scouts," the soldier said.

Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, stood and saluted in the darkness of Delaware's Dover Air Force Base as fellow troops carried each flag-draped casket onto the soil of the nation they died for. Maj. Gen. Martin Umbarger, adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard, called on Americans to recognize the enormous sacrifices still being made in Afghanistan.

"We have no more solemn obligation than rendering the proper respect, honor, and tribute to these faithful warriors and to provide the fullest possible support to their families during this difficult time," Maj. Gen. Umbarger said.

Tauteris reminded reporters that while his dad was a dedicated soldier after enlisting at age 40, he was a father, first and foremost.

"I can't stress enough how much he cared about me and my brother," the soldier said. "It was the most important thing to him; it was like his meaning in life was to be a father."

America's post-9/11 conflicts have touched many fathers and sons. In May 2010, Chief Warrant Officer Michael McHugh boarded a plane in Iraq, where he was deployed, to meet the flag-draped casket of his father, Col. John McHugh, 46, who had been killed alongside four fellow troops in Afghanistan.

Just days after Col. McHugh's death, the Kansas City Royals honored the fallen hero by asking his grieving son to throw out the first pitch before a home game.

"I lost my best friend," Chief Warrant Officer McHugh wrote to the Unknown Soldiers in 2010. "The first pitch at Kauffman Stadium was such an honor, and we're grateful to the Royals for doing that for our family."

Like Michael McHugh, Robert Tauteris III is an American soldier — but also a son who lost his dad.

"He is a hero," Spc. Tauteris III said of his father. "I think what made him who he is ... is how much he cared about his children and his family."

One of the most touching moments in "Hoosiers" comes when Hickory's assistant coach, played by Dennis Hopper, is thrust into leading the team after the head coach, played by Gene Hackman, is ejected. After the play he drew up wins the game in dramatic fashion, he is approached by a player who is also his son.

"You did good, pop," he said. "You did real good."

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: Sgt. John Crosby

Evil Does Exist

Image courtesy: Sgt. Laura Bonano

One of the most troubling aspects of the decline in America's interest in the war our troops are fighting overseas is the unwillingness for certain segments of American society -- namely some members of the national media -- to acknowledge that every day on the battlefield, our forces are confronting evil men.

A stark reminder was offered Thursday by a group of cowardly Taliban terrorists in Kandahar, Afghanistan. According to the BBC, at least seven civilians were killed when a suicide bomber blew up his car near the crucial southern city's airport. According to Afghan officials cited in the article, two victims of the terrorist attack were children.

There is nothing more despicable and horrifying than the murder of a child. The Taliban and al Qaeda don't give a second thought to butchering even the most innocent people on earth.

A day earlier, dozens of Afghans and also an unidentified number of coalition troops were killed and wounded when a terrorist blew himself up in a busy Helmand province marketplace. A young Afghan victim is pictured above. Gen. John R. Allen, the tough-as-nails Marine who commands the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, immediately condemned the disgraceful attack.

"This latest act of violence further confirms that the insurgency has declared outright war on the people of Afghanistan and will stop at nothing to continue to use terrorism and intimidation to advance their own malign and selfish ends," Gen. Allen said. "ISAF will continue to partner with the Afghan National Security Forces to eliminate this scourge and hold the perpetrators accountable."

Every American should share in the general's outrage about the Taliban's assault on freedom and innocent life. I hope every terrorist responsible for helping plan these attacks is hunted down, captured, or killed.

File image courtesy: Lance Cpl. Robert Carrasco

On Thursday, six U.S. Marines were reportedly killed when a CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter like the one pictured above crashed in Helmand province. The Unknown Soldiers will continue to follow this tragic story as we extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to the families of these fallen Marines.

On Sunday, also in Helmand province, two Marines were killed in action while conducting combat operations against the Taliban.

Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Lance Cpl. Kenneth Cochran, 20, Wilder, Idaho

It is a tragedy that Cpl. Bateman, who is pictured below on the left, and Lance Cpl. Cochran, right, only lived 42 years between them. But America is extremely fortunate to blessed with heroes like these. They understood -- far better than you or me -- that there is a serious threat to our way of life. But unlike 99% of our population, they volunteered to do something about it.

At this hour in Oklahoma, Idaho, and around the country, families and friends are saying goodbye to some of the best citizens our country has to offer. At this hour in Afghanistan, their brothers and sisters in arms continue the fight against men who intentionally slaughter children in a hopeless effort to advance their corrupt, bankrupt ideology of hate.

Real evil does exist. But fortunately for America and the world, real heroes exist too.

Images courtesy: Facebook/U.S. Marine Corps

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

The Mayor of Bordentown

Images courtesy: Moore family

In cities and towns across America, millions of little children dream of becoming firefighters, soldiers or leaders. In Bordentown, N.J., one little boy became all three.

"We lived about a half a block from a firehouse," Amy Moore told The Unknown Soldiers. "Ben would always go to where the city workers were."

Her son, future Army Spc. Benjamin Moore, felt an instant connection to those who put out fires. The little boy wanted to learn more about his heroes and their families.

"He knew everything about everyone," she said.

On Sept. 11, 2001, as an anguished Mayor Rudy Giuliani said the number of casualties in New York would be "more than any of us can bear," Ben watched emergency workers risk everything to save the innocent. Just 65 miles from the epicenter of the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history, Ben, 14, resolved to become a firefighter.

"He said, 'Mom, I want to be respected,'" Amy recalled. "'I want to wear the uniform, and I want people to look up to me.'"

On his 16th birthday, still coping with an impairment that affected his vision since early childhood, Ben signed up to train as a volunteer firefighter. Two years later, he also became an emergency medical technician.

As a young firefighter and EMT, Ben quietly displayed compassionate, gallant qualities.

"A little baby died in his arms after he pulled the baby out of a car," Amy said. "I don't know why he never told us; he was just a humble man."

While lending a hand to his fellow citizens was fulfilling, Ben thought he could do even more. As he struggled to decide between becoming a police officer and going to college, his father, recognizing his son's dedication to duty, suggested a military career.

"My husband and I don't regret that at all," she said. "It's something (Ben) wanted to do."

When the Army raised concerns about Moore's vision and ordered further testing, Ben could have easily moved on.

"He had to go to the recruiting office a few times and really fight for it," Amy said.

After finally passing his vision tests, Ben left for boot camp, and came back "a totally different man than when he left," according to the soldier's mom. A year later, in April 2010, the mature, battle-ready soldier would deploy to Afghanistan. But first, his older brother, Patrick, had a favor to ask.

"Patrick proposed to his now-wife and asked Ben to be his best man," she said. "Ben was ecstatic."

On Jan. 12, 2011, with roughly 60 combat patrols under his belt thus far during the deployment, Ben asked a soldier to give him a Bible before returning to the battlefield to sweep for roadside bombs.

"We think Ben had a premonition," his mother said.

Later that day, Spc. Moore, 23, was killed by an enemy improvised explosive device in Ghazni province. He died alongside Staff Sgt. Omar Aceves, 30, and Cpl. Jarrid King, 20.

As the Moores brought Ben's flag-draped casket to his hometown from Delaware's Dover Air Force Base, the ambulance he once drove, along with a Bordentown city fire truck, followed closely behind. On bridges, firefighters stood atop their trucks to salute one of their own.

"Every single overpass on I-295 had an American flag," Ben's mom recalled.

When Ben's personal effects were returned to his loved ones, they were stunned to find a notebook containing a handwritten speech that he planned to deliver at his brother's wedding. Ben saved a typed version to his laptop on Jan. 10, just two days before his death.

As wedding guests wept, Patrick, 28, read his younger brother's toast.

"Remember to always live, laugh, love, and have no regrets ... never look back at the hard times," Ben wrote. "Always make the best of life like you do now. Cheers."

Instead of dreaming about becoming firefighters, soldiers, or leaders, little children in Bordentown now strive to be like Spc. Benjamin Moore. After all, Ben is now the city's honorary mayor.

"His death has affected many lives, and you could tell by the outpouring," Ben's mother said. "It helped us, but it also helped them to be able to have a hero."

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

The Usual Suspects

Thursday night at 9 p.m. eastern time, this was one of the top headlines on The New York Times website:

"Outrage Over Video of Marines Urinating on Taliban Corpses"

I am not arguing with the Times headline, which is accurate. But just once, also in the top story section, I wonder if we'll ever see a headline like this:

"Outrage Over Deaths of U.S. Soldiers in Taliban Bomb Attack"

I hope that headline never appears, because I don't want any more of our brave men and women in uniform to die at the hands of terrorists. Yet the Times could have printed that exact headline on Jan. 10, the day after four Indiana National Guard soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device on Jan. 6 were officially identified. The newspaper did no such thing.

Other than a regular "Names of the Dead" feature, where the names of fallen troops are listed without explanation, a search of the New York Times website shows that the newspaper has ignored the story otherwise. According to the Times, video footage of Marines apparently urinating on Taliban corpses is a top story, while the deaths of four American troops at the hands of the Taliban is a non-story.

Let me make this abundantly clear: I do not condone the intentional desecration of anyone's remains -- even the remains of terrorists who desecrate the innocent flesh of men, women, and children with bombs they plant near schools, hospitals, and villages. Put bluntly, this alleged incident never should have occurred.

"The behavior depicted in the video is wholly inconsistent with the high standards of conduct and warrior ethos that we have demonstrated throughout our history," Gen. James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, said in a statement.

The problem with the American media is that the war in Afghanistan, which received only two percent of U.S. news coverage in 2011, is largely out of sight on television and news websites until the military is accused of wrongdoing. In 13 days this month, at least ten U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan, yet the only Afghanistan-related story to dominate a national news cycle in January is this one. Given the enormous sacrifices being made by our troops and military families, this trend is unpatriotic and simply wrong.

The MSNBC, CBS News, ABC News, and CNN websites all had the linked stories in the top headline sections of their websites at 9 p.m. eastern on Thursday. Fox News, which this blog has criticized in the past for losing focus on post-9/11 conflicts, did not. This story did appear in its top headline section for most of the day, however.

New York Times reporters Graham Bowley and Matthew Rosenberg claim that most Afghans resent American troops.

"Whether the American condemnations will mollify the anger of Afghans remains unclear. But for those who had seen the video, the images appeared to deepen their dislike of the United States, which is widely seen as an occupier here.

'The Taliban sometimes commit such harsh acts, but it was enough just to kill them and not to degrade or humiliate their dead bodies,' said Jawad, a university student in Kabul who gave only one name."

I have seen the body of a valiant U.S. Marine who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. Tragically, the fallen hero looked almost nothing like the picture on his funeral program. I have been inside the Dover Air Force Base mortuary, where I was told that airmen must spend hours upon hours sorting through almost unidentifiable remains of fallen U.S. troops. Counselors and USO employees are often on hand to comfort them when their work is done.

Allegations of U.S. forces desecrating remains of the Taliban or al Qaeda come once every few years. The Taliban and al Qaeda mutilate the living and dead every single day in Afghanistan. While wrongdoing by American forces cannot and will not be condoned or excused, any comparison between the overall conduct of the U.S. military and the Taliban or al Qaeda is unwarranted and despicable.

Despite the disparate coverage by the American media, clear-thinking Americans know that 99.9% of men and women who serve in the military are selfless, patriotic warriors for freedom. Those include the four Indiana National Guard heroes who returned to U.S. soil in flag-draped caskets on Sunday. It's a real shame that the New York Times didn't bother to notice.

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


Note: This post was edited at 10:29 a.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

Marine's Best Friend

Image courtesy: Cpl. Reece Lodder

I'm not sure what Marines deployed to Afghanistan would consider their best friend -- a dog or a good night's sleep.

The above photograph was taken last week by Cpl. Reece Lodder, who The Unknown Soldiers profiled just before he left for Afghanistan. Needless to say, the Marine combat correspondent is doing fine work during a tough deployment.

According to Cpl. Lodder's caption, the dog in the photo, Blue, detects improvised explosive devices. Blue is protecting his handler, Marine Lance Cpl. Jarrett Hatley, 21, of Millingport, North Carolina, as he takes a quick nap (covered by a Washington Redskins blanket) after helping Afghan National Army soldiers clear compounds in the central Helmand River Valley, a volatile area rife with threats from insurgents and terrorists.

The other Marine resting in the photo is Lance Cpl. Matthew Scofield, 19, of Syracuse, New York. Both Marines are assigned to 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

I can't imagine how difficult it must be to get some sleep -- even for a few hours -- while deployed to a war zone. Having spoken with Lodder, I'm sure he hopes this photo reminds people what thousands of America's brave men and women in uniform serving in Afghanistan are sacrificing on a daily basis for our freedom and security.

To Cpl. Lodder, Lance Cpls. Hatley and Scofield, all your fellow Marines, and of course, Blue the dog: thank you for your service and stay safe!

Our Indiana

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

At 1:18 a.m. eastern time on Jan. 7, a soldier with the 81st Troop Command of the Indiana National Guard, currently deployed to Afghanistan, summed up a terrible Friday with just four words.

"Not a good day," he wrote.

On Jan. 6, four of his brothers in arms were killed when terrorists in the volatile Kandahar province attacked the soldier's unit with an improvised explosive device.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Metzger, 32, Indianapolis, Indiana
Spc. Robert Tauteris Jr., 44, Hamlet, Indiana
Spc. Christopher Patterson, 20, Aurora, Illinois
Spc. Brian Leonhardt, 21, Merrillville, Indiana

These four National Guardsmen served together, died together, and came home to the nation they fought for together. The tear-inducing image above shows the fallen heroes' flag-draped caskets arriving at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base for a solemn dignified transfer ceremony on Sunday.

Amid great pain, there is also reason for hope in the state of Indiana. A fifth soldier -- Pvt. Doug Rachowicz, 29, of Hammond -- managed to survive the attack, according to The Times of Northwest Indiana. A moving article by Lindsay Machak contains an interview with the soldier's father, Gerald Rachowicz.

"I thought my son was dead, too, but he was the survivor," he told the newspaper. "If I could talk to the other parents, I would apologize and tell them that I knew their sons. They were good kids."

Pvt. Rachowicz, who is married with two children, was reportedly driving the Army vehicle that was blown apart by the terrorist-planted roadside bomb. The article said he suffered injuries to his lungs, pelvis, back, jaw, and sinus cavity. The wounded warrior is back in the United States for a series of emergency surgeries.

"He was able to answer questions and move his feet and hands, but he is still in serious condition," the worried dad told the reporter. "I don't know if he will remember the explosion."

With the national media converged on the state of New Hampshire for hours and hours of endless political coverage, many Americans aren't aware of what five families in Indiana and Illinois have been going through since news of this tragedy began to spread over the weekend.

Gov. Mitch Daniels tried to convey the anguish being felt by the Indiana National Guard community and his entire state.

"My prayers are joined with those of millions of Hoosiers who will hear this terrible news with deep grief but also with gratitude for the courage of those we have lost, and pride that we come from a state that produces men such as these," Gov. Daniels said.

Like the grieving soldier posted, Friday was not a good day. The Metzger, Tauteris, Patterson, and Leonhardt families are in our thoughts and prayers, as are Pvt. Rachowicz and his family -- especially the soldier's children -- as he begins the long road to recovery from deep physical and emotional trauma. Even as Indiana mourns, the courage of this wounded warrior is an inspiration to the nation he fought for.

As the 81st Troop Command of the Indiana National Guard continues to fight in Afghanistan, all Americans should share in the grief and pride of the Hoosier State. While the losses are crushing, these brave soldiers, their families, and their fellow Hoosiers are setting an example for the rest of the nation during a time of war.

Before we go to sleep tonight under a blanket of freedom, let us thank God for the great state of Indiana.

Image courtesy: Sgt. William Henry

The Long Walk Back

Image courtesy: Senior Airman Joanna Kresgel

A Jan. 5 combat patrol was nothing new for Senior Airman Bryan Bell. As seen in the photo above, the dedicated explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technician spent countless training hours driving around humvees and learning how to disable bombs. Most importantly, the 23-year-old Erie, Pennsylvania, native had previous combat experience in Iraq.

Experience was a strong suit for one of the brave men riding with Bell that Thursday in Afghanistan's Helmand province. Tech Sgt. Matthew Schwartz, 34, was on his sixth combat deployment, according to his hometown newspaper in Michigan, the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler, 24, was on his first combat deployment, according to WJLA-TV. The EOD technician, hailing from Westminster, Maryland, had been training for moments like this one since November 2009, when he volunteered for the United States Air Force.

As the three airmen navigated Shir ghazi, a district in Afghanistan's volatile south, their vehicle struck a roadside bomb. After saving countless Afghans, Iraqis, and Americans by disabling so many improvised explosive devices during their military careers, a crude device planted by cowardly terrorists is what ultimately took their lives.

Loved ones and friends in western Pennsylvania are remembering Senior Airman Bell, a married man who once served as a firefighter, as a warrior who willingly put his life at risk.

"He always made it a point to say, 'Dad, it's what I want to do,'" Rick Bell told the Erie Times-News.

Tech. Sgt. Schwartz was a courageous airman who went overseas six times to defend freedom. He was also husband and father of three little girls.

"I can't remember a time without him," Jennifer Schwartz told the Record-Eagle about her late husband, who she met in high school.

Image courtesy: Schwartz family

Airman 1st Class Seidler's family was already dealing with the stress of seeing him deploy for the first time. As they bring his flag-draped casket home from Delaware's Dover Air Force Base, the military is making caring for the fallen airman's loved ones a top priority.

"We will come together to help Matt's family and friends through their grief," Air Force Col. Chris Crawford said. A photo of Seidler is displayed below.

The EOD community is among the tightest-knit groups inside the military. While it's hard to imagine driving forward after losing four bomb disposal experts in a week (Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad Regelin made the ultimate sacrifice on Jan. 2), the memory of these remarkable warriors, as well as fallen brothers like Gunnery Sgt. EJ Pate and Tech Sgt. Daniel Douville, looms large on the valiant men and women who carry on.

"This has truly been a rough start to the year but I know that each name we put on the wall would still choose to be in this career field if they had the chance to go back in time," an explosive ordnance disposal technician posted on the Fallen EOD Warriors Facebook page. "To all the techs that have not made that long walk back, we will never forget you. You are always on our hearts and minds."

Image courtesy: U.S. Air Force

Blinded By the Light

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Chandler

"We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself." — John 9:21

Shortly after wounded 1st Lt. Timothy Fallon was flown to the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in November 2010, he awoke to a world of darkness.

"I didn't have any light perception at that time," Fallon told the Unknown Soldiers. "I couldn't tell what time of day it was, and I was just very confused."

With both the 24-year-old Marine's eyes badly damaged, all he could see was his mind's eye flashing back to Afghanistan. Fallon thought about Imad, the Afghan platoon commander and friend who most likely saved his life.

"He jumped onto the middle between the canals, and that's where the pressure plate was," the Marine said. "It blew up."

After the enemy improvised explosive device detonated on Nov. 18, 2010, in Marjah — a rural, strategically crucial district in southern Afghanistan's volatile Helmand Province — Fallon, who was responsible for the lives of many Marines, managed to warn them as his eyes bled.

"As soon as the explosion went, I lost my vision," he said. "I reported back to patrol that there was an IED detonation and the Afghan platoon commander was probably hit."

As Fallon heard the piercing sounds of a medical evacuation helicopter while seeing nothing, Imad died on the stretcher next to him.

"You could rely on this guy ... he was a pleasure to work with," Fallon, who still grieves for his friend, said. "It really does suck."

Fallon was taken to Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Next was Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and then Washington, D.C.

While adjusting to life in the dark and worrying about his Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine, brothers in harm's way, Fallon asked his doctor for a realistic assessment of his vision.

"He told me from the outset that it doesn't look good," Fallon said. "He said there will be many surgeries, but we're just going to do them and try our best."

For all the milestones since the surgeries, there have also been setbacks, with the worst coming on Dec. 8 and Dec. 27, 2010. On those respective dates, two Marines from Fallon's platoon, Lance Cpl. Michael Geary, 20, and Sgt. Garrett Misener, 25, were killed in action.

"The worst part for me, personally, was that I wasn't there ... I wasn't there with my Marines," the wounded warrior said. "That's always tortured me a little bit."

During these extraordinarily painful moments, Fallon's fiance, Sara, was almost always at the hospital to lift the Marine's spirits. On Nov. 2, 2011 — a date set before he left for Afghanistan — Tim and Sara got married.

"She's been a rock," he said.

As he placed the ring on Sara's finger, Fallon also felt rightfully proud that less than a year after his injury, his platoon was home.

"It was a tough mission to quell this area, and my Marines — with and without me at the helm — did outstanding work and deserve all the credit," he said. "We were able to effectively clean up the area and silence the enemy."

I met Fallon and his wife at a Nov. 29, 2011, event in Philadelphia, where Gen. James Mattis, Commander of U.S. Central Command, approached the wounded Marine to thank him for his service.

Thanks to the resilience of Fallon's spirit, the brilliance of his surgeons, and the wonders of technology, I was astonished to subsequently receive an email from Fallon, whose vision has improved enough to let him complete tasks many of us take for granted, like sending and receiving electronic messages.

"I can see a little bit out of my right eye, especially when I'm outside," he later told me. "My left eye has light perception."

It's impossible to know how much more light will shine into 1st Lt. Timothy Fallon's eyes. But one thing is certain: This brave young man, who plans to pursue his graduate degree, sees a new, promising path.

"I'm not too worried about my future," he said. "The world didn't end; I'm only 24, and I have a long ways, hopefully, ahead of me."

COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: Yellow Ribbon Fund

The Two Percent

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Lawree Washington

It's a big weekend in the United States. The NFL playoffs start on Saturday and there are two Republican presidential debates scheduled ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.

By the way, tens of thousands of Americans from our cities and towns are still fighting in Afghanistan. As someone who worked in newsrooms for eight years, I can virtually guarantee that you will hear more about the Saints-Lions game and Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney's political advertising "war" than the heroism our troops will display on the battlefield this weekend.

Toward the end of 2011, I put a poll on the left side of this blog that asked "What grade do you give the national media on its coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?" Out of 1,108 responses to this survey, a grand total of about two percent gave the press an A or B. Just under 98 percent of voters gave the media a C, D, or F, with 62 percent of all respondents assigning a failing grade to journalists.

Clearly, this blog's poll results are unscientific. The Pew Resarch Center's study on 2011 media coverage is not. The Pew report found that the war in Afghanistan accounted for just two percent of American news coverage in 2011, which is on par with reporting about the European economy.

Inexcusably, Afghanistan reporting made up even less of overall news coverage than 2010, when a paltry four percent was dedicated to the conflict.

In 2011, the sacrifices of heroic men like Marine Gunnery Sgt. EJ Pate , who was killed trying to disable an enemy bomb in Afghanistan while his equally heroic wife, Staff Sgt. Kim Pate, served in Kuwait, went virtually unnoticed. The Pates gave everything for our freedom, and they deserved better.

Given that the number of Americans killed in action in Afghanistan was only slightly lower than 2010, and that the deadliest month of the entire war tragically took place in August 2011, the coverage decisions made by news executives simply cannot be defended.

What will continue to be defended, however, is freedom of the press. Our men and women in uniform fight to preserve American values every single day in the desolate mountains and deserts of Afghanistan, regardless of what's on nightly newscasts back home. Some warriors, like Marine Cpl. Reece Lodder and Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell, manage to report while they're fighting. These are real heroes of journalism, and you'll never see them patting themselves on the back.

Polls are just polls, and on this website, the "two percent" that will continue to be spotlighted is the roughly one percent of Americans who fight and have fought in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts, as well as the other one percent that is often overlooked: their families. The Unknown Soldiers blog and weekly Creators Syndicate newspaper column, along with the incredible Travis Manion Foundation, which I am honored to work for, will continue to focus on this two percent, which shoulders an incalculable percentage of our nation's burdens at home and abroad.

The state of our economy and the upcoming presidential election are important. Both would be thrown into chaos if terrorists are once again able to attack America. Were it not for champions of freedom like Army 1st Lt. Nick Vogt, who still manages to smile in his hospital bed despite losing his legs in Afghanistan, the limbs of innocent American children would be stolen by terrorists planting bombs on our city streets.

It's a big weekend in the United States. Our nation is at war.

Service Above Self

Image courtesy: Cpl. Bryan Nygaard

It's easy to take freedom for granted. In history's most connected society, where iPhones, iPads, and iMacs help us discover the "I" in America, our country has never been more disconnected from a war. Despite all the new technology at our disposal, those who volunteer to fight our enemies are rarely noticed outside their hometowns.

Any of us, whether walking down the street wearing headphones or watching TV and surfing the web at home, could easily go a week without hearing a single word about the war in Afghanistan. In fact, some don't even realize the conflict is still being fought. In the 21st century, we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see.

Since Christmas Day, when a soldier named Staff Sgt. Joseph Altmann, 27, made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, at least four U.S. troops have been killed in combat.

Sgt. Noah M. Korte, 29, Lake Elsinore, California
Spc. Kurt Kern, 24, McAllen, Texas
Pfc. Justin Whitmire, 20, Easley, South Carolina
Petty Officer 1st Class Chad Regelin, 24, Cottonwood, California

According to the Pentagon, Sgt. Korte, Spc. Kern, and Pfc. Whitmire were killed on Dec. 27 when terrorists attacked their Army unit with an improvised explosive device in Paktia province. To the southwest, Petty Officer 1st Class Regelin, a explosive ordnance disposal technician with the U.S. Navy, died Monday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province. Clearly, Afghanistan remains extremely dangerous for thousands of brave troops.

Am I asking too much of the national media, which often assures us the conflict is "winding down" when bothering to report on Afghanistan in the first place, to cover a war with the same vigor it shows for a January political caucus in Iowa? Is America still a patriotic nation that cares about the men and women who defend its shores from the type of evil we all witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001?

Every time I get discouraged, I read about the lives of remarkable Americans like the four men listed above. While we don't know exactly what they did on the battlefield, and perhaps never will, we do know this: they cut through the technological, media-driven clutter of our time and discovered the same thing that so many before them knew in their hearts. America is worth dying for.

There's always a lot of talk about resolutions this time of year, so here is one I hope we can come together to keep. Once a day, at minimum, let's pause to think about our men and women in harm's way, and if you are religious, please say a prayer for them too. Then, in their honor, perform one act that puts service above self. That could mean anything from opening a door for someone to making a large charitable donation. How you challenge yourself each day to salute our men and women in uniform is up to you.

By sticking to this resolution and doing so out of public view, I believe it will help us understand, if only for a few seconds, what a deployed American warrior feels like. Their good deeds are done thousands of miles away without almost anyone noticing back home. Still, they continue to perform courageous, heroic acts, always putting service above self.

It's not easy to treat freedom like it deserves: with reverence, readiness, and respect, no matter who is watching. That's why an ordinary citizen like me has so much admiration for every single volunteer warrior who serves with honor. These men and women -- not politicians, celebrities, journalists, or sports figures -- keep the stars on our flag shining bright.

Image courtesy: Sgt. Trey Harvey

Trane Kept a Rollin'

Image courtesy: Maggie McCloud

Lt. Col. Trane McCloud's first name is actually Joseph. Yet throughout his life, the loyal son, devoted husband, caring father and valiant Marine went by his middle name. He did so to honor his mother, who always thought "Trane" was the best fit.

"Trane was very special — even his name," Roma Anderson told the Unknown Soldiers. "It just speaks volumes."

As a child, Trane, who dreamt of someday serving on a battleship, was fascinated with building things. One of little Trane's proudest moments was finishing a complicated model of the USS Missouri.

Years later, big Trane's dreams came true when he served aboard the USS Missouri during Operation Desert Storm.

"How many little boys build a model ship and then wind up serving on that ship?" his mother said.

On Dec. 7, 1991 — the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor — Trane helped guard President George H.W. Bush when he boarded the USS Missouri during commemoration events.

"When the (ceremonies) finished, the president turned to Trane," his father, Ron McCloud, explained. "He said, 'I know you'll make a great Marine officer.'"

The first President Bush — a war hero himself — was right. Trane would go on to serve in Bosnia, Somalia and Iraq. But first, after Desert Storm, he became a great husband.

"Meeting and marrying Trane was the best thing that ever happened to me," Maggie McCloud said.

It quickly became obvious that Maggie and Trane were meant to be together.

"They became quite the couple, I'll tell you that," Trane's dad said.

They also became quite the parents.

"He would work crazy hours when he was deployed and when he wasn't," Maggie said. "But no matter what time he got home, if the kids were up, he would run upstairs, and you would hear giggles and the sounds of joy."

Trane was a "big, tough Marine," Maggie said, but also extremely modest.

"He let his actions speak for themselves," she said.

Before eating a meal, Trane would always bow his head in prayer. Before stating his opinion, he would always take the time to listen to other points of view.

Before deploying to Iraq in August 2006, he spent a special day with each of his three children in Hawaii. Maggie said Trane and the kids called it "Daddy day."

After Trane left the Hawaiian paradise for a combat deployment on the hellish streets of Fallujah, Maggie spoke to her husband only once.

"He had faith in me and the family that we would take care of the home front," she said. "He had a very important job — a tough job — and he wouldn't be on the phone calling home when the other guys couldn't do that too."

On Dec. 4, 2006, less than two weeks before his 40th birthday, Trane died in an Al Anbar Province helicopter crash. A fellow Marine and two U.S. Army soldiers were also killed.

For the McCloud children, even five years after the crash, every day is still Daddy day.

"Daddy made the last birthday cake for me," Meghan, who was just 2 years old when her father died, recently told her mom.

"Daddy bought me chewing gum on my Daddy day," Grace, who was 5, told her grandma.

Hayden, who was 7, whistles almost exactly like his dad and displays many similar traits. With each visit, Roma sees more of Trane in her grandchildren.

"It's a loss, but in their little hearts, he's there as big as life," Trane's mom said.

Trane's spirit lives on in his brother, Army Staff Sgt. Richmond McCloud, 41, who is currently deployed to Afghanistan.

"He figures that by now, his brother would have been in Afghanistan," Ron said. "He has a heartfelt desire to be of service to his country."

Maggie tries her hardest to live every day like the man she'll always love.

"I'm a better person for having him in my life," she said.

Staying true to the name his mom called a perfect fit, Lt. Col. Trane McCloud loved his country, believed in God, and took care of his wife and children. That's just how this Marine rolled.

"Trane was Trane," his mother said. "And he knew who he was."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM