Have you heard about this documentary - The Way We Get By
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Have you heard about this documentary - The Way We Get By
Looks very good. Had not seen it adverted anywhere.
Of course, a film like that would be a wonderful teaching too to the 'youngsters' of today. I knew a wonderful vet, who has since passed, he let down his veneer to tell me a story about an adventure he had during WWII. I was especially touched-because he took the time to let me into his world-He had killed a man while out to pick up jeep that had broken down.
He shot a sniper that was in a tree and he ended the story with a, "I wondered what happened to him, He could still be in that tree".
It took me a couple of days to digest that. It was not the boastful claim of a man who carved a notch on the stock of his rifle-it was a thought that was older than I was, a genuine lament about having to do something that goes against everything in life we are taught.
The numbers in our current war are bad-but, what did we do when the numbers were Viet Nam sized? Korea sized or WWII sized?
Instead of sending the returning soldiers home with a lifetime pay check and some hidden shame, we are really looking out for our men and women now.
I do not mean to slight anyone who has served, been injured or killed in the ME.
I am questioning what we did with how many thousand WWII vets who saw the same kind of things on a battlefield 60 plus years ago and how they have endured the decades wrapped up inside themselves.
This film shows that these oldtimers were and still are, a cut above the people they walk amongst.
I am six foot two and have no problems looking up to the people in the documentary.......
UNITED KINGDOM
27 September 2009
Quote:
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh was killed in Afghanistan, today, Sunday 27 September 2009.
The soldier died as a result of an explosion that happened during a vehicle patrol in Musa Qaleh District, northern Helmand Province, this morning.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said:
"The death of this brave soldier from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh is mourned by his friends, colleagues and all of us serving in Task Force Helmand. We know that our loss is nothing compared to the sorrow of his family, to whom we extend our deepest sympathies."
Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released
I will add the name as soon as they release it.
26 September 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, of Benton, Ky., died Sept. 26 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
The UK soldier has been identified -
Quote:
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Private James Prosser from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh was killed in Afghanistan, on Sunday 27 September 2009.
Private Prosser died as a result of an explosion that happened during a vehicle patrol in Musa Qaleh district, northern Helmand province.
Private James Prosser was born in Cwmbran, on 14 April, 1988 and educated at Llantarnam Comprehensive School before he joined the Army in July 2008. After completing his infantry training at ITC Catterick, Private Prosser joined 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh in February 2009.
26 September 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, of Benton, Ky., died Sept. 26 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
How can we continue with this war? All I can think about are the grieving families. Those pictures never leave my mind. They send their young people away, healthy and strong, and they come back in body bags.
Please let this come to an end!!:( :( :(
That's what gets me too, and again thank you so much, Gretchen, for doing this and keeping up with it. Every day I read their names and ages and where they are from. This makes it all so much more real than just seeing news reports. All these young (and other ages too) people, with so much to offer, going to fight for their countries and their ideals, cut so short.
FRANCE
27 Sepember 2009
Quote:
Three French soldiers died in an unexpected and extremely violent thunderstorm during an operation in Kapisa province, Afghanistan. All of them from 13e Régiment De Dragons Parachutistes (13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment)
1st Sgt. Yann Hertach, 38
Pfc. Kevin Lemoine, 20
Cpl. Gabriel Poirier, 38
26 September 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24, of Frederick, Md., died Sept. 26 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
29 September 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Ross E. Vogel, III, 27, of Red Lion, Pa., died Sept. 29 in Kut, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 67th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
30 September 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31, of Milledgeville, Ga., died Sept. 30 in Kwhost, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using an improvised-explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Lawrenceville, Ga.
29 September 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Sept. 29 in Jolo Island, the Philippines, from the detonation of an improvised-explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Killed were:
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, of Markham, Ill.
Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26, of Bethany, Okla.
The incident is under investigation.
United Kingdom
1 October 2009
I will post the name once it is released.Quote:
It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a Gunner from 34 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment was killed in Afghanistan, Thursday 1 October 2009.
The Gunner was killed as a result of an explosion that happened whilst on a force protection patrol near to Camp Bastion in central Helmand province yesterday afternoon.
1 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Russell S. Hercules Jr., 22 of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died Oct. 1 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
2 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Ryan C. Adams, 26 of Rhinelander, Wisc., died Oct. 2 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle using rocket-propelled grenade fire. He was assigned to the 91st Engineer Company (Sapper), Wisconsin Army National Guard, Rhinelander, Wisc.
United Kingdom update -
Quote:
It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Senior Aircraftman Marcin Wojtak, 24, of the Royal Air Force Regiment who was killed in Afghanistan on Thursday 1 October 2009.
Senior Aircraftman Wojtak was killed as a result of an explosion whilst commanding his vehicle in the desert to the south of Bastion Joint Operating Base.
Rest in peace, gentlemen and women.
1 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Roberto D. Sanchez, 24 of Satellite Beach, Fla., died Oct. 1 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield Ga.
2 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 2 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked their unit using small arms fire.
Killed were:
Sgt. Aaron M. Smith, 25, of Manhattan, Kan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Pfc. Brandon A. Owens, 21, of Memphis, Tenn. He was assigned to the 118th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Those last two deaths I posted - it appears these troops were killed by supposedly "friendly" fire. There are two differing reports that I will post here.
Reuters:
Quote:
KABUL, Oct 3 (Reuters) - An Afghan soldier on guard at a joint base with U.S. troops shot dead two American servicemen and wounded two others as they slept, a provincial official said on Saturday.
Shahedullah Shahed, spokesman for the governor of Wardak province west of Kabul, said the shooting took place after a combined team of Afghan and U.S. forces had returned from a joint operation late on Friday.
"The Americans were in the middle of sleep when an Afghan soldier on duty opened fire on them," Shahed said.
"We have no clue as to why he shot them."
A statement from NATO-led forces said two American soldiers died from injuries suffered in a "hostile attack" in eastern Afghanistan on Friday. A press officer for the Western troops said he could give no further details of the incident. (For more Reuters coverage of Afghanistan and Pakistan, see: here) (Reporting by Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
CBS NEWS:
Makes me wonder more and more what we are doing there . . . . . . :(Quote:
An Afghan policeman conducting a joint operation with U.S. soldiers opened fire on the Americans, killing two of them before fleeing, an Afghan official said Saturday, raising fears that militants have infiltrated the ranks of Afghan forces.
The U.S. military earlier said two American troops died in a firefight in Wardak on Friday, but declined to confirm any new details.
Although Afghan forces have periodically turned their guns on international troops, training and working jointly with Afghan police and soldiers on patrols and operations are key to the U.S. strategy of curbing the spreading Taliban-led insurgency.
Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Wardak provincial governor, said the policeman fired on the Americans while they were patrolling together Friday night, killing two and injuring two. Shahid said two of the officer's relatives were in custody for questioning.
A third U.S. service member died Friday of wounds from a bomb attack in Wardak the day before.
3 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Thomas D. Rabjohn, 39, of Litchfield Park, Ariz., died Oct. 3 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated during an attempt to disarm it. He was assigned to the 363rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment, Coolidge, Ariz.
1 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Paul E. Andersen, 49, of Dowagiac, Mich., died Oct. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his camp using indirect fire. He was assigned to the 855th Quartermaster Company, South Bend, Ind.
I heard on the radio - five were killed in one day and October 2009 to date (5 days!) there have been more deaths than the whole month of October 2008.:(:(
2 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 2 in Murcheh, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when they were attacked by a suicide bomber. They were assigned to the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Greensboro, N.C.
Killed were:
Capt. Benjamin A. Sklaver, 32, of Medford, Mass.
Pfc. Alan H. Newton Jr., 26, of Asheboro, N.C.
The incident is under investigation.
United Kingdom
5 October 2009
Quote:
It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a soldier from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards has been killed in Afghanistan.
The soldier was killed as a result of an explosion that happened whilst on a foot patrol near to Nad e-Ali district centre in central Helmand province on the morning of 5 October 2009.
Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.
The names have not yet been posted on the DoD website, so this is from CNN -
Quote:
(CNN) -- The flag-draped coffins of five U.S. soldiers killed during a weekend onslaught against a U.S. military outpost in Afghanistan arrived Tuesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the military said.
The bodies include Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk of South Portland, Maine; Spc. Michael P. Scusa of Villas, New Jersey; Spc. Stephen L. Mace of Lovettsville, Virginia; Spc. Christopher T. Griffin of Kincheloe, Michigan; and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson of Reno, Nevada, according to the Air Force mortuary affairs office.
Coverage of the troops' return is allowed with the permission of their families under a policy the Obama administration instituted this year.
On Saturday, Taliban militants attacked American and Afghan troops in Nuristan province, opening fire on the outpost from multiple locations with rockets, mortars and heavy-caliber machine guns. At least eight American troops and two members of the Afghan national security forces were killed, the military said.
It was the largest number of Americans killed by hostile action in a single day since July 2008 when nine troops died, according to CNN records.
We seem to be losing more people than ever. Are we actually going to send more troops to Afghanistan? Please let this stop!!:(
I am beginning to wonder if this is ever going to end, for real. I don't hear any talk that indicates it's in the works. Bless these young people and their families. I can't say that enough.:(
Update post #228 -
Quote:
It is with great regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Guardsman Jamie Janes, 20, of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, in Afghanistan on Monday 5 October 2009.
Guardsman Janes was killed as a result of an explosion that happened whilst on a foot patrol near to Nad e-Ali district centre in central Helmand province. He was mortally wounded by an improvised explosive device, which also wounded three of his colleagues. The explosion was followed up by an insurgent ambush which the patrol then had to fight off before evacuating the wounded soldiers.
Unfortunately Guardsman Janes died en route to hospital.
6 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Maj. Tad T. Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, Minn., died Oct. 6 at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division, Rosemont, Minn.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
3 October 2009
5 of these men were mentioned in post #229.Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of eight soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. They were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 of Savannah, Ga.
Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.
Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, Calif.
Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine.
Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, of Villas, N.J.
Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Mich.
Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, Va.
Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, of Reno, Nev.
4 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Oct. 4 at Contingency Outpost Dehanna, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and indirect fires. He was assigned to the 576th Mobility Augmentation Company, Fort Carson, Colo.
The conflict in Afghanistan started 8 years ago today, October 7th.
According to CNN, in Afghanistan alone, there have been 1,435 coalition deaths as of 6 October 2009 --
865 Americans,
11 Australians,
one Belgian,
219 Britons,
131 Canadians,
3 Czech,
25 Danes,
21 Dutch,
6 Estonians,
one Finn,
35 French,
30 Germans,
2 Hungarians,
20 Italians,
3 Latvian,
one Lithuanian,
4 Norwegians,
13 Poles,
2 Portuguese,
11 Romanians,
one South Korean,
25 Spaniards,
2 Swedes,
2 Turks
and one NATO/ISAF
In Iraq, according to CNN, there have been 4,668 coalition deaths since the beginning in May 2003 - as of 6 October 2009 -
4,351 Americans,
two Australians,
one Azerbaijani,
179 Britons,
13 Bulgarians,
one Czech,
seven Danes,
two Dutch,
two Estonians,
one Fijian,
five Georgians,
one Hungarian,
33 Italians,
one Kazakh,
three Latvians,
22 Poles,
three Romanians,
five Salvadoran,
four Slovaks,
one South Korean,
11 Spaniards,
two Thai,
18 Ukrainians
The list also includes 13 U.S. Defense Department civilian employees.
Thank you for those figures, Gretchen. I am teary eyed here, looking at the ages of those young people. The statistics are mind blowing. Families will be without those soldiers on Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time. The families will never see their loved ones again. It breaks my heart.:(
Rest In Peace Fallen Soldiers :( Thank you for protecting us. You saved us, but, unfortunately, you couldn't save yourselves. :(
I'm honestly getting to the point that I resent high government officials doing anything besides trying to bring these soldiers home asap. I know I shouldn't feel this way but I can't help it. My heart hopes they are working on a plan that will take effect right away. I just hoped I would have seen large amounts of them already home. What is it going to take? Isn't this enough? :( :( :(
FRANCE
Died 8 October 2009
Quote:
Sgt. Johann Hivin-Gerard, 29
3e Regiment d'Infanterie de Marine (3rd Marine Infantry Regiment)
Died on October 8, 2009, at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France, of wounds sustained when a roadside bomb struck his armored vehicle while escorting a logistics convoy in the Surobi district north of Kabul, Afghanistan, on September 4, 2009
Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, SPAIN
7 October 2009
Quote:
Cpl. Cristo A. Cabello Santana, 24
Regimiento de Infanteria Ligera IX (9th Light Infantry Regiment)
Killed when a roadside bomb struck his armored vehicle during a reconnaissance and security patrol east of Herat, Afghanistan.
7 October 2009
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, of Shiprock, N.M., died Oct. 7 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., of wounds suffered Sept. 8 when insurgents attacked his unit in the Ganjigal Valley, Afghanistan, using small arms and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.