In Memoriam

[AvaJoy]

I was just thinking about this today - yes it's news when a celebrity dies, but then it's all you hear about for months. When a soldier (or even a fireman or policeman) dies in the line of duty, there's a small article on the 3rd page of the paper. Thanks for this thread, and lots of prayers and thoughts going out to those who risk their lives every day.

I thoroughly agree with the above.
Since this is the Doghouse, I trust no one will freak out upon reading this joke:
Q. What is the difference between Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson?
A. About six hours.

Why people worship celebrities is inconceivable to me.

[RICHARD]

London, England (AHN) - The world's oldest man and one of the last surviving World War I servicemen, Henry Allingham has passed away at the age of 113. Born in 1896, Allingham became the world's oldest man in June.

Allingham who served with the Royal Naval Air Service in WWI, transferred to the Royal Air Force when it was created. Queen Elizabeth in a statement once said he was "one of the generation who sacrificed so much for us all."

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I loved his quote about his longevity.

Cigarettes, booze and wild, wild women.


God bless you, Mr. Allingham.

[Grace]

July 19, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.


Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, died July 19 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

July 18, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.


Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp, 21, of Rosemount, Minn., died July 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington of wounds suffered July 10 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

[Edwina's Secretary]

This week there were 11 deaths reported in the LA Times. The most in one week for a long while...

[Grace]

I think I heard on the evening news - 30 so far this month. That may have been including the 4 who died today. They are not on the DoD site yet.

[Grace]

Another bad day

July 20, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died July 20 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle followed by an attack from enemy forces using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. They were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery (STRIKE), 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.


Killed were:

Sgt. Gregory Owens Jr., 24, of Garland, Texas.

Spc. Anthony M. Lightfoot, 20, of Riverdale, Ga.

Spc. Andrew J. Roughton, 21, of Houston, Texas.

Pfc. Dennis J. Pratt, 34, of Duncan, Okla.