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2006-09-27 Home Front: WoT

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Posted by Steve White 2006-09-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I remember reading about two West Point classmates who died within 24 hours of each other in assaults on Pork Chop Hill. One or both of their bodies were never recovered.

Two years ago at Army-Navy the Navy football team sat three pairs of empty jerseys and shoulder-pads on the bench to represent the three football player Marines that had died in 2nd Fallujah.

What an incredible price we pay.

Posted by Super Hose 2006-09-27 00:39|| 2006-09-27 00:39|| Front Page Top

#2 Indeed it is Hose. I hope time, events and history will vindicate the current effort. I question the worth of it every day.

Posted by Besoeker 2006-09-27 00:47|| 2006-09-27 00:47|| Front Page Top

#3 Thus far, 39 West Point graduates have died in the GWOT, starting with 9-11. 37 were on active duty (one other was a retired LTC serving as a contractor in Iraq, and one died as a civilain in the WTC attack).

The 37 WP grads killed on active duty represent 1.08% of ALL COALITION deaths in the two theaters of the GWOT, as listed at http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/oef.casualties/ and http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/

That is - more than 1% of all service-related deaths - all military services, all coalition countries.

When you think about it, that is a truly HUGE percentage of a very large population - and speaks to "up-front' role that West Point graduates play.

LR
WP '78

Posted by Lone Ranger 2006-09-27 01:50|| 2006-09-27 01:50|| Front Page Top

#4 My heart dies a little death, every time I hear of some brave soldier who fought to defend this country, having died in combat.

I know full well, that most of them did so with their boots on, eyes wide open to their possible destinies when they first joined their country's service.

Like so many others, I am unbelievably grateful to every soldier, sailor, Marine, Coast Guardsman, who gives his life for us.

But much moreso, for those who stayed the course after 9/11, knowing the ultimate sacrifice could be asked of them, by circumstances beyond their control.

God bless Lt. Emily Perez, who seemed to be by all accounts, a little dynamo of courage.

Cheers,
Victoria

Posted by Victoria">Victoria 2006-09-27 02:47|| http://futuremd.blogspot.com/]">[http://futuremd.blogspot.com/] 2006-09-27 02:47|| Front Page Top

#5 LR-
The friendly rivalries between services aside, I know this: somehow, the Point has always managed to turn out the right person at the right time to help keep this nation safe.

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2006-09-27 06:37|| 2006-09-27 06:37|| Front Page Top

#6 Here's an obituary with picture and a link to the guest book.

Posted by GK 2006-09-27 07:25|| 2006-09-27 07:25|| Front Page Top

#7 God bless her. Sometimes it seems that God picks the good ones early. What a loss to us all.

Posted by anon 2006-09-27 15:20|| 2006-09-27 15:20|| Front Page Top

#8 Thank you doesn't seem adequate, but it's all I've got.

Must remember to defer reading these until I'm off work. Hope no one comes to my cube for a few minutes...

Posted by xbalanke 2006-09-27 17:29|| 2006-09-27 17:29|| Front Page Top

#9 I've read this three times so far today, and wept each time with grief and pride. The Islamofascists send their children off to murder innocents; our young men and women volunteer to go halfway round the world to protect strangers. I have no words weighty enough to be equal to the sacrifice this young woman made freely and with the full knowledge of the situation. We are honoured that she considered this country worth giving her life to... and in the end for.

Posted by trailing wife 2006-09-27 21:33|| 2006-09-27 21:33|| Front Page Top

#10 Rest in peace, Lt. Perez. A grateful country owes you more than they will ever know.

"I think we all hoped it wouldn't happen," said class President James Freeze of the first death among the graduates, who numbered exactly 911.

Here's hoping that there are 911 terrorists killed per every graduate in West Point's 9-11 class. That would total nearly 830,000 dead terrorists and represent a good start in what it will take to rid this world of Islamic fanatics.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2006-09-27 23:07|| 2006-09-27 23:07|| Front Page Top

23:56 Zenster
23:50 Super Hose
23:49 JosephMendiola
23:42 JosephMendiola
23:38 JosephMendiola
23:33 Anonymoose
23:31 trailing wife
23:21 Alaska Paul
23:21 USN,Ret
23:18 JosephMendiola
23:17 BA
23:16 BA
23:11 Super Hose
23:10 wxjames
23:07 Zenster
23:02 Super Hose
22:58 Zenster
22:53 Shieldwolf
22:52 Zenster
22:48 JosephMendiola
22:45 JosephMendiola
22:42 Zenster
22:39 BA
22:36 JosephMendiola