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| -Obits- | |
| Rocky blogger Major Andrew Olmsted killed in Iraq | |
| 2008-01-05 | |
He went there to teach members of the Iraqi Army how to defend their country and provide security for citizens. Major Olmsted was a veteran blogger and was determined to make a difference in Iraq. He began writing for RockyMountainNews.com on May 21. "The sooner the Iraqi government doesn't need U.S. support to provide security for its people, the sooner we will probably be asked to leave," he said. He left behind a final blog post on his website AndrewOlmsted.com. Here are a few lines: "I suppose I should speak to the circumstances of my death. It would be nice to believe that I died leading men in battle, preferably saving their lives at the cost of my own. More likely I was caught by a marksman or an IED. But if there is an afterlife, I'm telling anyone who asks that I went down surrounded by hundreds of insurgents defending a village composed solely of innocent women and children. It'll be our little secret, ok?" No details were available on how the Major Olmsted died. | |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #14 because of people like you, and Anymouse's son, and my son, and Dave D's son, and so many others here, who have "sacked up" and volunteered to do the job, knowing it could mean REAL combat and and not just the GI Bill/training bennies they push in peacetime. They all have my thanks and admiration. They ARE America, and, I think, our real future |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-01-05 16:10 |
| #13 It's the people. Major Olmsted wrote that he went knowing he might be killed, but serving was important enough that he was willing to accept the risk. Several Rantburgers have written similar things over the years. His blog posts clearly caused many to think, these last years. And his insistence that people who disagreed even on matters of principle could remain not only polite, but even still friends, has had an impact. His final post was put up by long-standing request at one of the sites where he blogged, and garnered polite, heartfelt condolences from as far left as the Kos site. He was an officer and a gentleman in the best tradition of our Armed Forces. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-01-05 16:07 |
| #12 OP, Truly said. Because of people like Olmsted we are winning and doing it with American perseverance, dignity and gung-ho attitude. Unlike of course the idiots some villages are missing while they run for President and CinC (God help us all). |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-01-05 15:23 |
| #11 It's the people, Richard. I'm 61 and disabled, yet I'd go back if they asked me to. I'm sure Pappy, Old Spook, and Cybersarge, just to mention a few, have the same sense of commitment. We can't, so we support those who can, and do. Their loss is our loss. God bless them, every one. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-01-05 13:25 |
| #10 Rest In Peace, Major Olmsted, may God hold your family and friends close to his heart as we count another star in Heaven to light our way. |
| Posted by: djh_usmc 2008-01-05 12:38 |
| #9 This reminds me. Everybody in the military has enlisted or re-enlisted since the invasion of Iraq. Even when the recruiting numbers were down, the guys enlisting for the combat arms were at the desired level. Maj. Olmsted is not the only one to have voluntarily chosen to return to active duty despite, or because of, the likelihood of returning to combat. There's something going on. It's either the guys, or the war, or both. |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2008-01-05 10:53 |
| #8 Rest well, Andy. You have our pride and our humble gratitude. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-01-05 07:11 |
| #7 DoD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Jan. 3 in As Sadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small arms fire during combat operations. Both Soldiers were assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Killed were: Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo. Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M. |
| Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC 2008-01-05 03:14 |
| #6 Rest well, sir. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-01-05 03:07 |
| #5 He worked on this -- and last changed it in July. Be sure to have a box of Kleenix nearby. Final Post |
| Posted by: Sherry 2008-01-05 01:08 |
| #4 My condolences to him, to his family and to the world for the loss of a good man. |
| Posted by: Whomong Guelph4611 2008-01-04 23:38 |
| #3 DAMN !!! as said in that Texas woman way.. (that carries weight) Major Almsted posted for years at Winds of Change -- an announced Democrat that I listened to.... his words made sense. Often went looking for his "take" on situations. Then came the day, word was spread that he was Major Andrew Olmsted. Following that, was word that he was heading to Iraq.... another Milblogger in the mist of the fight. A lost for America. God bless his family and friends.... and Mods.... can this keep posted throughout the weekend? Lots of folks will want to know of this. Thanks. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2008-01-04 23:24 |
| #2 There's a background story about Major Olmsted at the link, written just before he deployed. He gave his life to make the world a better place. May his memory be for a blessing. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-01-04 21:59 |
| #1 DAMN! He was a good man. A friend of mine worked for him for a few months. There's nothing in the local newspaper, the Gazette. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-01-04 21:56 |