MilBlogger Killed in Iraq
BOB ZANGAS was killed last Wednesday in an ambush south of Baghdad. He was a Marine Corps Reservist working in a civilian capacity for the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Go read the final entry in his weblog, and pay your respects.
Semper Fi, Bob.
From Citizen Smash.
As usual, SGT Hook says it far better than I can.
It is not that these men are dead, but that they have so died…that they offered themselves willingly to death in a cause vital and dear to humanity; and what is more, a cause they comprehended as such, and looking at it, in all its bearings and its consequences, solemnly pledged to it all that they had and were…. This comprehension of the causeóthis intelligent devotionóthis deliberate dedication of themselves to dutyóthese deaths suffered in testimony of their loyalty, faith and love, make these men worthy of honor today, and these deaths equal to the lauded deaths of martyrs. Not merely that the cause was worthy but that they were worthy…. God grant to us that lesson of devotion and loyalty be not lost….
They gave their best for something held dearer than joyósomething of good beyond their personal experience; the giving of which, in this world’s estimation, is of such cost that it cannot be justified by your understanding but only in your overpassing faith.
We do not live for self…. We are a part of a larger life, reaching before and after, judged not by deeds done in the body but deeds done in the soul. We wish to be remembered. Willing to die, we are not willing to be forgotten.
– Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Jason Merryman whom I know from back home – although he went to a neighboring (and rival) high school – is serving in Iraq with the United States Air Force.
Another high school classmate of mine, Alex Engle flew in the bombing campaign as a member of the Air Force’s 363rd Air Expeditionary Squadrom.
I do think of both of them from time to time – along with the others serving in the Middle East – and hope that they are well and safe.
An officer in the US Naval reserve was attending a conference that included admirals from both the US Navy and the French Navy. At a cocktail reception, he found himself in a small group that included personnel from both navies. The French admiral started complaining that whereas Europeans learned many languages, Americans learned only English. He then asked: “Why is it that we have to speak English in these conferences rather than you speak French?”
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied: “Maybe it’s because the British, Canadians, Australians and Americans arranged it so you would not have to speak German.” [Sgt Hook]
Kerri’s friend moominpapa writes a post ranting and raving about many things related to the war in Iraq.
dropped cluster bombs and cruise missiles on cities, towns and villages, remember?
Iraqi citizens had to be cluster bombed
And on and on.
While I think that they (I’ve no idea if they are male or female) share some of the same concerns that I have about how this war was sold, they lose credibility with me when they start talking about cluster bombing cities.
Do you know what a cluster bomb is used for? Do you know where they are dropped? Somehow I doubt that.
Do you think we set out to kill civilians intentionally? Somehow I think you believe that we did — and that the military flew about and gleefully killed civilians?
Are you a military expert? Do you know where and when to use cluster bombs? Were they the right weapon to use in Basra and other places where they were dropped? Were they dropped a controlled environment?
Would you have preferred that the cluster bombs not be utilized and a hundred British or US Soldiers been killed? How about fifty? Twenty? Where do you draw the line?
And the general feeling I get from reading this is that you’d be happier if Saddam was back in power? Since we have him in custody, I’m sure we could arrange that.
And I’m sure there would be much rejoicing.
Hassan Ghul, described as the most senior associate of Osama bin Laden found in Iraq, was picked up last week in the northern part of the country by Kurdish forces, the official said. “He was a senior facilitator who was caught coming into the country,” the official said. Speculation was that Ghul, a Pakistani, was scouting out what al Qaeda could do in the future against U.S. forces, the official said. [Washington Post]