I got a phone call yesterday afternoon that pretty well shook the foundations of my world. My stepfather called me and asked, "are you sitting down?" "er, yes, why?" "There's been a death in the family." I knew right then who it was, without him even telling me. My big brother's been in Baghdad since about three days after Christmas. He was online night-before-last at about 11 PM my time, so 6AM his, I think, getting ready to go out on patrol for the day. I sent him a quick 'Hi, I love you bro! Stay safe, okay?'... That's the last time I'll ever get to talk to him. My sister-in-law got a pair of men in uniform on her doorstep yesterday around noon, with the worst news an army wife can recieve. We don't have any details yet about what actually happened, or when he and his pine box will make it home, or where Sammy will decide to have his funeral. She's completely out of it - Her family is completely uncaring. Her younger brother and Steve's best friend are the only ones who are there for her, and they're taking care of the two kids, because right now, she can't. Mom and my Stepdad are on their way to her now.

It's not bloody fair. He was only 26! He'd just re-enlisted and been promoted to Corporal(E-4)... And he was supposed to come home in October, just in time for his son's 5th birthday. I guess he gets to come home a bit earlier than planned...

It's almost funny (although that could be the barely held off hysteria talking)... I happened to be looking for some good classical music by my favorite composer, Chopin, yesterday morning, and got a copy of the Funeral March. Probably right around the time they were identifying him, actually. That, and a song by Omnia, called Morrigan, are running in constant repeat through my playlist right now.

"Over hills and over meadows
see the crow fly, feel her shadow
Over woods and over mountains
searching for a war

Her wings embrace each strife and battle
where swords they clash and chariots rattle
seeking out the one whose time
has come to take the blade

Morrigan ancient crone of war
I see your face, I'll cry no more
Morrigan ancient crone of war
come lift me on your wings

Morrigan ancient crone of war
I hear your voice, I'll breathe no more
Morrigan ancient crone of war
come set my spirit free"


Steve didn't join the army because he believed in the war. He didn't do it for politics, or because he liked fighting. He joined the United States Army because that would ensure his children would have a decent life, and be taken care of if anything happened to him. And you know what? That makes him a true hero in my eyes.

Unfortunately, as stories often tell us... the heros are the ones that die soonest.




:'(

I'm so sorry, Kiraela! (hug)  :'(

I am very sorry and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Jerry

Oh, Kiraela. *hugs* I'm so sorry, little sis.  :'(

Aw, Kiraela, I'll be praying for you. :'(

my sympathies. i'll be thinking of you.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  I will keep you, his wife and kids and the rest of family in my prayers to give you all strength during this stressful time.  You all can be proud of his service to our country and I am grateful for his ultimate sacrifice.

I am so sorry  :'(

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

—By John McCrae,  Canadian physician and Lieutenant Colonel, written onl  May 3, 1915,  

O Kiraela, I am sooo sorry.  <<<hugs>>>   :'( :'(.

Debr

Thanks you guys. Prayers, thoughts, etc are definately appreciated.

Lisa: that poem made me cry, but in a good way.

Wow, Kiraela.  I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'm very sorry for your loss, Kiraela.  You and your family are in my prayers.

I'm so sorry Kiraela. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Very sorry, my dear.  He was indeed a true hero.  My love to you and your family.

Well, we found out what happened, how he died, earlier today. If you'd like to know what happened, highlight the blankish box below.
August 24, Steve and his team were doing something on base, when an NCO ordered them to go patrol a section of north Baghdad near the base. "It's a friendly area," he said. "Don't worry about your body armor, you won't need it. We just want to make our presence known." He and his team went out patrolling, and he and one of his teammates were targeted by a sniper: five times each, in the chest. Steve had enough awareness to held the button down on his radio until they found him. They rushed him to the nearest army hospital and performed surgery to remove the bullets and stop internal bleeding. He survived about 24 hours after the shooting and surgery, woke up long enough to say something to the guard standing over him, and then died. As far as I know, we still haven't been informed as to what his last words were. During that entire 24 hour period, none of the family was notified that anything had occured, which is against army regulations. They should have at least notified his wife within 3 hours after they found him, and didn't. There's an investigation going on, and at least one NCO is already being threatened with a court marshall and jail/brig time for this incident.

The funeral is expected to be held Thursday, in Columbia, Missouri. I'll be offline starting saturday, since that's when I'm leaving to head first to Alabama to my hometown, and then north from there. I'm having to leave DBF behind, since we still have to pack and move out by September 15... I'm not sure when I'll be back online.

I actually ate a decent meal today, at DBF's insistance. Yesterday I had three pieces of toast, and even that made me sick to my stomach. I think I am,slowly, recovering from the shock. I keep thinking that there's been some mistake - Some mis-identification somewhere, and Steve will log onto his myspace and wonder where all the "I'll miss you" comments came from.

I'm sorry if little of this makes sense... I'm having a slightly hard time thinking at the moment.

>_< I know I'm a bit late....  :'( I'm so sorry for that. It even made me quite emotional when I read your post. (Watery eyed) *Hugs&Stuff* I hope you feel better soon. It's not easy coping with such a loss...  :'(
YOU BETTER STAY STRONG! :(

K,I am so sorry for your loss! :'(  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Sorry to hear about your brother. *hugs* People will tell you that the wound of losing some one close to you heals, but really you just learn to deal with the loss of them. My grand father was in the navy, served in every major war before the 90's excluding world war one.

[url]http://www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/son_of_salem_woman_killed_in_iraq/33972/  [/url]

This is the news article about my brother's death... I'm trying to make it as public as possible, so that people will start to question what exactly IS going on over there, and why, as of right now he has not shown up in department of defense confirmed casualty lists? Does my brother's sacrifice mean nothing? The only site I have found that lists him in a casualty list, is Antiwar.com, and they haven't released the name (just look under august 25) since he will be 'officially identified' sunday.

I am NOT handling this.

I've been asked to sing Loreena McKennitt's Dante's Prayer at the funeral. I'm still trying to work on getting through it without breaking down massively. This is hard, but I'll make it through, I think.

Messed up.  >:(
At least someone was gracious enough to write an article about him and bring his situation into the public eye. Who knows how many other families this sort of thing has happened to...