Expressing Opinions

While the media talking heads reported on the presidential campaigns, two American soldiers died in Iraq. Here is a link to and copy of the announcement from the U.S. Department of Defense. But is does not end there.

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.

For further information related to this release, contact Fort Riley public affairs at (785) 239-3410.

There is more. Maj. Olmsted was a blogger and his blog From the Frontlines was hosted by the Rocky Mountain News. In the comments of his last posting, the brother of Cpt. Thomas J. Casey asks the Major if it is true that his brother was indeed killed.

Major Olmstead,

My name is Jeff Casey and I am CAPT Tom Casey’s younger brother. Three army guard members arrived at our door today to tell us that Tom was killed in small arms fire today (1/3/08). They also told us that both his wife and my monther had already been notified of which neither had actually occoured. I am writing to you to determine if my brother has actually fallen in small arms fire like they said or if the army got that piece of information wrong as well. If you get this and the information turns out to be false, please have Tom contact us as soon as possible. Thank you

-jjc
Posted by Jeff Casey on January 3, 2008 04:09 PM

Maj. Olmsted left a final posting with a friend just in case. I came across his posting and provide a link to it on the NPR web site.

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?

I did not hear any of the candidates state what their plan was for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. And so the war continues with no end and no plan insight to bring our troops home.

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