Expressing Opinions

Today flags will be at half-staff throughout Oregon in honor of Corporal Jessica Ellis, who was an Army combat medic and on her second tour in Iraq. She was killed in an IED explosion in Baghdad on Mother’s Day, May 11.

In a Department of Defense news release: DoD Identifies Army Casualty

Cpl. Jessica A. Ellis, 24, of Bend, Ore., died May 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when her vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. She was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

“Jessica was an outstanding young woman and a decorated soldier who served her state and her country with courage and conviction,” said Governor Kulongoski. “She will be missed by her friends and family and Oregon will be less than we could have been without her.”

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.

The United States and the State of Oregon flags will be flown at half-staff throughout the state Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008, in memory and honor of Private Joshua Anthony Richard Young of Riddle, Oregon who died Monday, Jan. 28, 2008 in Mosul, Iraq.

Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Thursday, February 7, 2008, in memory of Army Private First Class Joshua A.R. Young, of Riddle, OR.

Young, 21, was killed in action on Monday, January 28, 2008 when his High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Mosul, Iraq. Young was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

“Joshua was an upstanding young man who served our state and our country with courage and conviction,” said Governor Kulongoski. “He will be missed but never forgotten.”

As the father of soldier who has served a tour in Iraq and is going to return there, I understand what Joshua Young’s father, Anthony Young means when he said,

“You can’t ever prepare yourself for something like this.”

Oregon’s Governor order flags flown at half staff today in honor of Sergeant Mikeal W. Miller of Albany, Oregon who died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008.

In Governor Ted Kulongoski’s press release it states:

Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Memory of Oregon Soldier
Flags to be lowered Saturday, February 2, 2008 in honor of Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller

Salem – Today Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Saturday, February 2, 2008, in memory of Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller, of Albany .

Miller, 22, passed away on January 27, 2008 after being injured July 9, 2007 when his vehicle encountered an IED in Baghdad, Iraq. Miller was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

“Mikeal served his country and his state with great honor and distinction,” said Governor Kulongoski. “He will be missed by his friends and family and will always be remembered by the citizens of Oregon for his ultimate sacrifice.”

Thank you for visiting Expressing Opinions.