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.”

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February 2008

According to the web site Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, Americans who died this month:

• 29 died in Iraq
• 1 died in Afghanistan

Bringing the total amount of American soldiers who died in Iraq to 3973 and in Afghanistan to 483.

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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.”

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January 2008

According to the web site Iraq Coalition Casualty Count, Americans who died this month:

• 40 died in Iraq
• 7 died in Afghanistan

Bring the total amount of American soldiers who died in Iraq to 3944 and in Afghanistan to 482.

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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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