January 18, 2005

Dead of Winter

With over 165,000 people killed by the earthquake and tsunami in and around the Indian Ocean, the deaths of 73 Americans in Iraq in the month of December is relegated to the back pages of local news sources, if it can be found at all. Yet, the War in Iraq rages on, despite the fact that "major hostilities" have been over for well over a year and a half. And Saddam Hussein was captured more than a year ago; yet, the killing goes on without any exit strategy or light at the end of the tunnel.

And one U.S. serviceman was killed in Afghanistan in December.

We honor those who gave their lives in December, when peace on Earth and good will toward men did not exist, as usual:

  • Spc. David M. Fisher, 21, Green Island, NY
  • Gunnery Sgt. Javier Obleas-Prado Pena, 36, Falls Church, VA
  • Cpl Zachary A. Kolda, 23, of Corpus Christi, Texas
  • Cpl. Bryan S. Wilson, 22, of Otterbein, IN
  • Pfc. George D. Harrison, 22, of Knoxville, TN
  • Spc. David P. Mahlenbrock, 20, of Maple Shade, N.J.
  • Staff Sgt. Henry E. Irizarry, 38, of Bronx, New York
  • Cpl. Binh N. Le, 20, of Alexandria, VA
  • Cpl. Matthew A. Wyatt, 21, of Millstadt, IL
  • Sgt. Michael L. Boatright, 24, of Whitesboro, Texas
  • Staff Sgt. Salamo J. Tuialuuluu, 23, of Pago Pago, American Samoa
  • Sgt. David A. Mitts, 24, of Hammond, OR
  • Sgt. Cari A. Gasiewicz, 28, of Depew, N.Y.
  • Cpl. Joseph O. Behnke, 45, of Brooklyn, New York
  • Staff Sgt. Marvin L. Trost III, 28, of Goshen, IN
  • Spc. Edwin W. Roodhouse, 36, of San Jose, CA
  • Staff Sgt. Kyle A. Eggers, 27, of Euless, Texas
  • Pfc. Andrew M. Ward, 25, of Kirkland, WA
  • Cpl. In C. Kim, 23, of Warren, MI
  • Capt. Mark N. Stubenhofer, 30, of Springfield, VA
  • Sgt. 1st Class Todd C. Gibbs, 37, of Angelina, Texas
  • Sgt. Arthur C. Williams, IV, 31, of Edgewater, FL
  • Pfc. Christopher S. Adlesperger, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M.
  • 1st Lt. Andrew C. Shields, 25, of Campobello, S.C.
  • Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Leach, 39, of Rock Hill, S.C.
  • Cpl. Kyle J. Renehan, 21, of Oxford, PA
  • Staff Sgt. Melvin L. Blazer, 38, of Moore, OK
  • Spc. Robert W. Hoyt, 21, of Ashford, CT
  • Lance Cpl. Hilario F. Lopez, 22, of Ingleside, Texas
  • Lance Cpl. Gregory P. Rund, 21, of Littleton, CO
  • Cpl. Jason S. Clairday, 21, of Camp Fulton, Ark.
  • Cpl. Ian W. Stewart, 21, of Lake Hughes, Calif.
  • Sgt. Jeffrey L. Kirk, 24, of Baton Rouge, LA
  • Lance Cpl. Jeffery S. Blanton, 23, of Fayetteville, GA
  • Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Dickinson, 25, of Pasco, FL
  • Not Identified by Department of Defense Pending Notification of Next of Kin
  • Pfc. Joshua A. Ramsey, 19, from Defiance, Ohio
  • Lance Cpl. Richard D. Warner, 22, of Waukesha, WI
  • Sgt. Tina S. Time, 22, from Tucson, AZ
  • Pfc. Brent T. Vroman, 21, of Oshkosh, WI
  • Spc. Victor A. Martinez, 21, from Bronx, NY
  • Cpl. Michael D. Anderson, 21, of Modesto, California
  • Lance Cpl. Franklin A. Sweger, 24, of San Antonio, Texas
  • Staff Sgt. Donald B. Farmer, 33, of Zion, IL
  • Sgt. Berry K. Meza, 23, of League City, Texas
  • Capt. William W. Jacobsen Jr., 31, of Charlotte, N.C.
  • Sgt. Maj. Robert D. O'Dell, 38, of Manassas, VA
  • Sgt. 1st Class Paul D. Karpowich, 30, of Bridgeport, PA
  • Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Staff Sgt. Darren D. VanKomen, 33, of Bluefield, WV
  • Staff Sgt. Robert S. Johnson, 23, of Castro Valley, Calif.
  • Sgt. Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47, of Freedom, Maine
  • Spc. Jonathan Castro, 21, of Corona, Calif.
  • Spc. Thomas J. Dostie, 20, of Sommerville, Maine
  • Spc. Cory M. Hewitt, 26, of Stewart, Tenn.
  • Spc. Nicholas C. Mason, 20, of King George, VA
  • Spc. David A. Ruhren, 20, of Stafford, VA
  • Chief Joel Egan Baldwin, 37, of Arlington, VA
  • Pfc. Lionel Ayro, 22, of Jeanerette, LA
  • Lance Cpl. Neil D. Petsche, 21, of Lena, Ill.
  • 1st Lt. Christopher W. Barnett, 32, of Baton Rouge, LA
  • Lance Cpl. Eric Hillenburg, 21, of Marion, IN
  • Lance Cpl. James R. Phillips, 21, of Hillsboro, FL
  • Cpl. Raleigh C. Smith, 21, of Lincoln, Montana
  • Staff Sgt. Todd D. Olson, 36, from Loyal, WI
  • Spc. Jose A. Rivera-Serrano, 26, from Mayaquez, Puerto Rico
  • Staff Sgt. Jason A. Lehto, 31, of Mount Clemens, MI
  • Navy Seaman Pablito Pena Briones, Jr., 22, of Anaheim, CA
  • Staff Sgt. Nathaniel J. Nyren, 31, from Reston, VA
  • Pfc. Oscar Sanchez, 19, from Modesto, Calif.
  • Spc. Craig L. Nelson, 21, from Bossier City, LA
  • Sgt. Damien T. Ficek, 26, from Pullman, Wash.
  • Lance Cpl. Jason E. Smith, 21, of Phoenix, Ariz.
  • Spc. Isaac E. Diaz, 26, from Rio Hondo, TX, who was killed in Afghanistan

    Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime. -- Ernest Hemingway

    I am not proud that this country has spent well over $150 billion to kill people in an unjust war, ostensibly in the name of freedom and democracy, but does not value life enough to help those who lack the basic needs to survive, and whose President seeks to cut Social Security by again fabricating scenarios that are not based in reality and which rely on speculation and exaggeration, but which he states as confirmed fact.

    Here's a fact. As the second inauguration of George the Lesser approaches and tens of millions have been spent on obscene parties, the families of 39 more Americans grieve the loss of their boys and girls over in Iraq since the new year. Let's count how many times he mentions "freedom" and "liberty" Thursday night in his speech. No, you, who watch the propaganda, count; I'm going to clean the basement. Wave the flag for me.

    Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone. -- Richie Havens, Freedom

    Posted by Bill at January 18, 2005 10:46 PM
    • Comments

    We could make a drinking game out of it, ya know..

    Posted by: lucy at January 18, 2005 11:22 PM

    And then there's this: "President Bush told U.S. troops on Tuesday that "much more will be asked of you" in Iraq and elsewhere as three days of ceremonies marking his inauguration got off to a somber beginning." Oh goody. I just can't stomach the guy.

    Glad I don't have a TV and won't be subjected to all the crap that will be shown during the next couple of days. I'm taking part in the unofficial Not One Damn Dime Day.

    "The decision to have the first official inaugural event honoring war veterans and those killed in war reflected the nature of Bush's first term, which was dominated by conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, prompting him to declare himself a "war president" a year ago." Oh god yes, that's something I would take pride in if I were him. Hell yeah. WAR MONGER! HOO HA HA! GO ME! I'M THE WAR PRES!

    *gack* get me outta here.

    Posted by: Keri at January 19, 2005 12:55 PM

    1 shot if he mispronounces a word
    1 beer if he says something unsupported by the facts (notice that I did NOT say our leader would lie, exactly)
    2 beers if he talks about his (bullshit! bullshit!) "mandate"
    1 beer if he says the word freedom
    1 beer for the word liberty...

    ...and then, since about half of the (voting) population will be dead from severe alcoholic poisoning, nobody will care what he says or does!

    Posted by: lucy at January 19, 2005 01:39 PM

    Thank you for posting this message, my only brother SSG Kyle A. Eggers was killed on December 5, 2004 when a road side bomb exploded causing severe head trauma. The thing I find funniest is that we will have a telethon, or a billion fund raisers for relief aid in third world countries, but when a soldier dies you see nothing, you hear nothing. No celebrities giving a million dollars to families in need. No star studded telethons to raise money for the families who have just lost the bread winner. The reality is we don't want to hear about our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and loved ones being killed over seas. We would rather give to a cause with no names and no American faces. It saddens me to think that my three nephews will never know how great their dad was, that my one year old nephew only got to meet his dad for 8 weeks, yet their share the same smile and eyes.

    Posted by: Kristi Eggers at January 25, 2005 01:00 PM