One Army Sergeant's Response to Bin Laden: Sorrow and Counting His Losses

[kpete]

MON MAY 09, 2011 AT 05:25 AM PDT
One Army Sergeant's Response to Bin Laden: Sorrow and Counting His Losses
bySteven D
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/05/08/mmqb/index.html#ixzz1LqpFftyJ


"Peter:
"My thoughts...

"Bin Laden dead brings closure to a situation that started it all. More than anything it makes me miss the Soldiers I have lost over the past three deployments: SGT Bevington, SPC Connelly, SGT McHale and others. That is not to exclude my guys that lost their legs, lost eyes, and to top it off all the mental issues they have now. These young soldiers will never be the same person again. They are changed. There is an attitude about them that most will not get, a sadness they carry every day, just like me.

"We take pride in what we do. Every soldier who puts on a uniform is my brother. I would not trade much of what has happened over the last six years except bring back my men. The war has changed me. I am short-tempered, I curse more now, I can eat dinner in under three minutes. More than anything, I am ashamed of the fact that I missed my kids growing up, my son getting commissioned in the Army, my daughter getting married, my other daughter graduating, and many other issues.

"But I am alive. I am going to make the best of it and make up for all this lost time. This is my last deployment. I am focusing on my men and women to give them all the tools to survive over here. But also I am counting the days until retirement.

"Just rambling. Sorry. Take care,

"Mike.''

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/09/974404/-One-Army-Sergeants-Response-to-Bin-Laden:Sorrow-and-Counting-His-Losseshttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/05/08/mmqb/index.html#ixzz1LqpFftyJ

[elias49]

1. Groan...and his son getting commissioned?

I'm confused.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Strange, he mentions nothing of the death and destruction he and his men caused

on other innocent people.

[Orsino]

3. With respect, he's not really getting closure.

The endless deployments, misery, maiming, dying and killing in random countries can't all be laid at the feet of bin Laden. They certainly didn't end last week. No, we have used the oaths of service members as an excuse for imperial adventuring, and all the blood and sadness were essentially wasted, beyond enriching a few old men. That isn't ending anytime soon.

He's not getting closure...but I don't think I can begrudge him what probably feels like a bright spot in all the death.

[Javaman]

4. Sounds tired of war, but doesn't come right out and say it.

The things he has seen I would never wish on anyone.

[seabeyond]

5. especially during the early years i wuold hear people fighting the wars dont support our soldiers

i always felt it was outrageously ironic that i felt the right did not support them in allowing them to continue in a losing cause, illegal war, horrible leadership and felt i was much more supporting our soldiers than the right ever did

i feel for the soldier. glad he was able to do some ramblin