I just learned that one of the soldiers who died in the crash of an Osprey aircraft in Afghanistan was a third cousin of mine.
I did not know him personally, but by all accounts he was a great guy, and much beloved by his immediate family and one of my aunts who was very close to his mother. I’m keeping his name out of this blog post out of respect for the family’s privacy. This is simply a horrible time for them as you might imagine.
If anyone feels so inclined, please contribute a few bucks to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America in the name of all those service men and women who have lost their lives in the course of this war. The link to donate can be found RIGHT HERE.
Regardless of what you think of the the politicians that initiated these wars with lies and subterfuge in what I and many legal experts consider violations of international law, (and you know I have a very low opinion of the members of the Bush administration who I consider war criminals), the men and women in our Armed forces did not ask to be sent to these faraway places to fight wars and risk their lives, their bodies and their sanity.
IAVA does very good work advocating for those veterans and soldiers who continue to suffer from the physical and psychological traumas they endured in these bloody and horrific wars. Money donated to them is money well spent. To learn more about IAVA and its activities please read their FAQ page.
No one can bring back my cousin to his family, but perhaps your donation can assist some other veteran who is struggling to return to civilian life after his or her experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. That seems to me to be the best way for his memory, and the memory of all the others who died in these wars, to be honored.
Thank you.
My condolences on the loss of your family member.
I’m sorry for your loss, Steve. Was this man a graduate of Virginia Tech? Today while I was walking to the bus on campus to go back to my apartment, the Corps of Cadets was there and someone was speaking at our War Memorial Chapel. There was quite a large gathering, and they were speaking of someone who died; I wasn’t sure how recent it was or anything.
My condolences to his family and friends and acquaintnces. War does nothing good for anyone, including those who make the choice to fight in it and those who bear the burden of loss at home.
Having said that…
“the men and women in our Armed forces did not ask to be sent to these faraway places to fight wars and risk their lives, their bodies and their sanity.“
The United States has an all-volunteer military. Everyone who joins makes the choice to join. Everyone who has joined since 2001 knew or should have known they would be sent to one of the numerous wars the United States government has initiated. Many of those joined specifically because they wanted to take part in the U.S. war effort. Everyone who is or has been in Iraq or Afghanistan or any of the countries in which the United States is engaged in military violence did have the choice to refuse. Yes, there is a price to pay for refusal, but there is a choice, and to thousands the price of accepting was greater than the price of refusing, so they have refused and paid that price. The bottom line is that every step along the way they have a choice.
America’s wars kill and maim and destroy the lives of millions of Iraqis, Afghans, Pakistanis, Yemenis, fillintheblanks, and they have no choice whatsoever in the matter.
Universal Soldier, Buffy Sainte Marie
I’m sorry, Steve. Sad news. And I never thought those Ospreys should go into combat.
No. Lousy ass waste of money.
War is a lousy waste of money, and more importantly it is a lousy waste of perfectly good lives as the death of your cousin demonstrates.
I’m very sorry to hear this. My condolences. I pray for an end to the madness.