'Am I Next?'

[gulfcoastliberal]

I apologize if this has already been posted. Read it and weep.

The Question Haunts the Members Of a Casualty-Depleted Platoon

By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 20, 2005; C01

R Under the glare of a midmorning sun, Staff Sgt. Jody Hayes stands sweating in the hatch of his M-113 armored vehicle, scanning for insurgents. Hayes and his Iowa National Guard crew have been stalled for nearly 30 minutes on a risky, slow-moving mission to clear road bombs, and he's getting nervous.

Suddenly he hears the snap of a sniper's bullet flying past his head. The round pierces the neck of the soldier next to him, Spec. John Miller, entering the two-inch gap between his Kevlar vest collar and helmet.

"Get down!" Hayes yells. Miller falls heavily against Hayes's leg, and at first Hayes believes his friend is taking cover. "Man, he got down pretty quick," he recalls thinking. Then he glances down and sees Miller bleeding at his feet.

Sgt. Ty Dermer, who is manning a .50-caliber machine gun within arm's reach of Miller, radios for help: "We got a man down! We need a medic, ASAP!"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/19/AR2005061900928_pf.html

[annabanana]

1. so many sad, sad stories...

so many heartbroken, soul-scorched people.....
This is why we can never never stop fighting to put an end to this illegal, immoral adventure in greed.

[gulfcoastliberal]

2. 31 went in; only 25 remain

This article is SO depressing. Undoubtedly why it was put on page C.