Another soldier is gone. Please keep this thread alive in memory.

[mia]

This was posted a little while ago by unhappycamper in the Veterans Forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x28136

[Ken Burch]

1. K&R

Remember the fallen. Work to keep any more from falling.

[sarge43]

2. May he find the peace he was denied in this life. n/t

[mia]

3. Died of non-combat causes in Iraq - his death will be investigated

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x28136

Soldier dies of non-combat cause in Iraq
The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Dec 12, 2009 10:53:25 EST

BAGHDAD — The military says a soldier in northern Iraq has died of injuries unrelated to combat.

The military said in Saturday’s statement that the Multi-National Division-North soldier died Friday. He was found not breathing in his living quarters at Camp Speicher near Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit.

The name of the soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The incident is under investigation and no further details have been released.

[Union Yes]

4. RIP... Bring them home.

:cry: :patriot:

[elocs]

5. Military suicide is a tragedy and in 2008 there were a record 140

and those are the ones known or reported. In this country law enforcement saw 450 suicides in each of the last 3 years compared with 150 who died annually in the line of action (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-02-08-police-suicides_x.htm). The stresses of both being a soldier and a law enforcement official are incredible and those of us who have not experienced it cannot really appreciate it.

Just as not all law enforcement officials can serve in a place like Mayberry, not all of our troops get to serve in a place like Germany and have the opportunity to tour Europe. I believe when need to draw down our troops in Afghanistan, but I also understand that if our troops where fighting in a place in Africa to defend black people from suffering genocide that the attitudes here at DU concerning our troops fighting and dying and facing mental stress, PTSD, and suicide would likely be different.

I have a 20 year old godson who finished a tour of duty in Afghanistan earlier this year, serving in the mountains near the border with Pakistan. Not a nice place to be. Before he enlisted (yes, he chose to join) I told him that it would be very likely that he would be serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan yet he chose to join anyways (even though he believed Bush was an idiot). Before his 3 years were up this August he re-enlisted for another 6 years. Next year he is going to Germany, but my bet is that before the year is up that he will be back in Afghanistan, and maybe another tour there in the future before his time in the Army is over. This is very real to me, but I cannot protect him or shield him from his own choices and he understands the possibilities.

My point is that we all make choices in life and if you chose to join law enforcement or the military you should know that sooner of later you may be in harm's way and you may have to take lives or see them be taken. You should also understand that you will not have the choice as to where you are sent or what you are ordered to do. Everything should be done to combat and address the mental trauma and stress involved with these jobs, but we live in a violent and imperfect world where the best and most perfect choices are not always made. There is also a big difference between believing that Afghanistan is not worth fighting for and that there is nothing worth fighting for.

[Vidar]

6. K&R.