Suffered a great loss.....

[Guest JavaGuy]

No disrespect to the families of any of the celebrities we've "lost" lately, but....

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:

Sergeant Justin J. Duffy

Specialist Christopher M. Kurth

Specialist Charles D. Parrish

Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer

Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo

Sergeant Joshua W. Soto

Captain Kafele H. Sims

Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:

Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.

Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.

Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.

1st Sergeant Blair, John D.

Sergeant Smith, Paul G.

Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua

Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.

Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.

Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.

Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.

Lance Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.

Major Barnes, Rocco M.

Major Jenrette, Kevin M.

Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.

Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.

Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.

Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.

Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.

Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.

Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.

Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

Let's remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting. God rest them and God comfort their loved ones they've left behind. And may God use their deaths to remind us all of the shortness of our days.

Pass this on so that others will remember to keep it all in perspective.

Received via email from my daughter, PV2 Bryan, currently stationed in Mosul, Iraq. Evidently, this email is making the rounds amongst the troops and the military families waiting back home.

Feel free to send it on to any and all of your email contacts.

[Guest JHatmaker]

Good post! I feel for the families who've lost a loved one overseas. I hate that the King of Pop get's unlimited coverage on every network, yet we hardly hear about these fine young men and women.

Thanks for bringing this to light.

[Kegger]

Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.

This young man was a good friend of mine that I trained for 3 months before he deployed to Afghanistan. A great guy, always quick with a great comeback to whatever we had to say to him.

Met his very warm, loving family at the unit going over party. He is a very sorely missed individual, and I hope that people come to realize the sacrifice these soldiers make.

[Guest cjames38464]

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its sad that those that have doe so little in comparision garner so much attention....

God Bless those we've lost and those serving...it is on their backs that these celebrities are mourned......

[Guest Arko]

I agree. Enough wall to walll Jackson coverage. Let's remember the folks serving on our behalf.

[Guest 3pugguy]

No disrespect to the families of any of the celebrities we've "lost" lately, but....

While the focus today, tomorrow and for the next God-knows-how-many-days will be the death of a pop culture icon; while many will mourn, wail and quite literally make fools of themselves over it and while as many will speak endlessly about it, allow me, if only for a moment, to remind us all that others have died this month; others whose lives were cut short; others who leave behind loved ones and whose families will dearly miss them; families who'll suffer with much more dignity and honor than we'll be exposed to on the tube in the coming days.

Yes... it's true... we've suffered a great loss... but forgive me while I tell you that I'm not talking about the king of pop music.

These American military members died in Iraq this month:

Sergeant Justin J. Duffy

Specialist Christopher M. Kurth

Specialist Charles D. Parrish

Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer

Staff Sergeant Edmond L. Lo

Sergeant Joshua W. Soto

Captain Kafele H. Sims

Specialist Chancellor A. Keesling

And these members of our U.S. Armed Forces died in Afghanistan this month:

Sergeant Jones, Ricky D.

Specialist Munguia Rivas, Rodrigo A.

Command Master Chief Petty Officer Garber, Jeffrey J.

1st Sergeant Blair, John D.

Sergeant Smith, Paul G.

Staff Sergeant Melton, Joshua

Sergeant 1st Class Dupont, Kevin A.

Specialist O'Neill, Jonathan C.

Chief Warrant Officer Richardson Jr., Ricky L.

Specialist Silva, Eduardo S.

Lance Corporal Whittle, Joshua R.

Major Barnes, Rocco M.

Major Jenrette, Kevin M.

Staff Sergeant Beale, John C.

Specialist Jordan, Jeffrey W.

Specialist Griemel, Jarrett P.

Specialist Hernandez I, Roberto A.

Sergeant Obakrairur, Jasper K.

Staff Sergeant Hall, Jeffrey A.

Private 1st Class Ogden, Matthew D.

Private 1st Class Wilson, Matthew W.

Let's remember and honor this day those whose deaths are truly impacting. God rest them and God comfort their loved ones they've left behind. And may God use their deaths to remind us all of the shortness of our days.

Pass this on so that others will remember to keep it all in perspective.

Received via email from my daughter, PV2 Bryan, currently stationed in Mosul, Iraq. Evidently, this email is making the rounds amongst the troops and the military families waiting back home.

Feel free to send it on to any and all of your email contacts.

They made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I pray their families and friends can gain at least some measure of peace and solace in knowing the deep appreciation of so many in our country for these brave souls. They are gone, but let us never forget them (Memorial and Veteran's Days should be more than just a day off for the federal government employees).

[ShaunM]

Yeah these guys are the true hero's, god bless their families and loved ones and the ones still fighting over there.

[Punisher84]

Love it. I've been screaming that at people for a week.

[TripleDigitRide]

Ain't that the truth!

Great Post!

[jughead]

enough jackson period.

[Guest db99wj]

I copied it and put it in a note on my Facebook page. Facebook needed some perspective.

[Guest ColePersonalSafety]

AMEN and AMEN again. It is sad that these pop icons make incredible amounts of money for what they do but God bless them for it. What is truly sad is when they die, they are martyred. Look at Elvis. I am not knocking any of these folks but where are our priorities in America. Soldiers and Sailors are dying in a WAR and you don't see that every single night on the news.

Pray for our men and women who fight for our freedoms every day. May God richly bless their lives and their families for the sacrifices they go through as well.

[56FordGuy]

Great post. If only these lives, given in sacrifice for the rest of us, got the notice and attention that they deserve.