Thirty Marines and a sailor dead

The American Thinker ^ | Jan. 27, 2004 | Dave St. John

[Kitten Festival]

The words came crashing through the speakers in my car this morning. “What the hell…Oh no…Oh my God” were about all the words I could muster after hearing this report. The framework for measuring this loss began to take shape in my mind. This is about three fourths of a full rifle platoon…an entire Marine unit went down here. Who were they, where were they from? What were they talking about when the full realization struck them that this was their last flight…anywhere? How did those left behind respond when the news was radioed back to their base camp? The numbness of their loss is multiplied by the fact that there may have been no hostiles involved in this one. No one’s ass to kick for it. They say maybe it was weather or a mechanical. Too soon to tell for certain. Search and rescue types are swarming all over the crash site gathering clues and fragments and the remains of their friends and fellow warriors. Heart breaking work for sure.

It’s another example of the burdens these young warriors bear for both us and the Iraqis in their quest for freedom and the right to self determination in the election process. Maybe in some morbid way it would have been more palatable had these losses occurred as a result of a hostile engagement. But now in addition to the normal fears associated with entry into combat, they will all think deeply about the next hop they take in a chopper. More stress, more fears, more things to think about.

[Kitten Festival]

A great essay from a soldier's perspective about Iraq's worst day.

[Lurker]

Speaking as a former Marine, this loss is indeed tragic.

But, as I learned there is indeed truth to the old military maxim; "S*** happens."

Semper Fi my brothers. Rest easy.

L

[rightalien]

"They say maybe it was weather or a mechanical."

I want to know why so many helicopters, here at home and overboard, crash of "mechanical problem". I'm not an expert but it seems to me there are too many accidents. What's wrong with that high tech, very expensive machines which kill those very fine, young people? My heart's bleeding.