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SGT Eddie Jeffers "Hope Rides Alone" Died in Iraq Today
New Media Journal ^ | February 1, 2007 | SGT Eddie Jeffers

Posted on 09/19/2007 8:39:10 PM PDT by Barbarian6

Hope Rides Alone

USA Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, USA (Iraq) February 1, 2007

Editor's Note: This piece by Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, "Hope Rides Alone", was mentioned in a segment on Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor. Click here to listen to or download the segment.

I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others.

I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there.

There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not.

And to think, I volunteered for this...

And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.

But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.

I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.

People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward’s war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.

Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war.

Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.

It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.

America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It’s not like World War II, where people rationed food and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a servicemember, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.

But it affects us. And when it is over and the troops come home and they try to piece together what's left of them after their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.

We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.

Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't.

Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news and let's stand and fight!

Isn't that what America is about anyway?

Sergeant Eddie Jeffers is a US Army Infantryman serving in Ramadi, Iraq.


TOPICS: Announcements; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aherotoall; fallen; hoperidesalone; iraq; sheehan; terrorism; wot
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To: rochester_veteran; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; ...
I will not surrender to the visionless where this conflict is concerned. Instead, I will engage them with facts and foresight. I will not give-up on the mission in which Eddie was engaged simply for the pressure to do so. Instead, I will employ the realistic understanding of the consequences of quitting before the mission is through. I will not retreat because it is the popular thing to do, rather I will rely heavily on the truth of the matter, enlisting facts and reason in an effort to make others understand the cost of defeat. And I will not fail.
201 posted on 09/27/2007 4:04:53 PM PDT by freema (grief has a life of its own)
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To: rochester_veteran

And obviouse to us Sgt. Eddie Jeffers deserves every tribute written about him.


202 posted on 09/27/2007 6:24:07 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
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To: freema
"I will rely heavily on the truth of the matter, enlisting facts and reason in an effort to make others understand the cost of defeat. And I will not fail."
Now the baton is handed over to many of us in the race. The race is long, and it is at times weary. But we have little choice then to educate wherever possible those that have not been given the full picture of why this nation must unite against all forms of radical Islam as well as the many evil dictatorships that hold hundreds of millions under the yoke of oppression.
It is very sad, many on the left have forgotten what JFK had elucidated during his administration. In essence the same vision GWB has reiterated a few years back... your either with us or against us, in the war against tyranny.
203 posted on 09/27/2007 6:30:06 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
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To: Marine_Uncle; freema; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; Semper Fi Mom; ..
Now the baton is handed over to many of us in the race. The race is long, and it is at times weary. But we have little choice then to educate wherever possible those that have not been given the full picture of why this nation must unite against all forms of radical Islam as well as the many evil dictatorships that hold hundreds of millions under the yoke of oppression.

So true, we have the baton now and we must run with it. There are those in this country that seek the demise of our great nation and we patriots need to stand firm against them. It's bad enough that we're fighting a war against terrorism, but we also have a war on the homefront against those seek to take our nation down the socialist, globalist pathway. These are the same people you see at the War Protests. Their master is George Soros and they belong to organizations like moveon.org .

Let me share a few lines from one of Dave Jeffers tributes to his son, Eddie:

"believe Eddie's article could spark a revolution" and "A revolution where people finally say "ENOUGH!" and "NEVER AGAIN!" will we stand by and watch our brave men and women castigated by the unpatriotic, unworthy, uncaring, unloving, un-Americans who love power and hate all that is good about America."

I'm a part of Eddie's Army, as I confront the left on a daily basis and question their motives. We can't let them get away with trashing our President and our nation! Look at that ad where ad where moveon.org trashed General Petraeus! That proved what I already knew. The lefties loath the military and showed their hand with that ad and also proved the complicity that the left has with their cohorts at the New York Times and the MSM. Free speech will be the demise of moveon.org and the lefties. They can't help themselves in showing their hatred for what our great Nation stands for and our traditions and religious beliefs.

204 posted on 09/28/2007 7:46:52 AM PDT by rochester_veteran (born and raised in rachacha!)
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To: rochester_veteran
Do you know if his burial be at Arlington?
205 posted on 09/28/2007 7:48:35 AM PDT by RDTF (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but Democrats believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: rochester_veteran

Thank you for calling this to our attention. Eddie really was a patriot. My hometown in Oregon lost its first son, Dan Leckel, to OIF in July of this year. He was stationed at Fort Riley and I happened to be at Fort Riley working at the time so it hit even closer to home. He never saw 20 and so many of Salvato words ring so true with what I’ve thought about him. Thanks. I had to correct a dear friend this week that said, “So many of these kids join for the money and don’t know what they’re getting into.” I replied that not many of the ones I’ve seen and worked with. Many, many of these young people are true patriots doing it to protect or life and liberty for you and I.


206 posted on 09/28/2007 8:00:35 AM PDT by Portcall24
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To: RDTF; Portcall24
Do you know if his burial be at Arlington?

I'm not sure. I copied Portcall24 into my reply to you. Portcall24 is from Eddie's hometown of Daleville, AL. I'm guessing that he'll be buried there, but maybe Portcall24 can find out the details and post them here.

207 posted on 09/28/2007 9:50:39 AM PDT by rochester_veteran (born and raised in rachacha!)
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To: rochester_veteran

No no. I’m from Oregon not Daleville, AL. What I had said earlier about Daleville is that Eddie was the third patriot to be lost from that small town.


208 posted on 09/28/2007 12:44:02 PM PDT by Portcall24
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To: Barbarian6

God bless him. An American hero who died so others might have a better life.


209 posted on 09/28/2007 2:18:41 PM PDT by hershey
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To: rochester_veteran

Yes. Sometimes evil people push the limit of their hatred and end up exposing themselves for what they are. Let us hope a majority of voting Americans are becoming wise as to how these people operate. Give them enough of rope and they will eventually hang themselves.


210 posted on 09/28/2007 2:47:06 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
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To: MNJohnnie

That was tough. So many can never understand....


211 posted on 09/28/2007 11:53:27 PM PDT by Just Lori (There is nothing democratic about democrats.)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

:’(


212 posted on 09/29/2007 4:38:52 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Profile updated Wednesday, September 27, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Barbarian6

God bless this great young man.


213 posted on 09/29/2007 4:42:54 PM PDT by earlyamerican
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To: y'all

bump


214 posted on 10/01/2007 3:23:27 PM PDT by DrewsDad (PIERCE the EARMARKS)
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To: DrewsDad; Cannoneer No. 4; RDTF; LucyJo; Barbarian6; angcat; Jeff Head; wtc911; Portcall24; ...
Eddie was layed to rest at Memorial Gardens in Daleville, Alabama, this past Saturday, September 29, 2007. Here's a link to Dave Jeffer's website and his account of Eddie's funeral:

A Day of Tribute

Rest in peace, Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, you are home with our Lord Jesus Christ.

215 posted on 10/02/2007 9:54:43 AM PDT by rochester_veteran (born and raised in rachacha!)
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To: rochester_veteran

Tears.


216 posted on 10/02/2007 10:06:57 AM PDT by LucyJo
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To: rochester_veteran
Rest in peace, Sgt. Eddie Jeffers, you are home with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Surrounded by Your Glory,
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance before You, Jesus?
Or in awe of You, be still?

Will I stand in Your Presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine
I can only imagine....

("I Can Only Imagine", by Mercyme)

217 posted on 10/02/2007 12:52:22 PM PDT by Shelayne (NO running or relenting until the problem has been dealt with-decisively,systematically,permanently.)
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To: rochester_veteran

thanks so much for that update


218 posted on 10/02/2007 2:01:39 PM PDT by RDTF (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, but Democrats believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: rochester_veteran; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2nd Bn, 11th Mar; 68 grunt; A.A. Cunningham; ASOC; ...

Goodnight, sweet rest, Eddie Jeffers, and thank you for your service and sacrifice.


219 posted on 10/02/2007 5:06:20 PM PDT by freema
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To: freema
"sweet rest, Eddie Jeffers, and thank you for your service and sacrifice."
I'll second that. Honor yet abounds in this nation.
220 posted on 10/02/2007 6:37:09 PM PDT by Marine_Uncle (Duncan Hunter for POTUS)
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