First MILITARY Personnel Killed by Hostile Fire in Afghanistan

FOX News Channel | January 4, 2002

[MeekOneGOP]

First MILITARY Personnel Killed by
Hostile Fire in Afghanistan

That is all they really said. More to follow per FOX News Anchor. . .

[Jaidyn]

I understand where you are coming from in your post #56 but respectfully disagree. My son is still awaiting orders and I hope the people he will be rendering his services for will pause and reflect for him personally as well as the entire military if such a thing were to befall him. I will grieve and am already anxious for him but that doesn't show a sign of weakness but strength for with each infliction our country suffers, my convictions are strengthened. The more pounding my heart takes, the stronger it beats. I have never had such overwhelming feelings in my life and am sure there are others like me. God bless this person and our nation.

[MeekOneGOP]

DOUBLE DOH!!!

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Why must you be rude???

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Nope.. THANK YOU.. you always are there for the troops. I appreciate it more than you know. God Bless you.. and thanks for caring enough to post this quickly. Sad news, important but sad.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Would you please tell your son that these two vets thank him for his service? Thanks to you too. God Bless!

[Redcloak]

Just curious, did we "pause and express sadness" each and every time a soldier was killed during WWII? That would have made for a lot of pausing. I don't see how we could have done much fighting with all of that pausing. But then again, perhaps that generation accepted death in combat as one of those things that happens during a war. Perhaps they didn't turn each and every casualty into a national headline. They won as I recall.

[homeschool mama]

There were so many fatalities in WW2 that our nation, and especially loved ones, were in a constant state of anticipation and heartache.

Showing emotion for our military when their in harms way is human and right. Surely you don't have ice water running through your veins...?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Elite U.S. Army Trooper Killed in Afghanistan   (11:22 a.m. PST Jan. 4)

TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - A member of the U.S. Army special forces was killed by hostile fire in Afghanistan on Friday, the first military casualty from enemy fire in the three-month-old war, the general commanding the U.S. mission said.

[cake_crumb]

"Just curious, did we "pause and express sadness" each and every time a soldier was killed during WWII?"

Sure we did, but we didn't have the INTERNET then, so it wasn't so public...if you had to ask that, I KNOW you aren't an American citizen...you can't be a resident of any of the Allied nations, either.

[MeekOneGOP]

Praying even HARDER for the safety of our boys.

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That will help. Thanks.

[mystery-ak]

For those of you who think only losing one soldier is not that bad in the grand scheme of things...I disagree.
As a military wife and mother I have awaited casuality reports, praying my phone doesn't ring, no one knocks at my door...apparently you haven't.
When I heard about this casualty my heart sank, we have friends and relatives serving their now, but it doesn't effect you because he's just a name to you....to his/her family it's teir whole life.

I mourn each and every one, there by the grace of God goes my husband and son.

[TigersEye]

I don't want to 'flame' you but I don't agree with you either.

We are at war. We shouldn't drop everything and turn all of our attention to a single death like this.

I don't think, as a nation, we have.

Such behavior emboldens our enemy. They see us get exercised over a single casualty and think "Look at the Americans. See how they weep and wail over a single man? They have no stomach for a fight. We can strike them and they will be afraid to strike back."

I don't think they see squat. They have already made up their minds about us for one thing. If they look up and squint they might see a B-2 Bomber. If they look carefully they might see a daisy-cutter. If they have really quick reflexes they may catch a short glimpse of a Tomahawk. As for seeing what we think here in the U.S. I think they have been having problems with their reception. News will be arriving by camel in a few weeks. By then there won't be anybody to recieve it.

A single trooper's death, while the end of the world to his family, should be a non-news event to the rest of us.

The reason it is a news event is because casualties have been so rare in such a heavy and sustained assault. We value human life above all else and each loss they inflict strengthens our resolve. They value personal glory and believe their own lives are fodder for it. Let's oblige them to their glory. For each loss of ours toss another daisy-cutter on their altar.

Meanwhile, we mourn the loss of a precious son.

[Redcloak]

It is appropriate for a family to mourn a single soldier's death in battle. It is quite another thing for the entire nation to fall apart over one man. A nation that cannot tolerate combat deaths cannot win its wars; or so it will seem to their enemies. We invite attacks if we do things that cause the enemy to question our resolve. Calling attention to a single casualty will do just that. It makes us look like we can't do what it takes to win. That will invite further attacks, albeit to the attackers' destruction. Several here have stated that we Americans value each and every life. If that's true, then we ought to be careful not to do things that invite attack and thus lead to more deaths. We ought to behave in a manner that causes the enemy to fear us rather think us soft.

[MeekOneGOP]

Army special forces member killed, no other injuries - Tommy Franks.

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That's the good news. Thanks I think A/P, others reporting injuries?, per some posts here. . .

[Bahbah]

You brought tears to my eyes,Tonkin. Very eloquent. Thanks.

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Bump! If you act and behaive and assume the values( such as they are) of your enemies, you become them.

RIGHT ON!! We don't attack women and children for no reason in a sneak attack. Thats the epitomy of cowardess!!

They don't "mourn" their dead.. but celebrate their deaths! I pray to God that we never become like them.. not ever!!

I've known many a REAL HERO'S. Not movie stars.. but real HERO's. They even cried .. but I can assure you, they were NOT weak. They could (and have) defend/ed me any day!!

Thanks for understanding how valuable every single life that is layed down for us is. The thing is.... I doubt those saying this is a sign of weakness, would be as brave as some of the men and women, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children and friends of real HERO's who did die or suffer a loss for our Country. Those who think us mourning the loss of someone (whose life is so precious), is a sign of weakness, would be All talk and NO action in the same situation as those who have died or were injured.

Our President could (and has) shed a tear.. and I can assure you after following his tenure of Governor of Texas, and now as our Commander in Chief, this man is NOT weak!! That assumption would be a HUGE mistake, the biggest anyone ever made about him, and it would be a fatal one as some people are finding out now, and are going to find out in the near future. He has a mess to clean up following the previous occupant in the White House. But he is quite able to do the job. What archaic thinking that "mourning the loss of life" is a weakness. I happen to feel it is our ultimate strength. It keeps us strong to know that there are those willing to lay down their lives for us. We can do no less than to mourn their sacrifice,.. and to honor them. I dare say.. it is the LEAST we can do. It is our show of support for them. They all need to know we value their lives... it gives them courage and strength to know they have a grateful Nation behind them.

Thanks for "getting" it!!

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

As the mother of two of our Servicemen, We thank you!! Please tell your husband and son we sincerely appreciate their service.

God Bless you and yours,..and may they be kept safe from harm.

[homeschool mama]

prayerful bump

[Gumption]

It is quite another thing for the entire nation to fall apart over one man. A nation that cannot tolerate combat deaths cannot win its wars;

The only one I see making more out of this than it is, is you.

[Jaidyn]

It is appropriate for a family to mourn a single soldier's death in battle. It is quite another thing for the entire nation to fall apart over one man.
I agree, but I don't see anyone outside the family falling apart. Just the opposite happened in America in spite of our grief over the deaths of so many. I want the world to know how much we appreciate our military. With grief, there can also be class! We are united and the terrorists learned the hard way that they can't get us to our knees no matter how many of us are killed.

[MeekOneGOP]

A nation that claims "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail" cannot let a single casuality bring it to tears. How many threads are already going here on FR over this one man? Don't you people understand that this is a war and that people die in wars?! If a single death shakes us so, then we ought to surrender and beg for mercy. However, if we want to win this war, then we need to get used to the idea that sometimes our guys get killed. This one man's death ought not be a news item.

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My gosh. Were you born without a soul or conscience???

1. We fight a war to keep our FREEDOM.
2. If we feel nothing for the loss of those who fight for FREEDOM, we cease to be a civilization I think. Then we're no better than our enemy????