IN MEMORY OF, RIP.

The 2nd/ 23rd INF, 4th BDE Tomahawks, lost a couple of sons during operations in Iraq.

Following is the Department of Defense listing, and pictures.

I borrowed the pictures from a page that I will promote later in this post, in hopes that all who read this will visit, and support with well wishes and kind words..

Words can't express my sorrow for the individuals listed below.

Or how proud I am of them, and the rest of the 4th brigade.

Please join me in expressing our gratitude to their families.

I'm sure they are in a special place, with no pain, sorrow, or stress.

God bless and keep their souls.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Feb. 17 in Diyala Province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their dismounted patrol using small arms fire. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
Killed were:

Spc. Luke S. Runyan, 21, of Spring Grove, Pa.

Spc. Chad D. Groepper, 21, of Kingsley, Iowa.

For more information media may contact the Fort Lewis public affairs office at (253) 967-0152, (253) 967-0147.

And now for something a lot more fun.

I found a "Myspace" page developed by the wife of a soldier assigned to the 2/23 inf 4th bde. and dedicated to the soldiers and their wives.
Tarina has opened their page to me, as a parent, and I'm sure will welcome all who support our cause.
Please join me in supporting them and us by visiting,
4th BRIGADE.

Soon I will add a link in the one per centers section of my side bar.

Thank you Tarina, and all the ladies,(wives, mothers,) who make this a wonderful page.

While I'm at it, a close friend of Matt's, since his arrival at Ft. Lewis, SPC Keith Lee,
KEITH
lost his father last week to a sudden illness.
I have communicated with Keith on a few occasions. He is a bright and dedicated individual and a delight to chat with.
Please join me in offering condolences, and on a happier note, wishing him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, tomorrow.
Click on Keith to message him a happy B-Day.
All my best Keith, one step, one day at a time, you'll be home soon.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

FIFTY EIGHT

Fifty eight..
Just a number.
No big deal.
It's realy a harmless number.
Probably not one that a sports team member would pick.
I can't remember if there is a NASCAR team with the number 58?
As a matter of fact I've never given the number much thought.
14 is my favorite. Then probably 12.
But 58? Nah.
Well today, I did a lot of thinking about 58.
By my reckoning, it's two less than 60.
And 28 more than thirty.
I turned 58 today, and while it's not a number that bothers me, it is only two shy of 60.
I hope the two go bye slower than the 28 it took to get here from thirty did, because I sure liked being half of 60 better than I'm going to like being 60.

For my birthday, and don't get me wrong, I'm not about presents what so ever, I got a nice home cooked lasagna, and a real fancy Budweiser bar mirror with nick nak shelf for a man town room I'm renovating, from #2 son on Saturday.
A wonderful card with a fifty dollar check from mom yesterday.
A twelve pack of Long Trail Blackberry Wheat ale and a nice card from #1 son.
Amazingly, I realy like the new fruity micro brew ales, and Long Trail is made in Vermont, about twenty minutes up the road.
In my younger days I would have had some choice words for the kinda guys that would drink fruity ale.
Funny how time changes perception.
My wonderful wife took me out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, and gave me a nice card.
I got a card from my mother in law.
But the thing I cherished the most?
When I got home there was a message from Matt on the machine, wishing me a happy birthday.
It brought me to tears.
How I wish I had been here to answer it.
While all of the cards and gifts are special, I think everyone will understand why the phone call was my favorite, this year.

That's Matt on the left.

I sure do miss him.

We all do.

Bunny, if you read this, thanks for stopping bye, and asking about Matt.
Sorry I didn't respond.
Been in kind of a funk lately.

I hope everyone will write or call their congressmen, and tell them not to vote in favor of slowing down the reduction of troops in Iraq.

I'll post more about that later.

MAYBE.