Service and Sacrifice

by: Brandon Friedman

Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 20:17:38 PM EST


Long-time military blogger, Major Andrew Olmsted was killed in Iraq yesterday.  Until his death, Andrew had been in Iraq training Iraqi forces, while concurrently chronicling his efforts in a blog for the Rocky Mountain News.  You can read his last piece here.

What makes Andrew's death different from most is that he entrusted a friend to publish his final blog post in the event of his death.  This is usually a very private act between troops and their families, but in this case, Andrew wanted the public to see it.

If you've served over there, or if you are close to those who have, his piece is somewhat difficult to get through.  But it's worth it.  Here are some of his final words:

Soldiers cannot have the option of opting out of missions because they don't agree with them: that violates the social contract. The duly-elected American government decided to go to war in Iraq. (Even if you maintain President Bush was not properly elected, Congress voted for war as well.) As a soldier, I have a duty to obey the orders of the President of the United States as long as they are Constitutional. I can no more opt out of missions I disagree with than I can ignore laws I think are improper. I do not consider it a violation of my individual rights to have gone to Iraq on orders because I raised my right hand and volunteered to join the army. Whether or not this mission was a good one, my participation in it was an affirmation of something I consider quite necessary to society. So if nothing else, I gave my life for a pretty important principle; I can (if you'll pardon the pun) live with that.

Andrew was a true patriot, and we are worse off without him.
Brandon Friedman :: Service and Sacrifice
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Service and Sacrifice | 10 comments
No political comments on this, please. n/t (4.00 / 1)

Thats sad... (4.00 / 1)

....I can't really put in any other words than that.

 I remember my "death letter", we all had them and mine was in the flap of my IBA where the plates were. I think that after a certain time we didnt even ask each other if we would send the letter, it was just understood. Funny enough the day I got hit I wasnt wearing my IBA ( I had someone elses due to a pos supply NCO) and someone reached in to grab the letter in case they needed it. We had forgot that it was someone elses IBA and No crap there was a letter in there...we didnt send it (thankfully). But it makes me wonder if there is still an IBA floating out there with my letter in it.

I will try to see if this brave patriot is going to be laid to rest at Arlington and will attend if he is. As a fellow blogger, I feel it is my duty.

Brian

Duty to Obey Orders (4.00 / 1)
Brandon,

I feel terrible about his death.

FWIW, I do think senior officers have a duty to speak out.  I'm dissapointed in senior army leadership.  Too much seeking to secure retirement benefits.

Wow (4.00 / 1)
...again, I am speechless.  His family and friends are in my prayers.
RIP!!! (0.00 / 0)

As We Light The Candles In Memory Of

And Keep Asking

'Nam '71


'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

That is why I do what I do... (4.00 / 1)
that is the honor that I talk about, the duty that I try to get civilians to understand...  and they don't.  

This was hard to read but you did warn us.

You can edit this comment but I would like to share a John Stuart Mill quote, with which I am sure you are all familiar:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

I know not all of you are people of faith, but I am.  His family is in my prayers.  

I am terribly proud knowing my husband serves with men (and women) of this caliber.

Thank for the reminder.

It hurts but it is good too.

Thank you.

Make wars unprofitable and you make them impossible.
~A. Philip Randolph


The hardest part is knowing (4.00 / 1)
the goodness and greatness of the losses we are sustaining, not just the numbers, but the hearts, minds, and spirits contained within those numbers.  

It overwhelms me.  

Make wars unprofitable and you make them impossible.
~A. Philip Randolph


Carissa (0.00 / 0)
Almost All, you always get a few after all it reflects the society and a couple will find there way in, not only Serve with Honor but For Each Other!

No matter the 'Why', there is One Positive, the ones with you or around you, who you live with, eat with, share with, you follow the orders and Serve For Each Other!!

And on the Rare moments, in history, for Country and Freedom!

'Hearts and Minds, "The ultimate victory will depend on the hearts and minds of the people who actually live there." -- President Lyndon Johnson

[ Parent ]
HE (4.00 / 1)
Will be missed.I will pray for his family.
[ Parent ]
God bless.... (0.00 / 0)
& Semper Fidelis..  
Service and Sacrifice | 10 comments
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