I posted on the death of our friend 10 days ago and then removed them at the request of his family. There were people to be notified and they did not want them to learn of it from the blog. I saved the post and comments, as well as my blog partner Gordon's post at the Brain and have reproduced them here.

*****

Goodbye, My Friend …

Today is a sad day in Blogtopia. We have learned, through a detective with the local police, that our dear friend Lurch has passed away. We didn't receive any details, the information is privileged for family members, but the cop was decent enough to give us that much.

I didn't know him that well, mostly through this blog and via email, but my wife and I feel honored we were able to break bread with him when he visited Long Island a year ago.

Lurch had a personality that drew one to him and the time we spent with him seemed far too short. Unfortunately, the trip he planned a few months back fell through and we're saddened another get-together is no longer in the cards.

What I know of his military service would fill a thimble, though I knew he served his nation with honor and distinction as an Army paratrooper during the war in Vietnam. Through his experience and study, he was one of the most knowledgeable people when it came to the workings of the service, strategy and tactics, and some of the best insight when it came to reading between the lines on defense issues. He was an invaluable resource as well as a friend.

Please join me in mourning our friend as well as passing on condolences to his family. I'm grateful for the time he spent with us here in Blogtopia, grateful for his insights, and grateful for the opportunity to have known him. I am proud to call him a brother in arms.

As they say in the Navy: Fair winds and following seas, my friend.

Until we meet again.

*****

A few words in farewell

Lurch came to visit me in 2006. Please go read the post I did about his visit. There's a photo there so you can see what he looked like.

We were in contact ever since. We would chat on the phone occasionally, frequent e-mails, and we commented on each other's blogs. We kidded each other like the blazes.

Lurch was a thoughtful man. He sent me five pounds of his favorite BBQ pork, and a USS Fremont Zippo to replace the one I lost forty years ago. I burned him a CD or two. We exchanged Christmas cards.

Just the simple things friends do. Separated by a continent, we liked each other and tried to stay close nonetheless.

Memories. Good ones.

Lurch and I were just about the same age, in our early 60s. As we get older, the sandbar in the river of life that we're all standing on gets less and less secure. We see more and more of our friends getting washed away at an increasing rate, and we think of our own turn, for it is coming as surely as the sun will rise.

It does not get any easier to see them go.

Lurch was a good one, and I am proud to call him my friend.

Vaya con Dios, Amigo. I'll be seeing you.

*****

Comments:

I only knew Lurch from this blog but I feel a strange sense of loss. For the last several months I've usually started out my day here and then branched out from the blog roll here.

Right now my mind has wandered back to The Spoon River Anthology, "His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him That nature might stand up and say to all the world,This was a man." I would hope that this were true. My prayers are with him.

Respectfully,

James K Brown
Just James | 02.14.08 - 7:19 am | #
________________________________________
That's what I was afraid of. Goddamn it to hell. RIP, buddy.
merlallen | 02.14.08 - 8:00 am | #
________________________________________
I actually feel like I lost a friend. And I never met the guy, but whenever I asked a question I always got a reply.
Does anyone know what's up with Joe Fish? He also disappeared
merlallen | 02.14.08 - 8:03 am | #
________________________________________
I'm also devastated. Lurch came over to my site from time to time, he was always a class act. It's a real loss to lose a talented man who's willing to fight the good fight and discuss important military issues in the blogosphere.
J. | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 8:31 am | #
________________________________________
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

I am so sorry to hear that. I am going to very much miss his insightful analysis on this blog, and I am going to miss his visits to my blog.

Da Svedanya, my friend.
The Earth-Bound Misfit | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 8:56 am | #
________________________________________
I posted at the Brain, but I feel it appropriate to post here as well.

Lurch, thanks for all your good advice, information & friendship over the too-brief time I knew you. I also really appreciated your blog and the high quality of commenters that you had posting here.

Peace.
wkmaier | 02.14.08 - 9:37 am | #
________________________________________
I was afraid of this. I will miss the man, though we never met, and I will miss the quality blogging. But most of all I will miss the bantering and the intimate feel of this blog and the "28" regulars.

rest in peace sarge...

and many thanks Fixer...
the cyber ruffian | 02.14.08 - 9:48 am | #
________________________________________
Farewell Soldier. I offer you a small tribute at my place. Until we meet again...

d.
deuddersun | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 10:56 am | #
________________________________________
Lurch was an amazing writer and a lovely man. I will miss him.

RIP
Siun | 02.14.08 - 11:41 am | #
________________________________________
Lurch:

RIP my friend. Enjoy your tour in that Great PX In The Sky.

As we used to say back in the day: You're authorized.

You've more than earned it.
fbg46 | 02.14.08 - 1:49 pm | #
________________________________________
Thanks Fixer for posting such a lovely tribute to Lurch. He would be honored to read it, and to see that he had positively affected his readers. He loved writing for this blog, and all of the interaction he had with his readers. He often spoke to me about how much he enjoyed being able to write about what mattered, and that it opened so many channels of communication for him.

I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with him, and will miss him. He was a good man, and a loyal friend.
katisso | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 2:08 pm | #
________________________________________
I am sad! More sad than I have ever been over the loss of someone who was, to me a very good friend. I knew Lurch only through the internet and all of the sites that we posted on.. I will miss him and from now on, there will never be another Valentines Day... Only Lurches Day...

Fare thee well shipmate... I honor your help, friendliness and kindness. You were always there with a kind word and guiding help...

My heart is flying at half staff today.

Aloha Ia Oe!!

Maruru Maruru Roa
Maheanuu | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 2:16 pm | #
________________________________________
sad - see you Lurch, in another world ...
b | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 2:49 pm | #
________________________________________
Just remembered 2 things I can relate about Lurch, though they may seem minor: he called my office the day after Thanksgiving last year, trying to see if I was in. We were closed, but I still have the voice mail. And my conversation with him about 6-8 weeks ago, during our chat I found out that at one time, he lived only 5 minutes from me! I should clarify, I think he had moved, before we moved in.

A small world, and one made better for his having been with us.
wkmaier | 02.14.08 - 3:36 pm | #
________________________________________
I am devastated.

Lurch became a friend to us two years ago when he became our first reader, before we knew anything about anything, blog-wise. He offered strong and gracious direction and encouragement. I appreciated his eloquence and candor, and am so glad we actually got to meet, though once was not enough.

He was a restrained confidante, always more humble than his abilities demanded. We were to have met this weekend, so I am especially sad.

He was a mensch.
lisa | Homepage | 02.14.08 - 4:00 pm | #

*****

Please feel free to leave your comments at this post as well.

I spoke to Lurch's stepson Jeff this afternoon and he wanted me to convey how deeply touched he and his brothers were by the outpouring of remembrances and good wishes from around the blogosphere.

He also wanted me to advise that, according to the Medical Examiner, Lurched passed quickly, most likely due to respiratory failure; he suffered from asthma.

If you have any personal messages for Lurch's family, feel free to email me here and I will forward them on.

On their behalf, I thank you again for your thoughts and condolences.

Fixer

In Iraq. Not through the filter of US corporate news:

Al Qaeda, al-Qaeda, al-qaida, Al Qayda, and so on ad infinitum. The usual garbage trotted out by the usual suspects with the same tired old pack of lies, that everything in Irak is either the work of the omnipresent, damn near omnipotent Alfredo “Just call me ‘Al’ ” Keida. (He’s one of the Keidas, surely you know of them? They’re a fine old samurai family from Osaka who moved to Irak in 1947 and went native … such a pity that ‘Al’ turned out so badly.)

...

We are supposed to believe that within less than an hour of those two horrific bombings that the interior ministry “police” who are very good at extracting, teeth, fingernails, and toenails, all without the aid of anaesthetics, but not so good at actually being … you know … policemen. Managed to identify the bombers one of whom had her head blown off.

...

I would like to see some evidence to support these allegations by people who like their American masters have committed one atrocity after another and just like their American masters been caught lying about it repeatedly. In the absence of such evidence I am going to make the entirely reasonable assumption based on past performance that this is yet another pack of lies and a pack of lies moreover so stupid that it is not even meant to deceive.

...

But the 'surge' was a success! Things are getting better! We're gonna be in Iraq for "a hundred years"!

And, well, as per usual, things were not what we were told:

BAGHDAD — Psychiatric case files of two female suicide bombers who killed nearly 100 people in Baghdad this month show that they suffered from depression and schizophrenia but do not contain information indicating they had Down syndrome, American officials said Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the Feb. 1 bombings — the most devastating attacks in Baghdad since summer — Iraqi officials said that the women had Down syndrome, a genetic disorder. They based their opinion partly on the appearance of the remains of the women, whose heads, as often happens in suicide bombings, were severed by the blasts.

...

We've screwed up Iraq so badly, the best thing we can do is get out and leave it to them to figure out what kind of state they want. As long as our people are there, as long as the Iraqis see the Iraqi Police (and their government) as our puppets, nothing will ever change over there. There is no winning or losing in the equation anymore. The imperative is to leave the Iraqis something to rebuild once we've gone.

Great thanks to Gorilla's Guides for the NYT link.

Sorry about the cross-post, I try to do original stuff here, but I've been crazy lately.

While rooting around over at the Foreign Policy Forum, I came across an interesting article by Nicholas Berry. He offers up a levelheaded premise:

Analyzing how wars are won has taken a back seat to measuring the level of violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, as if a mere downturn in violence is the key path to victory. Perhaps one reason for this is that any proper analysis would indicate neither war is winnable, at least by the United States. That Bush administration officials and military commanders are talking about both wars lasting into the indefinite future only confirms that winning them is more than illusive. It is impossible.

...

In an earlier post here, I spoke of a lot of people saying they study history but nobody ever really learning anything from it. I don't know whether they actually believe (stipulating they read the same elementary history texts I did) they have a better idea. Hitler and Russia is a prime example. Yes, I know Hitler was crazy, but did he actually think he could force a surrender before winter set in? Or could it be arrogance, deliberately ignoring the lessons history books impart? Did Hitler expect winter not to arrive in Russia? Did he assume it would not be severe? Did he assume it wouldn't matter, contrary to all previous evidence? Or did he just assume little Germany had the manpower and industrial might to fight wars on so many fronts?

...

[US] Counterinsurgency doctrine calls for a force of over 350,000 to be able to police Iraq. This is not possible under current U.S. force levels. Nor is a dramatic increase in the Army and Marines politically viable. Current plans anticipate only a modest increase in Marine and Army recruitment.

...

General Shinseki told Congress as much before the war (and subsequent occupation) in Iraq. The Army manual backed him up. What made 'those who decide' think they could realize their objective with a third of that force? Ignorance? Arrogance? Greed, and let the consequences be damned? As many who've 'been there and done that' knew in 2002, success could never be attained using the Bush op plan. Whatever the ultimate goal of the invasion might have been, history and experience showed us it could never be attained, long before the first drop of US blood was shed.

... According to the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Dan K. McNeill, official American military counterinsurgency doctrine stipulates that more than 400,000 troops would be required in Afghanistan.

...

The Soviets had 100,000* troops in Afghanistan and failed miserably, facing the same intractable problems of culture, local economics, and 'outside players' we are now. The Army manual calls for 400,000. What makes 'those who decide' feel they could accomplish the task with 30,000?

Granted, in hindsight, Afghanistan was just the 'entry war', an opportunity to achieve their ultimate goal, the invasion of Iraq. Common knowledge now that the Iraq invasion had been 'on the books' since early 2001, only waiting for an excuse. 11 September was a 'gift from Allah' to the Bush administration.

But as we look at Afghanistan, what did they intend to accomplish? A stalemate, a status quo? Especially knowing the majority of our troops would be deployed toward Iraq in the near future. Aware of the Soviet experience there, how could anyone in their right minds even think about an operation in Afghanistan? Recent history demands us to believe we will leave with our tail between our legs, just as the Soviets did, achieving nothing.

I can even understand the accepted rationale (now that all the lies have been exposed) for going into Iraq; seizing control of the second largest oil reserves on the planet. Moral considerations aside, the payoff would be astounding. But, with that goal in mind, wouldn't you do everything you could to win? Did 'those who decide' actually believe our only combat casualties in Iraq would be from grunts drowning in rose petals? Why didn't we wait for the Army we wanted instead of the Army we had? Mr. Berry again:

...

It is not a stretch to conclude that Iraq and Afghanistan are among the most impossible countries to be politically instituted by foreign forces. And creating a functioning state is what winning is, as defined by the Bush administration. Bush even goes further by adding the element of democracy to the governments he seeks in both. The traditional, divided, antagonistic, and parochial social fabric of Iraq and Afghanistan provides infertile ground for democracy. Whatever political construct finally emerges will only come once foreign forces leave.

And we will leave. Public opinion will eventually force it (think 1972), or the next President will see the futility of it and bring the troops home, or our economy dictates we end the wars or face ruin, as the Soviets did (a bit too late). We will leave both places empty-handed, just as we left Vietnam with nothing but 58,000 corpses.

Our failure to learn from history's lessons is unforgivable. Our decision to ignore them is criminal.

Update:

Ranger, with a great post up on the situation in Afghanistan, leaves us with this thought:

...

If NATO and the U.S. haven't alleviated the problem to date, then that should tell us something beyond the meaningless rhetoric that supports this Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©).

...

We can't win, and rearranging the geology isn't going to win it for us. Time to go, because if we haven't killed Osama and rolled up al-Qaeda by now, odds are we never will.

*Source: Global Security.org

George W. Bush will send SECSTATE Condoleezza Rice to Kenya on Monday. I don't have great hope for success:

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush said Thursday he will dispatch Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to go to Kenya to demand a halt to the violence that has left more than 1,000 people dead.

...

Sending a person who has screwed the pooch on every assignment she's been given (National Security Advisor before 11 Sept. 2001, running the post-'major combat action' situation in Iraq) is not competent diplomacy, let alone having her make "demands" of people we've largely ignored (beats me who else they'd dispatch from a department filled with political hacks in leadership positions). They've been down that road with the British, who only understood how to play on the ethnic divisions present. I feel safe saying the best we can hope for from this "initiative" is that we won't make things worse.

A delegation of people who see Kenya as 'a country full of black folks' is as useful as planning an operation in Iraq before knowing the differences between Sunni and Shi'a.

***

I have yet to talk about the conflict in Kenya because I was hoping it would fix itself. No, I'm not that naive but I guess I was hoping the process over there wouldn't explode the way it has, given the political reconciliation five years ago. Also, when I talk to people about Kenya (and Africa in general), their eyes generally glaze over and they walk away shaking their heads. "Doesn't F-man know Kenya, and the rest of Africa north of Pretoria, is a lost cause," they mutter as they get farther away. Most folks only see Africa as a place "we send money to", intimating we don't get any return for our dollar. (The subject of a post for another day is how little we actually do give in foreign aid.)

Kenya gained their independence from Great Britain in 1963 and has moved forward in spurts. There has always been a divide between the 'haves' and 'have nots', the commissioners of the eight Districts running them as personal fiefdoms (they learned well from the British), not to mention the army's influence in the process. I learned quite a bit about how Kenya works and its place as a potential counter to South Africa as a power broker on the African continent when I did research for my novel Technocracy. It is one reason I used Kenya as a metaphor for Africa and as a beginning point for the unification of the African economy and eventually bringing the entire continent to First World status. Ah, but were reality as easy to manipulate as the plot of a novel.

For most of its existence a multi-ethnic nation of strongmen with one legally recognized political party, corruption ran rampant over 40 years and the wealth is concentrated in the ruling class, regardless of the democratic reforms in the past half-decade. Most in the country live in poverty and from what I understand, the friction has been building for quite some time. Now, at the time when Kenya should finally be realizing its full potential, this conflict threatens to set the nation back 20 years:

Kenya is at a pivotal moment in its history. A bungled election has brought to the surface a myriad of deep social tensions that have been left to simmer in Kenyan society since independence. Political deadlock has added more fuel to the fire, with the fallout having serious consequences for Kenya's economy and society.

Ha, see, caught ya. I know your index finger is already on the mouse, ready to click away to something less eye-glazing. Well, if you do, you’ll miss this link to the Meatball (not work safe), who metaphorically explains Kenya’s yearning to be a player on the world stage, a major one on the African stage:

I only turn our attention to Kenya as I remain troubled by freaky memories of giving fire sale golf lessons to a strapped Kenyan ambassador who hoped that learning golf with his embarrassing entry level set of Mizuno clubs would aid in networking his way into the boozing echelons of G8 diplomats.

…

Kenya has the potential to be that player, already a center for communications and transport. The major economies have seen that potential too and are invested there, though the political unrest and corruption (and rights violations) have always mitigated the amount investment needed to be competitive with South Africa. Safari tourism has also been affected, especially in the Rift Valley region, where the wildlife and scenery tempts tourists to visit and explore.

…

Violent ethnic clashes marked by swinging machetes, flying stones and the whiz of arrows have since left hundreds dead. Victims with arrows, sometimes poisoned, lodged in their heads and chests have become increasingly common, say officials in Rift Valley hospitals.

…

The Rift, home to the Luo, Kikuyu, and Kalenjin tribes, is one of the places the unrest is concentrated. Tanzania is drawing a lot of that bleed off, many tribes tourist-friendly and understanding of the economics of tourism. As investors and tourists leave, the gap between rich and poor will widen even more, most likely prolonging the conflict.

Kenya is a prime example of a nation that would benefit from leadership by the US or another major entity willing to invest in these people. Considering the situation in Zimbabwe and Cote d’Ivoire, a strong Kenya would be another anchor of stability and prosperity on the African continent.

Unfortunately, western (namely US) interests are more oriented toward 'resource protection' at this point. And this point brings us to why I even give a damn about the potential of a nation on the east coast of Africa. It is because we are all in this together and, in the 21st Century, the world is getting smaller.

I grew up at a time when TVs were black and white, when you had to yell for the other party to hear you when you made a long distance call, and it took weeks to carry on a correspondence with someone on another continent. Now, as I look at the site stats every week for the Brain, I see readers who stop by daily from every part of the world.

We see how economic disturbances here affect markets in almost every nation, how our unilateral actions in other countries have unexpected blowback effects. (I was in Afghanistan in the early '80s when we were arming Osama and his Mujaheddin, unwittingly nourishing the roots of what would become al-Qaeda.) It is time we start caring about what happens in the Third World because they are our future. It is not a place where we can fight proxy wars (and then leave) and expect not to feel the consequences years down the line. If we don't start giving a damn now, our children and theirs will feel the effects of our actions (or lack thereof) today.

It's time to show some interest in places that don't have resources we feel the need to exploit. It's time to give some real attention to places where the resource most valuable to us are the people who live there. If we invest in people, we can only profit from their success.

Update:

It seems other nations see what I do. The Chinese have been investing in Kenya's infrastructure and offshore oil projects. Looks like Administration d'Bush dropped the ball* once again:

...

China's stance is consistent with its policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs. An editorial in Beijing's People's Daily on January 14th upset Kenya's opposition by saying that "Western-style democratic theory simply isn't suited to African conditions but rather it carries with it the root of disaster. The elections crisis in Kenya is just one example."

...

The Chinese get it. Any wonder why NYC Public Schools are offering high school level language curriculum in Cantonese and Mandarin?

*Great thanks to Jeb at Foreign Policy Watch for the link.

As I said in the post below, I've lived all over the damn world. I try to respect others' cultures and religions. If it gives you peace to worship some kind of deity, well have at it. That said, I got big problems when cultures use their god to take vengeance on the defenseless.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - A leading human rights group appealed to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah on Thursday to stop the execution of a woman accused of witchcraft and performing supernatural acts.

...

Hmmmm ... Didn't we go through this a couple hundred years ago? Women, generally defenseless in a male-dominated society, being scapegoated for their society's ills? Ah yes, I believe they called it Salem.

...

The most frequent victims are women, who already suffer severe restrictions on daily life in Saudi Arabia: They cannot drive, appear before a judge without a male representative, or travel abroad without a male guardian's permission.

...

Of course when we killed American witches (usually by very cruel methods), we had ample evidence of their treachery. At least as much evidence as the Saudis have against this woman:

...

In Falih's case, the judges who convicted her in April 2006 relied on a coerced confession and on the statements of witnesses who said she had "bewitched" them, according to the group.

...

Now, I've been bewitched by women, I rather enjoy it, but all I want to do is make love to them. I certainly don't want to kill them. Is there something wrong with me?

...

The Saudi court cited an instance in which a man allegedly became impotent after being bewitched by Falih, the rights group said.

...

You know, being a first generation American of German descent, I know about finding a scapegoat for one's problems. It's easy to do. I believe the Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and crazy people were all responsible for the downfall of Germany after the First World War and stood in the way of the Fatherland's return to glory, just as women are responsible for making Saudi men impotent.

Reiterating: I don't care who one worships or what kind of culture they built for themselves as long as they don't force me to believe or adopt their ways. I do care, however, when a culture commits inhuman acts in the name of god or 'national security'. I do care when my nation embraces those who commit such acts as 'friends', just because they control a resource we have become addicted to.

Instead of using what we've learned from experience (and I'm talking about the 'white, western experience' over the past 500 years) to pressure our 'friends' to put a stop to such practices, we conveniently look the other way, so long as the oil continues to flow.

But, then again, the United States is no longer in a position to be the moral arbiter on anything.

Great thanks to our new friend, the Earth-bound Misfit, for the link.

At least some of the representatives we've elected to Congress over a year ago have finally been fertilized enough to grow some backbone. They stood up to the White House, please mark this date on your calendars. Too bad the Senate hasn't had their fill of manure.

...

Americans are worried and even angry about many things. Whether Osama bin Laden is throwing a party because AT&T and Verizon might have to defend themselves in court isn't one of them. Outside of National Review, K Street, and the fear-paralyzed imagination of our shrinking faux-warrior class, there is no constituency in America demanding warrantless eavesdropping or amnesty for lawbreaking telecoms.

...

I wonder if it's black tie? Could it be that upholding the rule of law in the United States would make al-Qaeda happy? I'll take that chance to know Americans' civil rights are protected.

***

Our new acquaintances over at Gorilla's Guides inform us that we're bringing peace and democracy to Iraq in a big way. Lights, running water, sewage removal? Puh! We got purple fingers:

Power failures and maintenance have disrupted running water supplies to almost half of the capital, Baghdad, home to nearly 6 million people.

A Baghdad Municipality source said the project supplying drinking water to Rasafa, the eastern half of Baghdad, was temporarily idle.

...

My CO when I was with SOCOM told me once that you can't give people democracy, especially out of the business end of a rifle, it has to come from within.

Nobody learns from history, though everybody claims to study it. I guess nobody learned about Russian winters (worse yet, Russian spring), and nobody learned that keeping an occupation force and battling an insurgency extort more costs than the imperialists are ultimately willing to bear. Unfortunately, nobody asked the Iraqis what costs they were willing to bear. One day (hopefully within my lifetime), I hope they will be able to say we've finally repaid the debt we owe them for a million dead and twice that displaced, for their looted and destroyed national treasures, and for the thuggery of attempting to steal their oil.

***

And let me just end on a personal observation. I've lived on four continents over the past 45 years. I've visited almost every other part of the world. I've known, and developed good friendships with, more than a few people indigenous to those places. After breaking down all the cultural and language differences, I am left with a truism that describes all of us.

We are all, regardless of place of birth or culture, more alike than different. The average guy on the street wants the same thing in China that he does here. He wants safety and security, a job where he can earn enough to pay the bills, and for his kids to have better than he did. He makes do with what he has, whether under a democratic system or not, to make a decent life for his family. It's all about respect and dignity.

Please feel free to comment on whatever you'd like, whether it be on the subject of the post or not - F.

The post up here earlier today has been removed at the request of family. It will be restored in the future (with comments) along with an explanation.

That is all.

Fixer here. Please pardon me for taking liberties with Lurch's blog but I found my posting privileges are still active and I'm worried for my friend.

A friend of Lurch's contacted me yesterday about the big guy's whereabouts. We haven't been able to contact him via cell or email. I checked with my blog partner Gordon over at the Brain and with the Ranger and Lisa and also came up empty.

Lurch's friend even requested the local police to stop at his home and do a check on him. That's where we are right now. The police won't give out any info to those who aren't family members and none of us have any contact info for any of his family.

Hopefully, one of his kids (or one of his friends) will check out this page and let us know what's up with our brother. I can be reached here with any info.

Thanks again and sorry for the intrusion.

The Silver Star is the Army’s third highest award for valor. It is awarded in recognition of outstanding effort and courage in combat and is not come by easily. Some say that it is an award much easier to gain posthumously than standing up, and that’s probably true.

Two soldiers at Ft Lewis were recently awarded the Silver Star and a brief look at the circumstances of the awards are educational. An award citation is a brief and sometimes a too-brief narration of the situation. The scenes recounted here are not necessarily unique. Similar sights might happen anywhere in the country on any day. The valor certainly isn't unique. The only unusual thing is that the actions of these men were somehow pointed out for well-deserved recognition.

Who They Were

SFC Ismael Iban and SSG Jon Hillard, who returned from Iraq in September, are both members of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. At the ceremony, held at 1:30pm Pacific Time at the Sheridan Gym at Fort Lewis, both Soldiers were honored for their valorious actions in combat.

The Citation

“SFC Iban’s steadfast leadership and dauntless presence was instrumental in leading his 12-man platoon to overcome incredible odds presented by the enemy,” according to the narrative. “With absolute decisiveness, calmness under pressure and personal courage, SFC Iban’s performance on 19 February 2007 directly contributed to saving his fellow soldiers’ lives in Tarmiya, Iraq.”

The Narration

SFC Iban, a platoon sergeant with 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment was recognized for actions that he took on February 19, 2007. That day, a suicide car bomber destroyed the Tarmiya Joint Security Station, located near Taji, Iraq. Iban and his platoon were conducting a patrol about 6 miles from the station, when they were called to provide assistance.

Iban ordered his platoon to respond. As they entered the outskirts of Tarmiya, they were attacked by small-arms fire and rocket propelled grenades, coming from alleys nearby, as well as rooftops. The Soldiers returned fire and continued on to the badly damaged Joint Security Station. As they approached, they saw that it was engulfed in flames and smoke, with a huge pile of debris from the explosion blocking the road. It was then that Iban and 4 of his Soldiers got out of their Stryker vehicle and moved on foot the 250 feet it took to get to the JSS, under constant enemy fire.

When they arrived, Iban established a command and control point, and he and his men began to prepare for medical evacuation of 21 wounded US Soldiers. The rest of the platoon, meanwhile worked diligently, while under enemy fire, to clear a path on the roadway, so that a defensive perimeter could be created.

Iban loaded the more seriously wounded Soldiers into his Stryker vehicle and began moving them to the nearest helicopter landing zone. As they arrived, they were hit by an attack, with the enemy firing 7 RPGs and multiple machine guns from the nearby woods and buildings. Iban ordered his Soldiers to set up a perimeter and engage the enemy. He meanwhile dismounted and provided additional suppressive fire, to enable 4 medivac helicopters to land. The team moved while receiving intense fire, to load 9 critically wounded Soldiers into the helicopters. These actions were repeated by Iban and his men until all 21 wounded Soldiers were safely aboard the helicopters.

The citation tells none of the drama and fear of the moment, when the conscious mind might freeze, but training and instinct take control and soldiers rise to a threat. Oftentimes you have no idea whatsoever what you did, that they’re now praising so highly. You might remember the gut-griping and the tunnel vision created by adrenalin and later you might have noticed the shakes. You just somehow did what you’d been trained to do, and no country can ask more than that of a man soldier.

On March 24, 2007, while conducting clearance operations in a Baqubah neighborhood, Hilliard and his Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, B Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, were hit by a buried IED. The explosion was massive enough to catch the rear of their Stryker vehicle on fire and disable it. 7 Soldiers on board were injured.

The Citation

“Single handedly, he exposed himself on top of the burning Stryker while under accurate machine gun fire for approximately three minutes while the platoon maneuvered to establish a defensive position for the [casualty evacuation]… “SSG Hilliard’s bravery in the face of fire, tireless efforts and selfless service were instrumental in the successful recovery and evacuation of men, weapons and equipment, as well as the destruction of numerous [anti-Iraqi forces],” according to the narrative. “His actions and his demeanor were truly inspirational to those present throughout these actions.”

When the explosion occurred, Hilliard, who was riding in the rear right air guard hatch, was ejected onto the top of the Stryker vehicle. He suffered multiple injuries to his left leg. Despire his injuries, Hilliard, who is a squad leader, immediately focused his attention on his Soldiers. He saw that the ramp door has been blown off in the explosion and smoke had filled the Troop compartment. The explosion that ejected him from the vehicle, also caused him to lose his weapon. As other Soldiers arrived to provide support, they came under a sustained volley of accurate and deadly machine gun fire. Hilliard saw a M204B Machine Gun that was tangled in a sniper camouflage netting nearby. He used his knife to cut the weapon free and grabbed a box of ammunition.
…
As the other wounded Soldiers were evacuated, Hilliard suppressed multiple enemy machine gun positions. After a defensive perimeter was established, Hilliard got off of the Stryker vheicle and gained control of the remaining men in his squad, as well as grabbing his weapon which had been blown off the vehicle during the explosion. He then realized that the M204B he had been using was now with 1st Platoon.

He then raced across 165 feet of open terrain to retrieve the weapon, under small arms fire and and RPG. He retrieved his weapon and then turned to rejoin his platoon, when he collapsed from his injuries and was no longer able to walk. He was then medically evacuated to FOB Warhorse to receive treatment for his injuries.

I despise this evil and dishonest occupation of a conquered country and I have nothing but the spit from my mouth and the contents of my bladder for the cowards who lied us into this catastrophe that is destroying two nations.

However SFC Iban and SSG Hilliard might personally feel about the terrorists we are creating in Iraq they kept their obligations to their men and fought to save them, and they have honored all of us by their loyalty.