200 on 50 in Afghanistan

[twyacht]

Ksail, Prayers are with you and your friend. When my friend died in Iraq in March, his sister sent me this poem from one of his stacks of stuff he kept in storage. It meant a lot to me, and I hope you know there are many people that will never forget.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle Autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush.

I am the birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die....

[Pathfinder]

Got on later than normal tonight, no real access at work (have access but closely monitored).

Ksail, I can't add anything to what our brothers here have said. Each of us has a path to follow, and it sounds like your friend did what he thought he had to do, regardless of the reason he did it.

He is a perfect example of John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Greater love hath no man than this, to give his life for another. All that spent brass undoubtedly saved more than a few lives.

Jason lived up to the best legacy there is, and may his memory be for a blessing always.

[1776 Rebel]

Tis always been so...Brave men lay down their lives and all too often are forgotten too soon. I salute your friend and the brave stand they took that day. No one said it better than Kipling over a hundred years ago...

Tommy - Rudyard Kipling

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
..........O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
..........But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play -
..........The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
..........O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
..........For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
..........But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide -
..........The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
..........O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide. 
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
..........Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
..........But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll -
..........The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
..........O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.   
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
..........While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
..........But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind -
..........There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
..........O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
..........For it's Tommy this an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
..........But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
..........An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
..........An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

[PegLeg45]

There is nothing we can say or do to assuage the anguish that must surely be felt by Jason's family and friends.
The loss of a loved one is a heavy burden to carry.
But he died honorably, in his duty, with his boots on, and he is in his own peace now.

[DesertMarine]

My condolences to you and your friends family.  Can't anything more than what everyone else has said.

Semper Fi

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

My condolences to you and your friends family.  Can't anything more than what everyone else has said.

Semper Fi

That pretty much says it all. Semper Fidelis, Always faithful. Faithful to his Country and his Buddies.

[Big Frank]

This We'll Defend, the US Army Motto. That pretty much says it all. He swore his life to defend his country and his unit as many of us did. It's better to die as a hero than live as a coward. It would be better to live as a hero, but some make the ultimate sacrifice.

[2HOW]

Sad days, good man and warrior till the end. TOUJOURS PRET

[Teresa Heilevang]

I am so sorry for the loss of your friend....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O my brother, sorrow not! You are my truest friend.
I know we’ll see each other again ... death is not the end!
I rest on fragile gossamer wings blown in the winds
Where fallen warriors carried by archangels, heaven sends
To paradisaical R and R in fair Eden's glen
I've left far behind this frail existence soldiers defend.

I’m going there, on death's swift wings today
To that hallowed place where for the eternities I'll stay
Where purity of heart gives angelic advantage
Where no hot dusty faces grow weary under camouflage.
So when you see something shining from a black granite pall
Reach out ... I’ll be there.
 Touch me on lustered hero’s wall.

[Hazcat]

M'ette,

That was beautiful.