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    Editorial: The Loss

    LOGAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

    08.04.2013

    Courtesy Story

    4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

    LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The United States has been at war for the past 11 years, and regardless of if you believe in the war effort or not, one firm fact remains constant: people die in war.

    Until recently I haven’t had to deal with the loss of someone I’ve called friend or someone that I’ve had the privilege to lead over the years. My foundation was cracked with the news of both situations. In late July of this year a friend was killed by an improvised explosive device and later that same month a former soldier of mine by an indirect fire attack.

    The loss of these two has restructured the way I think; hence this small blurb. I can’t help but reflect on the way I’ve dealt with losing someone close. How do we justify, to ourselves, loss of life? If a loved one dies at home, we grieve; if a soldier dies in combat, we what? We don’t have the luxury of curling up in a hole until we think it’ll be all better. We put on our uniform, we do our job.

    The enemy is there every day. If we pull our focus, we die, but that doesn’t mean we forget. Our loss is great, but our mission dictates daily sacrifice which we give freely.

    Sitting in front of my television in the privacy and comfort of my home, I remember seeing a news ticker at the bottom of my screen with data of the death toll for this war we’re entrenched in. I honestly didn’t give it a second thought. Soldiers go to war, and in war people die. I didn’t think about the people it impacted or the units that were mourning the loss of a brother. I shrugged it off, until now.

    How many Soldiers have given the ultimate sacrifice and barely been remembered, if at all? How many more will die in order for the average American to still enjoy their coffee over a skimmed paper at the breakfast table in the morning?

    Before this war there were other wars and others have died, but before this war I never thought about whose life had been given in the defense of my lifestyle. I certainly didn’t think that anyone I knew would die to keep me comfortable. I’m sorry to say that it had never entered my mind that some so young would pay that price for me.

    The brave will always be brave, the selfless always selfless, but for what? We all believe that America is free and we all embrace our freedoms. We don’t, however, dwell on how that has become our reality. We as Americans are born into freedom, and we take it for granted.

    As you read this you think whatever it is that you think, but as I write it, I know my perception of freedom is forever changed. Our freedoms are paid for by the blood of our young and old and I will never see that ticker flash on my television, or drink my coffee, the same way again. Even if no one else does, I will never forget those who paid the ultimate price.

    By U.S. Army 1st Lt. Hugh Pearce, Executive Officer
    Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th IBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.


    -30-

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.04.2013
    Date Posted: 08.04.2013 05:02
    Story ID: 111312
    Location: LOGAR PROVINCE, AF
    Hometown: DUBLIN, GA, US

    Web Views: 124
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN