"You Shall Not Be Afraid..."

From the Wall Street Journal, the caption reads: "RESCUE AND PROTECT: Staff Sgt. Edward Rosa reads the Bible and extends a cigarette to Pfc. Jorge Rostran Obando, who was stunned by an explosion in Afghanistan's Arghanab Valley. One comrade was killed and two injured in the blast. Pfc. Rostran asked the sergeant to read Psalm 91, a favorite from his childhood."

A warrior giving aid and comfort to a brother warrior.

One of the lessons I learned early on, as a young deputy sheriff, was that we always looked out for one another. We might not necessarily even like each other off the playing field, but when things went ugly we all knew we had each others' six. This lesson was taught to me when I was fortunate enough to be assigned to a resident post with four other deputies, all much senior to me, all with prior military experience, and several with combat time in Vietnam.

Later in my career, that lesson was repeated again to me by one of my SWAT instructors and was probably more eloquently and simply put than I've heard it anywhere else:

"Fellas, when it comes down to it you're not doing it for Queen and Country... you're doing it for your mates." - Phil Singleton, formerly of the 22nd SAS.

I have carried that lesson, along with many others, throughout my career, and passed it on to the young officers I have trained.

I will say of the Lord,
"He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."

Godspeed to the warrior who was KIA. A speedy and sure recovery to the two WIA's, and God bless and watch over all of them and their families.

My Quote for the Year, from Kipling...

This pretty much sums it up for me at the moment:

"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition"

Rudyard Kipling

June 6, 1944, D Day

I was outside working most of the day yesterday so I didn't get a chance to write until this morning. Off and on during the day I found myself thinking about the Allied invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944. An incredible, audacious assault by the Allies against the German war machine in an attempt to liberate Northwestern Europe from the clutches of Hitler.

We all know what the outcome was. The Allied forces prevailed but not without tremendous losses: Approximately 10,000 total Allied casualties, KIA, MIA, wounded or captured. 2499 Killed In Action from the United States alone. The bravery and sacrifice of these men, what they did for us and for the people of Europe should never, ever be forgotten.

Saving Private Ryan should be required viewing by every American school student. I know... it's just Hollywood, not reality. But every once in a great while even they get it right. And if it helps to keep alive the memory of our battles, achievements, our veterans and our fallen, then I'm OK with that.

The WWII Fallen from the Greatest Generation... what would they think of us now, what we have become? America is truly the greatest nation this earth has seen, a bright light of freedom shining through the darkness. It is the American soldier who made it so, and keeps making it so. I've heard the word "hero" used an awful lot these days. These men were truly heroes. In the days and years ahead, remember them and honor what they gave us.