Halfway down the Trail to Hell
In a shady meadow green,
Are the Souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen,
And this eternal resting place
is known as Fiddlers' Green.

Marching past, straight through to Hell,
The Infantry are seen,
Accompanied by the Engineers,
Artillery and Marine,
For none but the shades of Cavalrymen
Dismount at Fiddlers' Green.

Though some go curving down the trail
To seek a warmer scene,
No trooper ever gets to Hell
Ere he's emptied his canteen,
And so rides back to drink again
With friends at Fiddlers' Green.

And so when man and horse go down
Beneath a saber keen.
Or in a roaring charge of fierce melee
You stop a bullet clean,
And the hostiles come to get your scalp,
Just empty your canteen,
And put your pistol to your head
And go to Fiddlers' Green


Two great friends of mine, one a subordinate, the other my Commander were killed in Afghanistan this week. My old Commo NCO SGT Rivera was also very seriously wounded in the same action.

I don't care about your politics or your opinons, I just ask that once in a while you take a pause from your lives and remember that our Soldiers are fighting and dying far from their homes.


CPT David Boris and SGT Adrian Hike

*moment of silence*

My thoughts and prayers will go to their families. I would like to also offer my sympathy to you for your loss of your friends.

I will pray for their families.

That's rough, Bren. I am sorry for the loss of your brothers-in-arms.

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
George Orwell

God rest your friends.... and hold their familys in the palm of his hand.

I'm really sorry Bren.

Sorry for your loss.

I'm so sorry to hear that Bren!

Bren,

I really appreciate your tribute you posted here. As an American all I can say is I am 100% proud of each and every one if you. Every time I travel I go out of my way to make sure the service men and women get every ounce of hospitality and respect they deserve.

You guys are the bravest men alive.

As others have noted, my heart too goes out to those families. It is a small thing to hold onto knowing they died serving all of us, but it is a thing and it is our thing. Nobody can take that away.

I too pray for a swift end to the job that needs doing to get you all home to safety.


We will be remembering them, and those like them, come this Thursday when we raise our glasses in Thanks.


-- Khros.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=50484

A good article to close this up. Sorry to keep you guys on this shit, but reading this hit hard tonight.

Bumping this to remember, 3 years ago tomorrow is when these men gave their lives.

This is my first Veteran's Day (or Remembrance Day for Canadians) as a fromer soldier. I have a lot of mixed emotions about that, but mostly I just feel very fortunate. There are a few other faces I could add to the list I originally posted here that have since given their lives in service. Friends of mine from school or training, or soldiers I used to serve with. I'm one of the lucky ones.

Coincidentally, the 173rd (our old unit) just yesterday returned from its 3rd tour in Afghanistan. I'm happy that most of them made it back this time, but not all of them. A very good friend of mine is still laid up in Landstuhl hospital with four broken limbs the suffered when he was blown out of his Humvee by a massive bomb. He was the only one of 5 soldiers in his truck to live.

Added to that are the many of my friends who are still alive and whole, but simply aren't the same men I knew, or their families knew. They carry a terrible burden that they can never set down.

It makes me a little bit sad that we have to take special time today to remember that we're still at war. I still live it every day.

So kiss your girl, hug your mom, pet your dog, and smile at what you've got. If you know a veteran, let him/her know they are loved. Or if it's too late, have a drink in their memory.

So kiss your girl, hug your mom, pet your dog, and smile at what you've got. If you know a veteran, let him/her know they are loved. Or if it's too late, have a drink in their memory.

Done, (well this ones a bit hard), done, and done.

And dude, I love you man! Seriously. And all of the veterans and active soldiers out there. I'll drink in the honor of those who are lost, and to toast those who are still out there fighting for freedom!

I really sorry to hear that. My deepest sympathies.

If I could take the burden you carry from you I would but I can't so all I can do is thank you for your sacrifice and pledge any help I can give if and when you ever need it.

God bless you and your brothers in arms.

My annual bump. This time of year is always a little darker for me, even if things are otherwise great (as they pretty much are now).

Today, I'll be drinking for Dave and Adrian who died four years ago tomorrow, and for Javier, who lived through that blast but will never be the same physically or emotionally. There are others, but they were the first and closest to me.

One of my best memories of Dave was when I helped him through the transition as he took command. It's a lot of hard work for a new commander to come in- there are lots of inventories and inspections to do, and lots of personalities and quirks to know. It was a good two weeks before the ceremony was complete and all the paperwork signed. Me, Him, and our First Sergeant locked ourselves in his office at about 3pm on Friday after dismissing the troops for the weekend, and cracked open a bottle of Crown Royal. We finished that sucker in about an hour and had to have our ladies come pick us up from base to take us home.

Now, the only time I'll ever have a shot of Crown is for one of my fallen brothers. Every year before Veteran's Day I'll go and buy a bottle, and finish it all to soon.

To our current military members of VS, be safe.

To everybody else, thank a vet today. Then hug somebody you love, and be thankful that they are there.

I do a shot of that tonight too. As usual, well said Bren.

I'm sorry I missed the post, Brendar. I did think of you this past week-end. Eternal thanks.