I know you don't need any more heartbreak, but this Minnesotan's story...

....makes me incredibly sad.

Jacob Vanderbosch was only 21. Jesus, he just graduated from high school in 2002....but I guess that's how old most of them are, or right close to it. They're children, f'Chrissakes.

MPR said the folks didn't want to talk about the politics of the war for now.
"I just hope people realize how brave they are," the dad said.

entire interview is online at www.minnesotapublicradio.org.

snippet from www.grandforks.com::

"Mary and Scott Vanderbosch said they will always remember their son's bravery. He had only been in Iraq for a few weeks when he was killed.
"His dad asked him once what he was afraid of," Mary said. "He was fearless."
The other soldiers killed were Sgt. Bryan W. Large, 31, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Pfc. Roberto C. Baez, 19, of Tampa, Fla. They were all assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Vanderbosch and members of his platoon made an impression on Scott Vanderbosch when the family visited Fort Bragg before his son was deployed.
"When they go in, they're so full of life, and they want to do what's asked of them. And they're not afraid," he said. "He gave us some gray hairs, but he was maturing so much."
Vanderbosch, a 2002 graduate of White Bear Lake High School, is the 27th Minnesotan to die as a result of injuries sustained in the Mideast during the Iraq war. His father said he joined the Army about two years ago and was a gunner on a Humvee in Iraq."

I've lost to many close friends in battles ordered by politicians who would never risk their ass for their country.

Bush/Cheney are the worst offenders.

I hope there is a HELL because that's where they and their cowardly cohort will spend eternity.

from Camp Ripley? A couple weeks ago I read about a soldier being in a car accident on his way to Camp Ripley (I thought it was Camp Ripley) and being killed in that accident.

P.S. Awhile back I saw a sticker for a car that looked liked 'support our troops' but said instead 'let's just pretend everything is okay'. Does anyone know where I can get one of those.

the Fort Ripley guys were either army reserve or national guard, I think the latter.
This young man was regular Army, if I understand correctly...

Humm, MnFats -- are you a pool shooter by any chance? My husband is desperately looking for a partner. Could I give you to him for Christmas?