Please join us tonight in honoring Spc. Sean M. Walsh, 21, of San Jose, Calif., who died Nov. 16, in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained after encountering indirect fire. Indirect fire is Army speak for an enemy mortar shell or a rocket that actually manages to hit a target.
Sean Walsh was assigned to the 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, Pittsburg, Calif. Sean was a peacekeeper, who thought he was on his way home to his family. I can't imagine the battle of the heart that he had to fight to go away, and leave his family behind. God must have had a plan for him Please welcome him home. Until eternity.
http://www.defense.gov/...
Update: Bed time. Will answer all comments in the a.m.
I sit in the back of a bus watching the world grow old
Watching the world go by all by myself
I took a faith full leap and packed up all my things and
All my love and gave it to somebody else
But how do I know if I'll make it through?
How do I know? Where's the proof in you?
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn't easily won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn't easily won
But it can be won, but it can be won
But it can be won, but it can be won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn't easily won
And so it goes, this soldier knows
The battle with the heart isn't easily won
- Ukulele Soldier by Ingrid Michaelson
Sean Walsh, in happier times
Sean Walsh was all set to return home to San Jose for the holidays in just a couple weeks. But the 21-year-old California National Guard soldier died in combat Wednesday in Afghanistan. [snip]
His East Bay-based unit had deployed on a one-year tour to Afghanistan in December. A tribute video posted to YouTube featured eight minutes of photos and videos of Walsh overseas, playing soccer, lifting weights, grilling food, playing a ukulele, riding a motorcycle, dancing and long-distance running. One picture showed him alongside a sign joking about how the job was supposed to involve only one weekend a month.There were also plenty of shots of him holding heavy weapons and shooting an assault rifle. "SPC Walsh was doing what he had grown to love best while on our deployment -- rucking in gear, weapon in hand!" Sgt. Chavela Salazar, who posted the video, wrote. "Only days for our return! We will fight this battle until the end for you, Pikachu!
The video ends with him holding an "I love you, Mom" sign. Walsh's Facebook page shows his passion for outdoor activities and sports. He also posted photos of himself parachuting out of an aircraft in military gear and practicing shooting. "I have to say, I'm proud of him for completing this," his mother wrote after attending his army training graduation in 2009. "It's tough training, but he's now a part of a very large fraternity that has something in common. He's made friends that he'll have for the rest of his life.
A tribute, from Sean's friends:
http://www.mercurynews.com/...
Please join us in prayer for Sean Walsh, and those who loved him. He would have loved this ukulele player's version of our National Anthem.
What is excellent,
as God lives, is permanent.
Hearts turn to dust,
hearts love remains.
Hearts love will meet the again.
- Emerson
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories. The series, which was begun by i dunno, is maintained by Sandy on Signal, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, Twilight Falling, Joyful, SisTwo, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings and me, SpamNunn.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
If that's not clear, read this: http://www.dailykos.com/...