Fighting Ghosts: I Got the News Today, 4/7/07 edition

The Department of Defense, as it has so many times before, has announced the death of another solider in Iraq.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pfc. James J. Coon, 22, of Walnut Creek, Calif., died April 4 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when in improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Coon was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

He was more than a statistic. (More below.)

Coon came from a military family, according to the Examiner.com, which notes that Coons’s mother was in the Air Force and that he had other family in the Marines:

But Coon enlisted in the Army mostly to save money to buy a home, his [Ed.: step-] mother said.

"It's a little bit of a tough economic situation around here for a lot of young people," Hayes-Coon said. "He said he was going to save his bonuses and his money so he could buy a house."

What went into earning those bonuses? Those who have been in war may be the only ones who really know. Again, from the Examiner:

Army Pfc. James J. Coon had braved danger before when, less than three weeks ago, he risked his life trying to save two soldiers from his unit who were wounded in a bomb attack.

[snip]

Coon's bravery and selflessness in the earlier attack put him under consideration for a Bronze Star. He ran from his vehicle without protection or a weapon and put tourniquets on two wounded soldiers, who died in the attack along with four others in the unit.

"It really disturbed him," said his [ed.: step-] mother, Deena Hayes-Coon. "He said at that point that he didn't want to play Army any more - he wanted to come home."

Sfgate.com adds this:

"I'm very proud of my son," said Jim Coon, 49. "I would like everybody to support our troops." But he added, "I don't support the government and what they're doing with this war. I don't believe the war is right."

Jim Coon said his son recently told him about what he regarded as an unseen enemy: "Dad, I feel like we're fighting ghosts. There's nobody out there to fight."

The couple spoke at their Walnut Creek home today as their son's beloved Rottweiler, Tyson, sat at their feet. When two Army officials came Wednesday to notify the family about their son's death, Jim Coon said he began shouting and crying, "No, this ain't happening." The dog, who has "not a mean bone in his body," growled menacingly at the men, Jim Coon said.

Fighting ghosts. Living with grief. A dog without its master. These deaths are not statistics; they are private and national tragedies. Please spare a thought for those who loved this soldier, and the loved ones of all of those service people who have been killed.

The Department of Defense has confirmed 3,262 deaths and the announcement of nine more deaths is expected, pending notification of the next of kin, according to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. The DoD news releases are here.

They all had friends and loved ones. Please visit the Iraq Veterans Memorial for a moving look at how a few of their survivors remember them. It will break your heart. If you want to do something more, please visit anysoldier.com, Operation Helmet, and/or Fisher House.

I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind. Click here for the previous diary in this series, and here to see the series, which is maintained by i dunno, Sandy on Signal, silvercedes, and myself.