So Some Else Doesn't Have To...

“Thank you God for answering my prayer 25 years ago and letting me have my boy, even if only for a little while.” – Robert Stokely

If you haven’t yet read Mr. Stokely’s post from last evening, please do so now, you will not regret it.


Yesterday was the birthday of Sergeant Michael Stokely, US Army, E Troop 108 Cav. Mike Stokely was an amazing young man, strong enough in his faith and devotion that he knew that just like Jonah he could not escape his destiny, his purpose. He knew that it was better to serve instead of debate. He knew the cost of freedom and mentioned to his father on occasion, that he could think of no better way to die than by serving his country. Even when his father told him he had stood over his bed the night before he was to deploy with a ball bat in his hands ready to break his son’s legs so he couldn’t deploy, Mike understood that his duty, his purpose, was greater than the personal hardship of being away from his family and wife, as Mike has said, “I’ll go so someone else won’t have to.”

“I’ll go so someone else won’t have to.” Think about that for a moment and see if you can understand what those simple words really mean. I’ve spoken those words before, have you? Do you truly understand the importance of those words? Those words mean that you may not want to do the job assigned you, or the mission thrust upon you, but you know that by following your purpose in life at times you will have missions that challenge you, that stretch your capacity for understanding and it is faith that keeps you going, faith that your purpose is honest and true, faith that your mission while distasteful to others is necessary for the betterment of your Country and it is your Duty to accept that mission despite the naysayers who would have us believe otherwise.

On August 16, 2005 near Yusufiyah south of Baghdad, Michael Stokely was killed. He died in the service not only of his country but also his God and for that we know that his death was not an ending but rather a beginning of his eternal life. 23 years is too short a time for a father to have his son, and no parent should ever have to bury their children, but Michael Stokely’s life despite what many on the left will have you believe was not wasted.

How do I know this, if you’ve been a regular visitor to The Thunder Run over the 2 years since Mike Stokely died, then you’ve read the same stories that I’ve read concerning the good deeds that have come out of that tragic event. In May of 2006 five scholarships were awarded to deserving students form a scholarship program that was formed within hours of the Stokely family receiving the news of Mike’s death. Early this year a second fund drive was started to endow a scholarship at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville GA in Mike's honor, and the High School Scholarship program continues. The Mike Stokely Foundation also helps children and others who might not otherwise be able to afford it gain access to good books and the skills needed to read them for pleasure and learning.

Mike’s death was not the end, but rather the beginning, that doesn’t make the event any easier to deal with, but it does answer the question: why? What we can’t do is let that question go unanswered for the other soldiers, Marine’s, sailors and airmen that have given their all in Iraq and in all the theatres of the Global War on Terror buy retreating from Iraq because the going is a little rough.

Sgt. Stokely understood this as does everyone in uniform, its a lesson our leaders need to learn. As Mike said, "I'll go so someone else doesn't have to." Are we going to allow others to do teh job we won't, and if we do, then those live lost will truly have been in vain.

[Ed Note: Last year's post can be found here.]