Blogger Killed in Iraq

Many months ago, I began linking to a blogger deploying to Iraq in the daily Web Recon, then his command units had him shut down his blog and that was that for me, yet I would stop in from time to time to make sure he was or wasn't posting. When I moved to bloglines to keep track of all the blogs I view on a daily basis I didn't bother to add him, and that is where I went wrong. What I didn't know was that he eventually began blogging again for the Rocky Mountain News and as he was before, he was very prolific.

Today he is dead, killed in an ambush on Thursday January 3, 2008 the first American killed in Iraq in 2008 that blogger was Maj. Andrew Olmstead.

Soldiers always have "the letter" ready, the one that is to be mailed to the family if something bad happens, well Andrew had the letter ready in the form of a blog post, he writes:

This is an entry I would have preferred not to have published, but there are limits to what we can control in life, and apparently I have passed one of those limits. And so, like G'Kar, I must say here what I would much prefer to say in person. I want to thank hilzoy for putting it up for me. It's not easy asking anyone to do something for you in the event of your death, and it is a testament to her quality that she didn't hesitate to accept the charge. As with many bloggers, I have a disgustingly large ego, and so I just couldn't bear the thought of not being able to have the last word if the need arose. Perhaps I take that further than most, I don't know. I hope so. It's frightening to think there are many people as neurotic as I am in the world. In any case, since I won't get another chance to say what I think, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. Such as it is.

[...]

I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren't going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I've enjoyed in my life. So if you're up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw 'Freedom Isn't Free' from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can't laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I'm dead, but if you're reading this, you're not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

[...]

I do ask (not that I'm in a position to enforce this) that no one try to use my death to further their political purposes. I went to Iraq and did what I did for my reasons, not yours. My life isn't a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side. If you think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, don't drag me into it by claiming that somehow my death demands us staying in Iraq. If you think the U.S. ought to get out tomorrow, don't cite my name as an example of someone's life who was wasted by our mission in Iraq. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I'm not around to expound on them I'd prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn't support.

Andy is dead, and we are not, and I am sad that I never took the opportunity to learn more about this remarkable man that I began to follow and then let slip away.

Rest in peace Andy, rest in peace, and despite your misgivings concerning heaven and its existence, I know that you and your lovely wife will once again be reunited in heaven.

Linked by:
One Fallen Hero...A Milblogger's Last Post from Iraq War Today
I had an Epiphany. As of nightfall today, Christmas is over! from Pros and Cons
Make way! Make Way! Make a hole there! from Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys. [Ed Note: There is a wonderful list of bloggers blogging about Maj Olmstead at the end of the Armorer's post, please go there and follow the links. You won't be dissapointed.]