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My son sent me "If I Should Die Before You Wake" just before he deployed.  It means an awful lot to his mother and me.  From talking to some of the others in his battalion before they went over I know it speaks for a number of them as well.

Jonny, that clip you posted says a lot, too about the hurt that is left to those of us who lose loved ones in this fight.  I'm thinking of the wife of a Marine from the Milwaukee area who received her husband's body on the day before her first anniversary.  She knew the price he might have to pay, and while extremely broken-hearted did not begrudge his going.

The truth of the matter is that our young men and women have won the military part of the battle.  All they are getting from the "insurgents" is an occasional bomb attack.  The Iraqi's are handling any of the small firefights that come up.  In fact they are now taking the lead in any of the raids being conducted with our guys in overwatch positions only.  In four months now Rob's (BTW he was promoted to Corporal on Monday) battalion has not had a weapon fired except on the range.  All we need is for a little time for the Iraqi government to consolidate their issues, and they are doing that quickly and rather well considering the circumstances.  I wish our government in D C was doing it as well.

Thank you to all for the support and the prayers for our troops.

God Bless America!
Jerry