<p>Having said that, I am curious. How many people that graduated or are still at West Point died at Iraq?</p>
<p>I'm really sorry to point this out, but does it really matter? A soldier is a soldier, and we should pay our respects equally to all service members that died for our country. I noticed that when we have one service academy death, we almost forget about the other soldiers (both enlisted and officer) that have done the exact same thing. The ultimate sacrifice is paid by all soldiers and defenders of this country.</p>
<p>How so do we "forget" about the other soldiers? Shogun almost always posts the deaths here because it's a service academy site. I notice the West Point deaths more because there's normally a connection for me, I had friends in their company, I knew them personally, they majored in my department...it's like noticing that a soldier from your home town died. I'm sure that in Iowa, it's all over the papers, but to the rest of the world, it's "just" one more soldier. Sad, but true.</p>
<p>In answer to your question, I believe the USMA total is somewhere around sixty. I don't really remember from the Roll Call last Founder's Day, but I'll see if I can find the program.</p>
<p>As an '06er, we are the only class who didn't lose anyone in our first year to Iraq/Afghanistan since the conflict began. Several of my companymates recently deployed and I think about them often and send care packages for their platoons. Someone will be the first. It's just a matter of when.</p>
<p>Trust Me Mr. Sinister, no one here is "forgetting" about ANY of them. This site, like it or not, contains many members of the West Point Family. One of their own has just paid the ultimate price. They WILL be acknowledged on this forum whether its by me or someone else.</p>
<p>Mister Sinister - this is where you have some growing up to do.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Many West Pointer's have paid the ultimate sacrifice. West Point has lost more than any other Service Academy - there are cadets at West Point who have already lost classmates and friends.
As a mother of a daughter who is at MMI this year and heading to the class of 2012 - each one of these sends a dagger through my heart.</p>
<p>Class of 2005 - lost 5 in the WOT
Class of 2004 - lost 8 in the WOT
Class of 2003 - lost 5 in the WOT
and on it goes.</p>
<p>If you ever have the honor of getting to West Point the the First Captain makes an announcement that a former friend and classmates of yours has been KIA - I hope you keep your snide comments to yourself.</p>
<p>Shogun - carry on.</p>
<p>Shogun, as always thank you for posting.</p>
<p>I don't think Mister Sinister intended to sound snide. I believe he was just pointing out that we all feel each and every one of these tragic deaths as a community.</p>
<p>shogun, thank you for your diligence in posting these eulogy notices when they occur. It is a reminder of the life that our children have chosen. </p>
<p>And JustAMom, I felt those daggers a couple years ago. They're getting bigger and driving deeper as we are now more than half-way to our daughter's graduation. I cry when I look at those pictures of such young people with so much promise. Then I think of their families and hope that I never really understand the depth of their grief. I also am so thankful that we live in a world with such amazing, passionate, committed, young adults. I'm in awe of them.</p>
<p>That actually did come out pretty bad. I shouldn't of had said "does it really matter?" Because it does matter since we value every single person in the armed forces, including families. That is the sacrifice.</p>
<p>Most of us understood what you meant.</p>
<p>Mea Culpa - I apologize to Mister Sinister and whomever else I offended -I this has been on my mind.</p>
<p>Momoftwins - of course you are correct - each death is felt as tragic no matter what the rank of the individual. In no way did I intend to demean those enlisted who are serving. My sister-in-law's son served a tour in Afghanistan and one in Iraq - with the 82nd Airborne when they entered Fallujah. My kids have had friends who have and are serving in harms way - in the Army and Marines, some for the 2nd time. </p>
<p>This war is somewhat unique in that there really is no "front line" - every person over there is in harm's way regardless of their job. A young female Sgt from our area ran a mess hall in Baghdad and was tragically killed last year. Officer/Enlisted, Infantry/support - these things don't matter in this war - there is no safe rank or job.</p>
<p>
[quote]
there really is no "front line" - every person over there is in harm's way
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Over here, too.</p>
<p>"I noticed that when we have one service academy death, we almost forget about the other soldiers (both enlisted and officer) that have done the exact same thing." </p>
<p>I think we all inherently acknowledge that every soldiers death is tragic, and that every one of them has made the ultimate sacrifice. In our church we read out the names of every fallen soldier for every given week - it is sobering indeed. My morning run takes me past the home of a fallen soldier and the sign in the yard still brings tears to my eyes. However, I don't think that acknowledging a West Point graduate's death on the CC West Point forum in any way diminishes or ignores the other deaths - it merely acknowledges one that has special significance to this community.</p>