Eric Griego returned home Thursday to the warm embrace of his 4-year-old daughter Rylie — a story we brought to you on Friday. Missing one lung and the top lobe of the other due to a combat injury in Afghanistan, the 22-year-old soldier from Mesa is one of the “lucky” ones.
He came home alive.
This year alone, at least 498 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan — more than the 486 who died in the first six years of the conflict combined. It brings the 10-year total in Afghanistan to 1,343, and comes alongside the war in Iraq, where 4,430 U.S. soldiers have died since 2003.
According to data compiled by the Associated Press, 132 of those service men and women listed Arizona as their home. And 21 came from right here in the East Valley.
Remember when such statistics shocked us? When the news that a family here had lost a loved one made headlines and galvanized a community?
Sadly, we’ve become numb to such news. The war has dragged on so long and the death toll has climbed so high that, unless we know a fallen soldier or his family personally, we’ve become immune to these tragic occurrences.
A Bloomberg national poll conducted in December asked voters what they saw as the most important issue facing the country right now. Unemployment/jobs, the federal deficit/spending and health care topped the list.
The war in Afghanistan garnered only 7 percent of the vote.
This comes at a time when the conflict in Iraq is nearing an end; the deadline for complete withdrawal of U.S. troops is the end of 2011. But in Afghanistan, President Obama has tripled the number of troops since 2008 to roughly 100,000.
To the families who have suffered losses, the only number that matters is 1.
One person who was taken from them. One person who will not be around to watch his or her children grow up. One person whose companionship and contributions to family and friends will sorely be missed.
One person we should never forget.
In the East Valley, we’ve listed each of the names of fallen soldiers below. Some, like Pat Tillman, are well-known. Others are known only to friends and family. But each gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country.
Regardless of how you feel about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, don’t let the news of those who have died fighting for our country fall into the back of your consciousness. Remember each of their names.
And remember people like Eric Griego, who come home dealing with physical and emotional pains that most of us can only imagine.
They deserve as much.
—
EAST VALLEY CASUALTIES FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
IRAQ
Lt. Nathan D. White, 30, Mesa. Died April 2, 2003 in Iraq.
Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, 42, Mesa. Died Feb. 9, 2004 in Sinjar
Spec. Justin B. Onwordi, 28, Chandler. Died Aug. 2, 2004 in Baghdad
Spec. Andrew C. Ehrlich, 21, Mesa. Died Oct. 18, 2004 in Muqdadiyah
Hospitalman Robert N. Martens, 20, Queen Creek. Died Sept. 6, 2005 in Qaim
Sgt. Howard P. Allen, 31, Mesa. Died Sept. 26, 2005 in Baghdad
Spec. Jeremiah W. Robinson, 20, Mesa. Died Oct. 6, 2005 in Baghdad
Pfc. Joseph J. Duenas, 23, Mesa. Died March 30, 2006 in Kirkuk
Sgt. Jason J. Merrill, 22, Mesa. Died Sept. 3, 2006 in Baghdad.
Sgt. Nicholas R. Sowinski, 25, Tempe. Died Oct. 11, 2006 in Baghdad
Spec. Douglas C. Desjardins, 24, Mesa. Died Nov. 5, 2006 in Anbar province
Pvt. Kelly D. Youngblood, 19, Mesa. Died Feb. 18, 2007 in Anbar province
Sgt. Caleb P. Christopher, 25, Chandler. Died June 3, 2007 in Baghdad
AFGHANISTAN
Spec. Patrick D. Tillman, 27, Chandler. Died April 22, 2004 near Salerno
Staff Sgt. Brian S. Hobbs, 31, Mesa. Died Oct. 14, 2004 in Miam Do
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Hershel D. McCants Jr., 33, Mesa. Died Feb. 18, 2007 in southeastern Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez-Castaneda, 19, Mesa. Died Aug. 14, 2008 in Helmand province
Capt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30, Mesa. Died Aug. 25, 2009 in Sha Wali Kot
Sgt. 1st Class Glen J. Whetten, 31, Mesa. Died March 3, 2010 near Kandahar
Pfc. Barbara Vieyra, 22, Mesa. Died Sept. 18, 2010 in the Kunar Province
Sgt. Aaron B. Cruttenden, 25, Mesa. Died Nov. 7, 2010 in the Kunar Province
Dale Whiting posted at 9:51 am on Sun, Jan 2, 2011.
Implied in the theme of not forgetting those who have died in the service of our country on active duty within the several branches of the military is the recollection of how we did forget those who once served in Vietnam. We ought to not forget those who return alive, either. Unlike Vietnam, we now recognize Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] and provide treatment for it. But do we act to prevent this disorder? Not yet.
And we do recognize the toxic effects wrought on our Vietnam veterans by Agent Orange. Few Agent Orange sufferers have survived. Many, including two whom I knew, died before its ravages were acknowledged.
Today's Agent Orange parallel is more easily recognized. It is the numerous Improvised Explosive Devices [IED's] which line the avenues and roadways in Afghanistan. And because the carnage IED's create is without dispute, we act promptly to save the life and [frequently, though not always] limbs of its victims.
When we say we cannot forget these modern day, contemporary returning heroes in one breath, and in the next breath say we need to cut back government spending, remember those heroes who have not fallen, but who have returned and who yet will be returning with PTSD and lost limbs. Do not cut VA medical resources one dime!
There is one prevention technique which applies to both of these "diseases," and which arguably preserves both the life and limb of our treasured youth and our monetary treasury, too. We must learn to beat our swords into plow sheers and our spears into pruning hooks and study [and wage] war no more. Isaiah 2:2-5.
Where a prominent Polish military theoretician once observed that "war is the extension of diplomacy by alternate means," we must do much more than we have by way of diplomacy, even developing diplomatic means to reach out to disaffected Non-Governmental Militant Groups [NGMG's, terrorists if you will] or we will be spending ourselves into ruin and then be obliged to cut and run from those whose sacrifices we now opine we must not forget.
P.S.
For Slabside.
I spell checked this before cutting and pasting it from my word processing program. I quoted Klausowitz from memory. One of those known to me who died of Agent Orange was a former commander of mine, the other was a co-worker. I got the facts first before I opined.
Slabside posted at 11:03 am on Sun, Jan 2, 2011.
Thank you Dale, I am honored. I agree with this story and your post.
Dale Whiting posted at 11:59 am on Sun, Jan 2, 2011.
Slabside,
I'm touched. I had expected you to object to those last two paragraphs. Much of the factual support for the conclusions I state there comes from my readings. The one I would have you start with is "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson [with co-writer]. You can easily buy it in print in the bookstores or on line, or you can arrange to borrow it from me.
In "Three Cups," you will see how highly effective Non-Governmental Organizations [NGO's] can be to fight terrorism, and how truely generous and charitable most Muslims really are. And Mortenson did not co-write "Three Cups" or its sequel, "Stones into Schools" to line his pocket$. Profits go to support the NGO he founded to bulld schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In time, I believe Mortenson will have done more with his NGO to promote peace and a true winning of the war on terrorism than any mount of boots on the ground will ever do.
Slabside posted at 2:23 pm on Sun, Jan 2, 2011.
Dale, I firmly believe that most Muslims are generous and charitable. It's the radical Muslims bent on killing any non-Muslim that worry me. Talking peace with these radicals will NEVER prevail no matter how much liberals want it to. The only speech they understand is a 5.56 between the eyes.
EmperorSmith posted at 5:38 pm on Sun, Jan 2, 2011.
My heart goes out but I say we are should not be the worlds guardians and personally; I hate New Yorkes and every other self righteous liberal hack
Dale Whiting posted at 2:04 pm on Mon, Jan 3, 2011.
Let's talk more about that majority of peace loving, generous Muslims. I've lived with them, taken classes with them, worked with them, broke bread with them, travelled in their counties and otherwise know what I am talking about. So does Rich.
The problem is we have allowed a dozen or so to so instill in us fear of terrorism leading us to all but derailed our economy. We are fighting two wars, invading the wrong country for the wrong reasons, invading the other using the wrong methods and instilling hatred of us by so doing.
Tell me Slabside, what do you see as being the next steps? Do we stay the course in Afghanistan and see to fruition those reservations that drove Stan McChrystal to get himself fired? Do we withdraw from Iraq by this time next year, having made Iraq safe for the democratically elected al Maliki, a Shia Muslim who, representing the vast majority of Iraqi Muslims, is likely to cotten up to Iran? And is having Iran and Iraq become allies really so bad?
These are the questions needing answers.
Slabside posted at 2:21 pm on Mon, Jan 3, 2011.
Dale, there are more than "a dozen or so" radical Muslims instilling fear so right off the bat you are trying to backpeddle on this issue. There are thousands if not tens of thousands. The next step is to win in Afganistan. We need to wage the type of war that Patton, Eisenhower and MacArthur knew how to wage. Get the blasted news press out of the war zone and stop prosecuting soldiers for doing their job. You are haunted by the Vietnam catastrophe and the way the politicians interferred. We need to kick A and then get out. That's what I would do.
EmperorSmith posted at 4:06 pm on Mon, Jan 3, 2011.
I have broke bread and some beef with a friend from Persia. Why do the hate hate us?
EmperorSmith posted at 4:17 pm on Mon, Jan 3, 2011.
they seem to only hate
Slabside posted at 5:15 pm on Mon, Jan 3, 2011.
Islam... the religion of peace. SILENCE! I KILL YOU!!!
Dale Whiting posted at 9:46 am on Fri, Jan 14, 2011.
Not so. Slab and Empereor. Just ask Rich! He has family who are Muslim. I only have friends from over the past 40 + years.
Freethinker posted at 9:49 am on Mon, Jan 31, 2011.
Dale Whiting wrote:
"We must learn to beat our swords into plow sheers and our spears into pruning hooks and study [and wage] war no more. Isaiah 2:2-5."
Actually it's just Isaiah 2:4
And it is directly contradicted just six books later:
Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
As for the "majority of peace loving, generous Muslims" - I have the same problem with them as I have with mainstream Christians, and that is this; they are quick to point fingers at other groups' dissidents, yet are doing NOTHING to clean up their own.
To make it clearer - if I was a member of a group that I truly believed in, and a few members of the group decided to do bad things and give the group a bad name, I would have two choices.
Band together with others in the group and stop the radicals.
Or
Quit the group.