What is your instant reaction when you hear/read that someone in the military has died in Iraq or Afghanistan?

Beth

I think about his/her mother, father, siblings, wife, husband, daughters, sons...cousins. Neighbors. Co-workers. Acquaintances.

I think about the people that this death has a major effect on. I think about the sick feeling they must feel in the pit of their stomachs and the aches in their hearts. Any time I'm reading the paper and I see a service member that has died from any war I say a prayer. A prayer for their families and the people that are going to miss the hell out of them.

And after I'm done thinking about that. I think about my husband. He is in the army. I think about the friends that I have in the service and their families. I really couldn't even imagine losing any of them.

Basically, when it comes down to it. I think of how grateful I am that we still have good people in the world. I'm grateful for the life God has blessed me with, and that somebody who knew what they were getting into was willing to give the ultimate sacrafice. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for them all.

beebo8585

well that's a b*tch cause i was planning on going myself...

â™¥ Nichole[never gives up]â™¥

My initial reaction is to stand up and salute all soldiers fighting or have fought for our freedom. Then, sadness hits. Each time I see a face that lost their life's in war, I wonder if that could have been my brother/sister/mom/dad/friend and feel sorry for the families. I'm proud of our soldiers, don't get me wrong. I just wish for peace, not war.

xylon

It feels horrible to even imagine what their family is going through at that point, and makes you value life even more

Gregory

Too many mixed emotions to put my finger on it.

chrissy

it's terrible because i know that could have been my uncle but thank god it wasnt. my heart goes out to all the families that have to deal with that (:

Bill B

gratitude

11bravo619

I feel for their family. I actually feel sad and think about myself I'm in the process of going to the Army as 11Bravo infantry and will go to Afghanistan....

butterflynblack

A very bad feeling for their family and friends and a shake of the head, then wishing that there would just be peace over there, period. I just wish we could get out of there, and the whole Middle East. I know we cant, but I wish we could.

Straight is Great!

The same way I feel if someone dies in a car accident........sad. Of course I fell a little stronger about someone who CHOSE to put themselves in harms way and they deserve honor and respect.

Mari

Sad & frightened...just thinking how painful it'll be if your love one leaves for war in one piece & hoping that a knock on your door would be him/her but instead a folded flag...

butterflyzmouse

I feel a mix of emotions.

SAD for their sacrifice and the families left behind.
THANKFUL for their service to our country.
GRATEFUL that I live in a country where military service is a choice not a requirement.

Big Dirk

It's so heart-breaking, to see someone's son or daughter die, at hands of those mindless terrorists and insurgents. They are all real-life heroes, making a bold sacrifice in the name of freedom.

Bravo Golf

That the person who was killed lived up to his/her contract by defending our country with his life and sadness and respect.

Laura

it feels awful, but for some reason it's ten times worse when they show a picture or their from were i live.

colin george phoenix

In times of war you must expect casualties. I don't know why we get upset when 1 or 2 combatants die in a skirmish.Veitnam, Korea, WW2, WW1 had daily casuality rates in the thousands. Like all combat soldiers they know the risks and so do their families. (speaking from experience). Don't blame the enemy - blame the government that started the war in the first place and sat back while they fought and died.

Greg N

It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of war, and war is a fact of human life. Death is no reason to stop fighting for a cause, and regardless of what the media or some liberals would have viewers believe, this is a just war with purpose. There are also geopolitical incentives to this war that not only help us for decades to come, but are little known or understood by the general public.

imd12c

Do i know the person

Mad Viking

"I wish you didn't have to go through what you did, but I know you sacrificed so that we can continue our way of life, as have hundreds of thousands before you. Thank you."

And then I feel a sense of pride in the things the people of our country give us. I also have a strong feeling of loss, however I understand that the loss is necessary. When you forget that, you cheapen the sacrifice.

Storm

sorrow and gratitude for they have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country

Pinongpyang

sad,but after a long time you get used hearing about deaths.

davey j

I agree, "people die". People die horrific "unjust" deaths every day that are not in the media and that are not acts of war. Take a trip through an inner city hospital some time. People in other countries and here at home live lives of poverty, hunger and despair. Then they sometimes die miserable deaths. We here in the U.S. may have won the "cosmic lottery" on the whole and we're blessed by God to be born in this country. However, is not the soul of every man,woman and child in those "far off lands" animated essentially with the same Spirit of the Universe that lives within us all? A tragic death is a tragic death. Here or overseas. We must accept the things we cannot change.
>Acceptance, God's will not mine. That is what I feel.< I believe God does not micromanage. Ultimately I believe God has a plan and it will go off just fine with or without me. Each human gets but one life and each decision results in our individual and, ultimately, our collective destiny. Some of those who die in combat likely went in for the "right" reason and some of those who die likely did not. That reason is between them and God. It has little to do with us. I believe we each need to keep our side of the street clean and tend to our own lives first (you could apply the expression "think globally, act locally"). Those who choose to enlist have their reasons, and it is not for me to judge them. I will likely be deployed as a surgeon to one of the above places within the year. My decision is to go is based on a desire to serve my country and more importantly to serve my fellow human beings. Why the US is there and what exactly we are doing has little to do with it. If I get injured or killed, so it will be. (and I know my chances of being injured are quite slim compared to the young infantryman and most of the other troops.)
There is all kinds of good and bad in this world. I will try to do good and will try not to contribute to the bad. That's all I can do. I hope you will do the same.

David

Well I feel bad for their families, but I grew up with 2 members of a hospital and saw many people die, it's sad because it doesn't shock me to much anymore.

Krissy

I feel instant fear and pray it's not one of the many many people I know deployed over there. My husband returned in Jan after 15 long months of worry, but we have many more over there..any loss makes me feel so bad for the family.

Dean M

Wonder if I knew, or served with them, and hope they took a few bad guys with them.

Kristi

sad but mad at all the politicians at the same time

Geoffrey J

"Natural selection".

CRABSnSUSHI

people die.

rudedood

i feel bad on the soldiers who are sacrificing themselves for false purposes .we all know the only reason the us. haven't invaded north korea and their dictatorship is because they are as militarily capable as any other so called super power along with china and their humanitarian issues, lets face facts the us and the uk are only interested in oil ... and your cash not ,too better he world but too better their bank accounts... i ask you too find any efforts made by the government that are truly in the peoples best interests and not in the interests of the government...

Questioner1

A whole wide range of emotions come over me. Frustration, Anger, Fear, Sadness.
The whole thing is just a mess.

Watchful Occupier

Makes me think about my mom. I know sweet ain't it. lol.

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