Real War, Real People, Real Cost

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. — Andy Olmstead

  Andy Olmsted was a blogger who wrote for several blogs including Winds of Change and had a column in the Rocky Mountain News.  He was also an Army Reservist recalled to active duty in Iraq . He was killed in an ambush yesterday. 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 0013-08 January 04, 2008

DoD Identifies Army Casualties             The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Jan. 3 in As Sadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small arms fire during combat operations. Both Soldiers were assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.               Killed were:               Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo.                Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M.               For further information related to this release, contact Fort Riley public affairs at (785) 239-3410.

Read the rest of his final post here – it is compelling and composure challenging.  Rest in peace Andy and God bless your your family.

(h/t Skippy)