The War in Afganistan Is NOT Over...

[len1582]

N.J. Marine killed in Afghanistan


A Marine from Bergen County, N.J. was killed in Afghanistan, according to a press release issued by the Department of Defense.

Lance Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca, 20, of North Arlington died Feb. 10 during combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand province, the release said.

Montes De Oca was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Keenque]

Did anyone say it is over?

Prayers for him.

[len1582]

No. It just angers me that this young man is taken from his family.

[MalahatTwo7]

No. It just angers me that this young man is taken from his family.

I hear your pain Friend. I think nearly everyone in this forum has lost a friend or two "Over There". I know I've had a few get seriously injured and more than one or two students from my unit, Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (Medical and Dental) who came home in a different version of "first class travel".

It is a very small and very cold comfort, but each time I think of the casualties and sacrifices of the families from Iraq and Afghanistan, I also think of those from the Beaches Of Normandy and of those families, maybe this conflict is not quite so bad. Not so bad maybe because in the last 10 years of pretty much a major score on the casualty list compared to the first 5 minutes of combat in 1944. Cold comfort yes, but still something that is mostly positive.

[FIREMECH1]

Deleted comment.

FM1

[Miller337]

I hear your pain Friend. I think nearly everyone in this forum has lost a friend or two "Over There". I know I've had a few get seriously injured and more than one or two students from my unit, Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (Medical and Dental) who came home in a different version of "first class travel".

It is a very small and very cold comfort, but each time I think of the casualties and sacrifices of the families from Iraq and Afghanistan, I also think of those from the Beaches Of Normandy and of those families, maybe this conflict is not quite so bad. Not so bad maybe because in the last 10 years of pretty much a major score on the casualty list compared to the first 5 minutes of combat in 1944. Cold comfort yes, but still something that is mostly positive.

I don't know buddy, in WW2 there was a tangible goal. There are days I wonder what these kids are being fed into the meat grinder for. Every time our guys go in and make the world a little safer and better it seems their sacrifices are squandered on some weird political goal that no one is in favor of except a very select few who have no concept of reality.
These days it just makes me sad.

[MalahatTwo7]

I don't know buddy, in WW2 there was a tangible goal. There are days I wonder what these kids are being fed into the meat grinder for. Every time our guys go in and make the world a little safer and better it seems their sacrifices are squandered on some weird political goal that no one is in favor of except a very select few who have no concept of reality.
These days it just makes me sad.

And ya know Miller, I can not in any way shape or form disagree. Now that you've put the words out, your're right. There is no defined, specific "goal". The only mission statements have been the "War on Terroism". Pretty bland and wide-encompassing, I'd say. Especially when terroism is a concept not a people or a place. I was watching Vietnam in HD on the History channel last night, and could not help but note many similarities between Afghanistan and Vietnam in 1965/66 when OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER initiated. The commentary from Joe Gallaway about when he first arrived in Vietnam, and how the troops were excited to be there, but at the same time were frustrated because they "could not see the enemy and didnt know who or where he was." Sound familiar?