One of the latest U.S. casualties in Iraq: Army Specialist Michael J. Smith of Media, Pennsylvania, was killed in action last Tuesday. He was 24. (And he was not the first Michael J. Smith to die in Iraq.)
The Defense Department issued the usual antiseptic press release. The news has created a little more buzz online, because Specialist Smith maintained an infrequently updated blog that hinted at how he felt about some of his experiences (“so i think i might have made a mistake,” a November post started; it concluded “this place sucks”) without elaborating). The blog itself is simple to the point of poignancy. Smith’s last post, titled “regrets, i’ve had a few,” is dated eight days before his death:
“so i’ve been thinking a lot lately.
that time at the college… nope…
those countless times in the car… nope…
the party? you guessed it… NOPE
i know i’ve always said i don’t regret anything i’ve done in my life, but i think i found one.
——————————————–
it’s time to call my dad. it’s his birthday today
——————————————–
beauty and the beast is such a great movie
——————————————–
i need a day offthat is all…
missing you
and all of you too
-Mike”
Some of Smith’s fellow LiveJournal bloggers have posted about his death (here and here, for instance). Several papers in eastern Pennsylvania and his hometown paper, the Daily Times in Delaware County, ran a feature on him last week:
“James Smith, who lives in Coatesville, Chester County, learned of his son’s death Tuesday night. Smith said the officers who delivered the news were professional and supportive.
” ‘I don’t know that I could do that job,’ he said.
“Smith said his son did not show any interest in the military as a child.
” ‘It was a couple of years ago he came to me and said, ‘Dad, I’m going to join the Army.’
“Smith said the terrorist attacks of 9/11 probably influenced his son’s decision to join the Army in November 2002. Whatever the reason, it was supported by the family.
” ‘He believed in the liberation of Iraq, and so do I,’ Smith said. ‘He died doing what he believed.’ ”
Stories along the same lines appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News.
Dan: This is a good post. I read this last night and checked out the guy’s weblog. Yeah, this is real sad stuff and there is bound to be a lot more of it in the coming years. These are real people with lives and everything. In the meantime, the guys in DC stand astride the nation, taking in all the glory. It is no wonder that it is easier (for me) to talk about the 10 dollar Ragu sauce than the soldier. Well, it will all end somewhere.