Yikes: http://culturewars.com/CultureWars/Archives/Fidelity_archives/parricide.html So much for a happy celebration of Bastille Day (yesterday). The things people do to each other… Sigh. It’s on teh Internets, so it must be true! Alas, not much in the way of references there, so for me, for now, a grain of salt. But I think I want to know more, in a way that doesn’t really want to know that sort of thing at all. Compared to that account, the worst doings in Iraq and Afghanistan are the work of a few isolated children.

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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Staff Sgt. Raul M. Guerra, 37, of Union City, New Jersey, died July 4, in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Jonathan Batista, 22, of Kinnelon, New Jersey, died July 8, in Zharay, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Cpl. Juan P. Navarro, 23, of Austin, Texas, died July 7, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija, 31, of Tampa, Florida, died July 8, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Erica P. Alecksen, 21, of Eatonton, Georgia, died July 8, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Clarence Williams III, 23, of Brooksville, Fla., died July 8, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device.
• Pfc. Trevor B. Adkins, 21, of Spring Lake, North Carolina, died July 8, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device.
• Pfc. Alejandro J. Pardo, 21, of Porterville, California, died July 8, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device.
• Pfc. Cameron J. Stambaugh, 20, of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, died July 8, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Sterling W. Wyatt, 21, of Columbia, Missouri, died July 11, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Michael E. Ristau, 25, of Rockford, Illinois, died July 13 in Qalat, Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.

And I’m back, having not forgotten my self-imposed duty to recognize, this day and every day, the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform on our behalf.

Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, 32, of Hamilton, Ohio, died June 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. Michael J. Strachota, 28, of White Hall, Arkansas, died June 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Cody O. Moosman, 24, of Preston, Idaho, died July 3, in Gayan Alwara Mandi, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Capt. Bruce A. MacFarlane, 46, of Oviedo, Florida, died July 6, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

We have power. As of this afternoon, there are still six hundred thousand without that boon, in Maryland alone. Lucky us. Stores are closed, or selling dry goods only, using generator power. Gas stations that have power (and still have gas) have lines around the block. And the power companies are saying that they might be at 90% restored by the week’s end. Yeah, a hurricane-style  hit to the region without warning, without the ability to call in out-of-state help in advance, and pre-position assets really sucks. But temps are staying in the high 90’s through at least the fourth. Sucks to be without power and AC, and your food is rotting in the fridge.

Lucky us…

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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Maj. Paul C. Voelke, 36, of Monroe, New York, died Jun. 22 in Mazar E. Sharif, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, 23, of Tallahassee, Florida, died June 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan, 21, of Norman, Indiana, died June 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, 23, of Arlington, Virginia, died June 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Michigan, died June 26, in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
• 1st Lt. Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24, of Lexington, Virginia, died June 27, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Alabama, died June 27, in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Of course, that subject doesn’t apply to those who either aren’t, or don’t have, “happy fathers”. So goes life. I’ve been busy, no point in boring you with the details this time. School, work, yardwork, sleep – that’s it, in a nutshell.

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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:

• Pfc. Nathan T. Davis, 20, Yucaipa, California, died June 9, in Tore Obeh, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore, 25, New Windsor, Illinois, died June 10, in Panjwai, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy small arms fire.
• Cpl. Taylor J. Baune, 21, of Andover, Minnesota, died June 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. 1st Class Barett W. McNabb, 33, of Chino Valley, Arizona, died June 12, in Khakrez, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti, 30, of San Diego, California, died June 15, in Spedar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Spc. Trevor A. Pinnick, 20, of Lawrenceville, Illinois, died June 12 in Panjwa`l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Joseph M. Lilly, 25, of Flint, Michigan, died June 14 in a medical treatment facility at Kandahar Air Field of wounds suffered in an attack at Panjwa`l, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on June 12.