The practicalities of war are breaking my heart. [View All]

The son of one of my co-workers was just deployed to Iraq (for either the second or third time). He's a Navy corpsman attached to the Marines of the 38th, heading for Ramada. The unit they are replacing had a 65% casualty rate.

When I tried to say something positive, all I could come up with was, "Well, at least he's a corpsman, so he won't be targeted, right?"

At which point my co-worker told me that isn't how it works: wearing the traditional "Red Cross" is basically just a big bullseye for snipers, because every downed corpsman means twenty-five marines who won't be able to "go out" to fight.

One man's death = twenty-five fighters out of commission. In a very horrible way, I understand why the medics are being targeted -- and it is breaking my heart.

I cannot find curses vile enough to express my feelings.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: