25 Minutes Is Precious

The following quote was from an email that I received from my husband about the importance of 25 minutes. The quote is his and the rest is my own.

"Twenty-five minutes is actually valuable and precious. It could be the total amount of sleep a Soldier gets get if the camp is being attacked at night. Or, this could be the time a Marine father gets to speak with his family in a week or more. Or, this is about the amount of time a Navy corpsman has to gather his thoughts on the way to give medical aid to a brother wounded in an IED attack. Also, twenty-five minutes is plenty of time for the Air Force pilot to fly over and give close air support to his buddies on the ground. Ultimately, when Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen are saying goodbye to their beautiful families at the airport, they would give anything for another twenty-five minutes to hold them close."

In case any of you haven't heard, Barack Hussein Obama only spent 25 minutes with General McChrystal, commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Obama met with McChrystal aboard Air Force One before he departed Copenhagen to return to Washington. Obama was in the Danish capital to pitch Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic games. Taxpayers shelled out probably $1 million or more for the president, his wife and others to fly to Copenhagen and back to woo members of the International Olympic Committee. It was the first meeting in person between the two since General McChrystal took over all American and NATO forces on the ground in June. The two spoke only once after that, in a video conference call in August, until October 2 when the general joined a conference with the president by video to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
 
"I will act with proper regard for the costs and consequences of action, based on the advice of military commanders …" (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks of Senator Obama: A Sacred Trust, Kansas City, MO, 8/21/07)

"There were generals at the beginning of the conflict that said this is going to require many more troops, will cost us much more ... those generals were pushed aside." (Abdon M. Pallasch, "Obama Says He Will Listen To Generals About The War," The Chicago Sun-Times, 3/12/08)

"Ending the war [In Iraq] will help us deal with Afghanistan, which we talked about at length this morning. In 2002, I said we should focus on finishing the fight against Osama bin Laden. Throughout this campaign, I have argued that we need more troops and more resources to win the war in Afghanistan, and to confront the growing threat from al Qaeda along the Pakistani border." (Press Release, Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: National Security Avail, Richmond, VA, 9/22/08)

"I have argued for years that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq. That's what the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier this month. And that's why, as President, I will make the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks Of Senator Barack Obama: A New Strategy For A New World, Washington, DC, 7/15/08)

September
Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31
Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26
Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37
1st Sgt. Yann Hertach, 38
Pfc. Kevin Lemoine, 20
Cpl. Gabriel Poirier, 38
Pvt. James Prosser, 21
Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24
Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27
Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, 24
Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds, 23
Sgt. Edward B. Smith, 30
Spc. Joseph V. White, 21
Acting Sgt. Michael Lockett, 29
Pfc. William L. Meredith, 26
Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20
Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23
Pvt. Steffen Bloch Larsen, 23
Sgt. David A. Davis, 28
Pvt. Jonathan Couturier, 23
Lt. Antonio Fortunato, 29
Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31
1st Cpl. Maj. Matteo Mureddu, 26
1st Cpl. Maj. Giandomenico Pistonami , 26
1st Cpl. Maj. Massimiliano Randino, 32
1st Cpl. Maj. Davide Ricchiuto, 26
Sgt. Maj. Roberto Valente, 31
Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29
Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22
Trooper Brett Hall, 21
Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33
Acting Sgt. Stuart McGrath, 28
Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24
Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20
Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24
1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26
Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, 20
Pvt. Patrick Lormand, 21
Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29
Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25
Spc. Daniel L. Cox, 23
Tech Sgt. James R. Hornbarger, 33
Sgt. Tyler A. Juden, 23
Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20
Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes, 20
1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten, 24
Pfc. Piotr Marciniak, 30
Cpl. John Harrison, 29
Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31
1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25
Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30
Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22
Pvt. Artur Pyc, 27
Sgt. Maj. Mark Leijsen, 44
Cpl. Jean-François Drouin, 31
Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27
Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25
Maj. Yannick Pépin, 36
Sgt. Youvert Loney, 28
Master Cpl. Thomas Rousselle, 30
Cpl. Kevin van de Rijdt, 26
Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30
2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34
Cpl. Johan Naguin, 24
Sgt. Marcin Poreba, 32
Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Baltazar Jr., 19
Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin P. Castiglione, 21
Pvt. Gavin Elliott, 19
Lance Cpl. Richard Brando, 24

August
Pfc. Jordan M. Brochu, 20
Pvt. Kevin Elliott, 24
Lance Cpl. David R. Hall, 31
Sgt. Stuart 'Gus' Millar, 40
Spc. Tyler R. Walshe, 21
Spc. Jonathan D. Welch, 19
Staff Sgt. Jason S. Dahlke , 29
Pfc. Eric W. Hario, 19
Spc. Abraham S. Wheeler III, 22
Pfc. Matthew E. Wildes, 18
Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss, 27
Fusilier Shaun Bush, 24
Capt. John L. Hallett III, 30
Capt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30
Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer, 38
Pfc. Dennis M. Williams, 24
Sgt. Raivis Kang, 26
Warrant Officer Eerik Salmus, 26
Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Lobosco, 29
Cpl. Darby T. Morin, 25
Sgt. Matthew L. Ingram, 25
Sgt. Paul McAleese, 29
Spc. Justin R. Pellerin, 21
Pfc. Brian M. Wolverton, 21
Pvt. Johnathon Young, 18
Spc. Paul E. Dumont Jr., 23
Gunnery Sgt. Adam F. Benjamin, 34
Staff Sgt. Clayton P. Bowen, 29
1st Sgt. Jose S.N. Crisostomo, 59
Spc. Troy O. Tom, 21
Pfc. Morris L. Walker, 23
Pfc. Jonathan C. Yanney, 20
Lance Cpl. Leopold F. Damas, 26
Sgt. 1st Class William B. Woods Jr., 31
Fusilier Simon Annis, 22
Fusilier Louis Carter, 19
Lance Cpl. James Fullarton, 24
Cpl. Nicholas R. Roush, 22
Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard, 21
Cpl. Alexander Carraro, 32
Pvt. Richard Hunt, 21
Sgt. Simon Valentine, 29
Sgt. William J. Cahir, 40
Capt. Mark Hale , 42
Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23
Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19
Capt. John Tinsley, 28
Capt. Daniel Ambrozinski, 32
Lance Cpl. Bruce E. Ferrell, 21
Lance Cpl. Patrick W. Schimmel, 21
Lance Cpl. Javier Olvera, 20
Staff Sgt. Tara J. Smith, 33
Spc. Matthew K. S. Swanson, 20
Pvt. Jason George Williams, 23
Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Burro, 23
Sgt. Jerry R. Evans Jr., 23
Capt. Matthew C. Freeman, 29
Pvt. Kyle Adams, 21
Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine, 22
Lance Cpl. Travis T. Babine, 20
Cpl. Christian A. Guzman Rivera , 21
Lance Cpl. Dale Thomas Hopkins, 23
Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins, 24
Cpl. Kevin Mulligan, 26
Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia, 21
Craftsman Anthony Lombardi, 21
Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Granado, 42
Capt. Ronald G. Luce Jr., 27
Sgt. 1st Class Severin W. Summers III, 43
Cpl. Anthony Baudin, 22
Pvt. Patrick S. Fitzgibbon, 19
Pfc. Richard K. Jones, 21
Cpl. Jonathan M. Walls, 27
Spc. Alexander J. Miller, 21
Sapper Matthieu Allard, 21
Cpl. Christian Bobbitt , 23

July
Lance Cpl. Gregory A. Posey, 22
Lance Cpl. Jonathan F. Stroud, 20
Pvt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Douglas M. Vose, 38
Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, 35
Trooper Phillip Lawrence, 22
Bombardier Craig Hopson, 24
Pfc. Donald W. Vincent, 26
Spc. Justin D. Coleman, 21
Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Andrew Scott Charpentier, 21
Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25
Lance Cpl. Jeremy S. Lasher, 27
Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos, 21
Guardsman Christopher King, 20
Spc. Randy L. J. Neff Jr., 22
Sgt. Joshua J. Rimer, 24
Spc. Raymundo P. Morales, 34
Spc. Anthony M. Lightfoot, 20
Sgt. Gregory Owens Jr., 24
Pfc. Dennis J. Pratt, 34
Spc. Andrew J. Roughton, 21
Capt. Daniel Shepherd, 28
Cpl. Joseph Etchells, 22
Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp, 21
Pvt. Benjamin Ranaudo, 22
Rifleman Aminiasi Toge, 26
Capt. Thomas J. Gramith, 27
Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26
Pvt. Sebastien Courcy, 26
1st Cpl. Maj. Alessandro Di Lisio, 25
Sgt. 1st Class Jason J. Fabrizi, 29
Sgt. Michael W. Heede Jr., 22
Staff Sgt. David S. Spicer, 33
Staff Sgt. Eric J. Lindstrom, 27
Lance Cpl. Pedro A. Barboza Flores, 27
Master Sgt. Jerome D. Hatfield, 36
Rifleman William Aldridge, 18
Rifleman James Backhouse, 18
Cpl. Jonathan Horne, 28
Cpl. Matthew R. Lembke, 22
Rifleman Joseph Murphy, 18
Cpl. Lee Scott, 26
Rifleman Daniel Simpson, 20
Pvt. John Brackpool, 27
Spc. Joshua R. Farris , 22
Rifleman Daniel Hume, 22
Lance Cpl. Roger G. Hager, 20
Master Sgt. John E. Hayes, 36
Spc. Gregory J. Missman, 36
Sgt. Michael C. Roy, 25
Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Darren Ethan Tate, 21
Spc. Christopher M. Talbert, 24
Master Cpl. Patrice Audet, 38
Capt. Ben Babington-Browne, 27
Sgt. Brock H. Chavers, 25
Capt. Mark A. Garner, 30
Pfc. Nicolas H. J. Gideon, 20
Spc. Chester W. Hosford, 35
Cpl. Martin Joannette, 25
Spc. Issac L. Johnson, 24
Petty Officer 2nd Class Tony Michael Randolph, 22
2nd Lt. Derwin I. Williams, 41
Lance Cpl. Dane Elson, 22
Master Cpl. Charles-Philippe Michaud, 28
Pfc. Justin A. Casillas, 19
Lance Cpl. David Dennis, 29
Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn, 20
Pvt. Robert Laws, 18
Cpl. Nicholas Bulger, 30
Lance Cpl. Charles S. Sharp, 20
Trooper Joshua Hammond, 18
Lt. Col. Rupert Thorneloe, 39
Trooper Christopher Whiteside, 20

June
Sgt. Terry J. Lynch, 22
Pvt. Steven T. Drees, 19
Pfc. Peter K. Cross, 20
1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw, 24
Pfc. Martin Brunn, 23
Pfc. Oleg Meiling, 21
Pfc. Alexander Schleiernick, 23
Sgt. Ricky D. Jones, 26
Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas, 27
1st Sgt. John D. Blair, 38
Command Master Chief Jeffrey J. Garber, 43
Maj. Sean Birchall, 33
Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43
Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26
Pvt. Martin Abildgaard, 23
Pfc. Andreas S. Brohus, 26
Sgt. 1st Class Kevin A. Dupont, 52
Pvt. Mads Lerche Rasmussen, 21
Spc. Jonathan C. O'Neill , 22
Warrant Officer Allain Tikko, 30
Cpl. Martin Dubé, 35
Lt. Paul Mervis, 27
Pvt. Robert McLaren, 20
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky L. Richardson Jr., 33
Spc. Eduardo S. Silva, 25
Pvt. Alexandre Péloquin, 20
Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Whittle, 20
Maj. Rocco M. Barnes, 50
Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39
Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37
Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21
Spc. Jarrett P. Griemel, 20
Spc. Roberto A. Hernandez II, 21
Rifleman Cyrus Thatcher, 19
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall, 28
Sgt. Jasper K. Obakrairur, 26
Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden, 33
Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson, 19

In Memory of Josh Melton. I didn't know you were gone until I was going through the casualty lists. I'm sorry I didn't do enough to get you home. I love you, brother.

~Libz