A Soldier's Last Words

>>>>A Soldier's Last Words: Listen Up CBS, CNN, Cindy Sheehan, Al Franken>>by Louisa Centanni>>>>SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most >>touching, inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the >>tragedy of 9/11 - and since our nation went to war.>>>>SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and talented writer. He died in >>Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was a loving husband, brother and >>son. His service was more than this country could ever grasp - but >>the least you can do for the man who sacrificed his life for you >>... is listen to what he had to say.>>>>Listen up and pay attention to all of the Cindy Sheehans and Al >>Frankens of the world. To MSNBC, CNN, and CBS. To all who call >>themselves Americans ... Hope Rides Alone.>>>>Hope Rides Alone>>>>By Eddie Jeffers>>>>I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city >>burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the >>familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me >>pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly >>rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me >>from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others.>>>>I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. >>Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will >>someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am >>just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones >>I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because >>death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around >>street corners and windows, and it is always there.>>>>There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and >>actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. >>I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. >>Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same >>streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not.>>>>And to think, I volunteered for this...>>>>And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.>>>>But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi , Iraq , the cries and >>screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I >>will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that >>doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, >>I will walk down the streets of America , and see the yellow ribbon >>stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.>>>>I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the >>Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout >>off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is >>their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by >>hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, >>far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what >>they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is >>nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action >>is Private First Class.>>>>People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but >>to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they >>are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there >>are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are >>not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the >>rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would >>experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the >>shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective >>though, as many men and women have died since the start of this >>war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the >>inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, >>the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. >>The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. >>The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our >>lives. And they do not realize it.>>But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing >>the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from >>society...and they are becoming our enemy.>>>>Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" >>around and compare this war to Vietnam . In a way they are right, >>this war is becoming like Vietnam . Not the actual war, but in the >>isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; >>they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are >>here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for >>their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with >>politics, that it is interfering with our war.>>>>Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the >>Internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills >>an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and >>sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.>>>>It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to >>this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people >>stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence >>of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last >>time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and >>hospitals in Iraq ? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained >>or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their >>hatred of Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just >>might show people that Bush was right.>>>>America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend >>what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is >>that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a >>single thing. It's not like World War Two, where people rationed >>food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The >>American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless >>you are in the military or the family member of a service member, >>its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.>>>>But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, >>and they try to piece together what's left of them after their >>service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy >>Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out >>the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent >>dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They >>will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the >>horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can >>complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; >>things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken >>upon their shoulders.>>>>We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else >>wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want >>a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place >>where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they >>do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, >>rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, >>but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But >>the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the >>burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, >>whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking >>yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, >>our troops and our cause.>>>>Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, >>hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there >>is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a >>people, if it doesn't.>>>>Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the >>bickering, let's stop all the bad news, and let's stand and fight!>>>>>>Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes:>>>>I'm not sure how many letters or articles you've ever read from the >>genre of "News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've >>ever read, including all of America's wars. As I was reading this, >>I forgot that it was my son who had written it. My emotions range >>from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my little boy (22 >>years old) has become this man.>>>>He is my hero. Thank all of you for your prayers for him; he needs >>them now more than ever. God bless.>>>>Though Eddie is no longer with us, you can help to let his voice be heard.>>