1 To know just how heroic these guys are read a book called Imperial Grunts by Robert Kaplan. It explains everything about "forward operating bases", the special forces, our non-commissioned officer corps, the Pentagon's "map" of the world, you name it. Fascinating read and it will open your eyes up to how our military works like nothing else I've ever read. This Col. Wood was a true professional, a hero, and a great American.

2 I don't need a book, just my memories. The death of any soldier is a loss, but this is more so, because good commanders take years to make. But you know what? That's one thing we're good at. We could lose ten battalion commanders for every terrorist "mastermind" we kill, and we'd still be winning, because in our military are some of the best and brightest our nation produces, and we produce them by the hundreds and thousands, whereas a 'slamotard with an IQ over 100 is about as common as frog-fur coats.

3 In the field with his men - a true soldier - he will not be forgotten - he will be missed - he can rest with the knowledge that countless others stand ready to carry on in his place.

4 In today's Army, there is little room for those who don't lead from the front. When you consider that today's is a volunteer, and that most, if not all, could have chosen just as easily to remain a civilian, but didn't, it really says something. Those who birthed the wretched Boomers have been called the Greatest Generation because they won WW2, but they were mostly drafted and had little choice. Not to diminish their sacrifices, but those were different times. Every soldier, sailer, airman, and Marine in theaters of deployment today, especially on the sharp end, are there because they are truly the greatest generation, because they are there of their own free will, risking their all for the sake of others, with no hope of a great reward, or even the gratitude of those they help or many of their countrymen. They offer their lives and futures so that freedom will not die. Like Patton said, we should not mourn the deaths of these men, we should be grateful that such men lived.

5 Check the name on this one. CNN issued an incorrect report, and killed a soldier who is still alive. The officer who died was Col. William Wood, not Todd Wood.

6 Jesus. Not only can't they get the facts right, they can't even get names right.

7 http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/103105N.shtml

8 Well CNN correctly reported what the DoD gave out to them. The DoD reported his name as Col. William W Wood. They also reported his death as occurring last Thursday, Oct 27th.http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20051031-5023.html 30 -40 years ago one sure way of telling whether someone was a FNG, a REMF, or was short was by how much respect he gave his enemy. We are engaged with a dedicated,resourcefull, and adaptable enemy. I do not think that we should denigrate our OWN effort by trivializing our opponent. This is a tough fight.