I never met nor knew Jonathan Curtis or Andrew Meari.
Until last week they were two of thousands of American troops serving in Afghanistan.
We can debate the need and the direction of the campaign in Afghanistan all we want. This, however, isn’t that time.
Curtis and Meari were members of the 101st Airborne Division’s Alpha Company. They were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a motorcycle while the two young men were on patrol.
The story posted on NPR is brief – you have to listen to the audio of the memorial service to get the full effect. If tears don’t well up in your eyes or you are untouched emotionally, well, let’s just say I’d be surprised.
And perhaps the most telling line of the printed piece is this final paragraph:
“15 American troops have died in Afghanistan so far this month. It's only the 9th of November.”
Today, keep the Curtis and Meari families in your prayers, and those of so many families you don’t know the names of as their sons, daughters, husbands and wives serve our country honorably overseas and here at home.
What is the Prince of War?
Sorry, misread that. Nevermind.