A Marine Dies in Iraq

By Gerard Meister

On the day that our casualties in Iraq reached the grim 2,000 dead mark, The New York Times printed an excerpt from a letter that Marine Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr left on his computer to be delivered to his girl friend in the event of his death. Jeffrey Starr met his end in a firefight in Ramadi on April 30th during his third tour in Iraq.

Here is the excerpt the Times saw fit to print: "I kind of predicted this," Cpl. Starr wrote of his own death. "A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances."

And here is the rest of his letter; including the parts the Times in its 4,624 word-opus did not see fit to print:

"Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances. I don't regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

Isn't it ironic that it is only by virtue of the just and heroic actions of every day Americans such as Jeffrey Starr that bestows on the Times, nee on all of us, the freedom to speak our minds and to dream that someday the world would be a better place. And may god continue to bless America.

Epilogue: in a letter to Shellie Starr the fallen marine's mother, I wrote:

Dear Mrs., Starr,
The reprehensible article in the New York Times does not diminish the righteous valor of your son, Jeffrey B. Star. Rather, it is the Times that is diminished by its deplorable piece about his death. America will forever reign as the land of the free because it continues to be the home of the brave now that Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr has been added to our nation's pantheon of heroes.
Sincerely,
Gerard Meister