Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Iraq War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq War. Show all posts

Thursday, April 20, 2017

The last words of SPC Jordan Shay



April 20, 2017 by Kevin Dayhoff

I awakened early this morning to an odd email that enigmatically resulted from a series of events from 2009 – August, late summer 2009. On any given day, I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, much less, recall events from eight-years ago.

But it came to me quickly. The email came from a commenter on a post on one of the several ‘milblogging’ conflict-blogs that I followed a number of years ago. Some of which involved writers, and folks I knew, or areas of the world in which I was somewhat aware, or had colleagues, or friends, or friends of friends who were participating in operations in the area.

Many of them were sad, and often reminded me in many ways of reading about the events involved in the Boer War, as depicted in the Bruce Beresford, 1980 cult classic, “Breaker Morant,” about un-real events in 1901, in South Africa - or Peter Weir’s 1981, “Gallipoli.”

Storytelling about unremarkable specific events in a character’s life that are compelling because they provide an insight into a larger narrative about war, conflict, heroism, empire – and ordinary folks involved in ordinary events who step-up to accomplish extraordinary accomplishments that defy any reasonable explanation.

Through Aber Lenses,” http://throughamberlenses.blogspot.com/, was written by SPC Jordan Shay who was serving as an infantry fireteam leader in the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment in Iraq; placed like Diyala Province.

Shortly after his post, “The Promised ‘Real’ Post,” was published in August 2009, he was killed in action on September 2, 2009. He poignantly left behind, dedicated friends, avid readers who had gotten to know him through his excellent writing, and a loving family and girlfriend.

This reminds one of the great writers that were killed in World War I. Spc. Shay had gifted voice that brought to life the moment by moment otherwise unremarkable daily events that would become a part of greater collage of a war zone – that made sense, because it made no sense.

To be certain, I did not know Spc. Shay, but to be reading his writing, just before his death, quickly became a touchstone that gave you chills and a pause for thought – a trigger event, if you will, for all the folks on the Carroll County Vietnam Memorial that I knew – or knew of through mutual friends and family. Carroll County was much smaller in those days and in many ways, much-much more closely knit.

I learned early in life, by way of writing experiences, leadership events, the Marine Corps, the Vietnam War, advocating for Civil Rights, sports, or binge-reading southern gothic literature; that success in life is hinged upon how well one deals with tragic setbacks, extreme difficulty and abject failure. The unexplained sudden loss, and totally unpredictable random setbacks that seem to have no relationship to how hard you tried.

During the Vietnam War, we did not talk about the war, our military service, or G_d forbid, our feelings. Even those of us, like me, who never deployed and stayed stateside. And we sure as heck did not write about our experience on a website that could be accessed from all over the world. We kept to ourselves to ‘protect ourselves’ against all the folks in society who brandished the peace symbol, burned the flag, and plead for tolerance for their point of view, who heaped scorn upon us.

The post, “The Promised ‘Real’ Post,” is compelling – as are the heartfelt and meaningful comments, for a change, that filled-in many of the missing pieces of the puzzle. One writer wrote, “This is very painful. We writers take loss very hard, especially when one as young as Jordan passes. We realize that he had so little time to share his gift, and regret he didn't get to share more. But these words --what he saw, how he thought, what he felt, will be with the world forever. Writing was part of his legacy…”

We seem to have some sort of primal-programming to accept loss, and move-on quickly. I guess when the dinosaur ate your best friend, you were not going to survive, if you hung around wallowing in grief when the dinosaur choose to chase you for dessert.

Rest in peace brother, your watch is over we will take it from here, you duty is done here, God has your place in heaven.

Or better yet, paraphrased from someone far brighter than me, “God will be merciful to his good soul. Thank you for your service, dedication, and sacrifice. Rest in Peace. Semper Fidelis from an old Marine. Now for the last time, set that weapon down on pods, on the deck of Heaven's chow hall.”

There are no guarantees in life. Every morning I put on the “The Whole Armor of God” God will be merciful to his good soul. Thank you for your service, dedication, and sacrifice. Rest in Peace. Semper Fidelis from an old Marine. Now for the last time, set that weapon down on pods, on the deck of Heaven's chow hall.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6: 10-18

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Related:

The last post of 5/20 Milblogger Jordan Shay KIA Iraq Sept 2 2009



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Thank you Jordan for all your work. Rest in peace, your labor is done. We salute you. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Kels, let us know if there is anything you need. 

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Amesbury soldier killed in Iraq by Marie Szaniszlo |Friday, September 4, 2009|http://www.bostonherald.com|Local Coverage


A 22-year-old Amesbury soldier was killed this week on his second tour of duty in Iraq, town officials said.

Jordan Shay, an E4 leader in an attack company assigned to the 5th Battalion of the 20th Infantry regiment, was killed Tuesday, said Kristen LaRue, director of veteran’s services.

Details about how Shay was killed have not yet been released. But he belonged to the 3rd Stryker Brigade, based in Fort Lewis, Wash., and was on his third tour of duty, LaRue said.

The day before he was killed was the last time he logged on to his MySpace [website] page, where a clock counting down how many days he had left in the Army is still running.

“Our hearts and our prayers are with the Shay family,” she said. “As a community, we are standing together to assist the family in any way.”

Flags have been lowered to half-staff across town in memory of Shay, who graduated from Amesbury High School in 2005.



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Friday, September 04, 2009


At times he must have been no more than two hundred feet from me, but I never had the privilege to meet Jordan Shay. Together we chewed up the most inhospitable terrain on earth, and back on Ft. Lewis, we worked daily in the same dilapidated Korean War era barracks. The only connection I shared with Jordan was through the comments section of his blog, which I keep linked on the top of the page under our unit crest. Though our companies faced a heated inter-battalion rivalry, Attack Company was always in the thick of combat with my company, Battle. They shouldered a far greater burden than us, sustaining eight KIAs to our two. Jordan, at 22 years old, saw more combat than a lot of crusty old vets before he could legally buy a beer. For his third combat tour with the 3rd Stryker Brigade, Jordan started a blog to chronicle his experience. He named it Through Amber Lenses, the color of his sunglasses. He wanted to explain to the world what he saw with a bright amber tint.

What I read when I checked his most recent comment section hit me straight in the gut. "RIP Jordan." I rushed to the DoD announcement page and found nothing. Through a Google search I confirmed my worst fear: Jordan Shay, 22 years young, killed in Iraq.


Be sure to check out Spc. Jordan Shay’s blog: http://throughamberlenses.blogspot.com/

Here, pasted below, I want to preserve his last post:

Be sure to go here: http://tinyurl.com/ncujtm   http://throughamberlenses.blogspot.com/2009/08/promised-real-post.html to read the comments – and perhaps say a few words of thanks and condolences.  Keep his family and Kels in your prayers as you enjoy Labor Day, brought to you by the sacrifice of Spc Shay and too many others like him…

2009 (16)
August (7)
July (3)
June (4)
May (2)

20090905 sdsom last post 5 20 Milblogger Jordan KIA Sept 2 2009

http://twitpic.com/glk1a The last post of 5/20 Milblogger Jordan Shay KIA Iraq Sept 2 2009 http://tinyurl.com/njusfk



Be sure to go here http://throughamberlenses.blogspot.com/ leave TY & condolences http://tinyurl.com/ncujtm

Keep his family & Kels n your prayers as you enjoy Labor Day brought 2 you by t sacrifice of men & women n uniform


20090904_ArmyofDudesmokebannerfinal
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Thursday, September 24, 2015

I was wounded in Iraq. But please talk to me like you would any other person. - The Washington Post

I was wounded in Iraq. But please talk to me like you would any other person. - The Washington Post:

I was wounded in Iraq. But please talk to me like you would
any other person.

Wounded combat veterans appreciate compassion. We don’t need
pity.


I wear the scars of my service in Iraq on my face.

While on a routine combat patrol in 2006 as a civil affairs team leader with a
Marine infantry battalion, I was shot in the head by a sniper — the bullet tore
apart my jaw and the lower half of my face. Although I was initially thought to
have been killed instantly, I survived, thanks to the heroic actions of several
Marines and an incredible Navy corpsman, although I look a little different
now.


'via Blog this'
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Baltimore Sun Carroll Eagle: 
Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/
Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for:
Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/
Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/

E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

See also - Kevin Earl Dayhoff Art www.kevindayhoff.com: Travel, art,artists, authors, books, newspapers, media, writers and writing, journalistsand journalism, reporters and reporting, music, culture, opera... Ad maioremDei gloriam inque hominum salutem. “Deadline U.S.A.” 1952. Ed Hutcheson:“That's the press, baby. The press! And there's nothing you can do about it. Nothing!”- See more at: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/#sthash.4HNLwtfd.dpuf
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Time to rethink Afghanistan September 25, 2012 by Kevin E. Dayhoff


In light of a recent dispatch from Michael Yon, “Stuck in the Mud,” 24September 2012, http://www.michaelyon-online.com/stuck-in-the-mud.htm, I am reminded of what I wrote back in March, 2012:

“Time to Rethink Afghanistan” by Kevin E. Dayhoff March 28, 2012






So far, 2012 has not been a good year for the war in Afghanistan. Just last Monday a New York Times/CBS poll quantified what most Americans already know in their gut: support for the war is dropping sharply among both Democrats and Republicans.

According to the Times’ article, “Support in U.S. for Afghan War Drops Sharply, Poll Finds,” “the survey (a copy of which may be accessed here,) found that more than two-thirds of those polled — 69 percent — thought that the United States should not be at war in Afghanistan. Just four months ago, 53 percent said that Americans should no longer be fighting in the conflict, more than a decade old.”

Inadvertently, the Times article explained part of the problem when it quoted “Michael E. O’Hanlon, a military expert at the Brookings Institution, who is close to American commanders in Afghanistan, said that the opinion polls reflected a lack of awareness of the current policy…”

Yes, Mr. Hanlon, you are correct. Ten years of war and at this point in time, most Americans cannot tell you why we are still risking the lives of our young men and women.

The rest of the quote from Mr. Hanlon reads: “…the current policy, which calls for slowly turning over portions of the country to Afghan security forces, like the southern provinces, where American troops have tamped down the violence.

“I honestly believe,” said Mr. Hanlon, “if more people understood that there is a strategy and intended sequence of events with an end in sight, they would be tolerant…”

Here’s the takeaway: “The overall image of this war is of U.S. troops mired in quicksand and getting blown up and arbitrarily waiting until 2014 to come home. Of course, you’d be against it,” said Mr. Hanlon.

Bingo. Increasingly the overall image of this war has become the feckless foreign policy of sending young men and women into quicksand to get blown-up arbitrarily.

The additional context of the troubled mission-drift approach to the war may be found in a recent telling interview with the top commander in Afghanistan, detailed by Jennifer Hlad and Chris Carroll in Stars and Stripes.

U.S. Marine Gen. John Allen was quoted as saying that “he believes the majority of non-commissioned officers; staff NCOs and young officers are ‘extraordinarily well-trained.’

“Repeated tours in Afghanistan, and prior to that, in Iraq, don’t inherently reduce the effectiveness of the force or reduce the effectiveness of small-unit leadership… I’m confident the institution is solid,” said General Allen in the article, “Allen: Investigation of Afghan killings to look at leadership climate.”

Anecdotally and unscientifically, all intuition and instincts indicate that General Allen has unwittingly responded to what has been, heretofore, only whispers in the hallway… http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5001



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Friday, March 30, 2012

Half of Army's senior NCOs to face separation boards

March 26, 2012

Half of Army's senior NCOs to face separation boards


A total of 64,500 Army noncommissioned officers will be screened by retention boards, starting with a sergeant major board on June 4, according to a report by the Army Times.

Fifty percent of the Army’s senior NCOs will be considered for possible involuntary separation over the next several months as the boards meet, the Army Times reports…http://www.stripes.com/half-of-army-s-senior-ncos-to-face-separation-boards-1.172713



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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Time to Rethink Afghanistan by Kevin E. Dayhoff March 28, 2012 The Tentacle http://tinyurl.com/8a4emqm



Wednesday, March 28, 2012





So far, 2012 has not been a good year for the war in Afghanistan. Just last Monday a New York Times – CBS poll quantified what most Americans already know in their gut; support for the war is dropping sharply among both Democrats – and Republicans.

According to the New York Times’ article, “Support in U.S. for Afghan War Drops Sharply, Poll Finds,” “The survey (a copy of which may be accessed here,) found that more than two-thirds of those polled — 69 percent — thought that the United States should not be at war in Afghanistan. Just four months ago, 53 percent said that Americans should no longer be fighting in the conflict, more than a decade old.”

Inadvertently, the New York Times article explained part of the problem when it quoted “Michael E. O’Hanlon, a military expert at the Brookings Institution who is close to American commanders in Afghanistan, said that the opinion polls reflected a lack of awareness of the current policy…”

Yes, Mr. Hanlon, you are correct. Ten years of war and at this point in time, most Americans cannot tell you why we are still risking the lives of our young men and women… http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5001




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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines: Photos: Last U.S. airmen fly out of Ali Air Base



[img]
Photos: Last U.S. airmen fly out of Ali Air Base
The last U.S. airmen to leave Iraq boarded a C-17 Globemaster 

Saturday night at Ali Air Base in Tallil, Iraq, some 200 miles 
southeast of Baghdad. The airmen and some U.S. soldiers 
shook hands with senior leaders as they boarded the plane. 

[img]Minesweepers ?some of the most versatile? sailors
As the USS Patriot steamed down the western coast of Japan under 

blackout conditions, Senior Chief Petty Officer Jesse Kenner and 
several junior sailors pored over radar and communications screens 
in the ship's combat information center. 

[img]?No sadness? as U.S. troops leave Iraq
With little fanfare, the last U.S. troops in Iraq rolled through an 

open gate at the Kuwaiti border Sunday, officially marking the
 end of the Iraq war. 

[img]Camp Echo packs up in Iraq with little fanfare
Army Reserve Sgt. Christopher Williams was there at the start, 

in 2003, when U.S. forces streamed north from Kuwait into 
Iraq after the 'shock and awe' aerial bombardments 
in a race to secure Baghdad. 

[img]Final days at Sather Air Base, Iraq
Servicemembers with the 447th Expeditionary Security 

Forces Squadron, Sather Air Base, Iraq, spend their 
final days in Iraq training Iraq Air Force security forces 
servicemembers and strengthening their relationships. 

[img]USAREUR adds 'newsroom' section to smartphone app
U.S. Army Europe has updated its smartphone app, 

adding a 'Newsroom' section that links users to the 
command's news page on its website, USAREUR 
announced Friday. 


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Thursday, April 07, 2011

Kevin Dayhoff The Tentacle: The 800-pound gorilla in the room... Free Speech and Despicable Acts

April 7, 2011

Free Speech and Despicable Acts
Kevin E. Dayhoff
The 800-pound gorilla in the room at the funeral of Marine Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski was whether or not members of the Westboro Baptist Church were going to be the “uninvited guests” at the solemn occasion.

Well, not to worry, members of the Patriot Guard stood silently on the front sidewalk at the funeral home with a large American flag and at the church for the funeral. I wrote about it at some length in The Carroll Eagle:..  http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4328



Kevin Dayhoff The Tentacle: The 800-pound gorilla in the room...  Free Speech and Despicable Acts
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Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Kevin Dayhoff The Tentacle: Where do we get such men?

April 6, 2011

Where do we get such men?
Kevin E. Dayhoff
There are no words that can adequately describe the valor of the young men and women who are currently fighting and dying in the Middle East for our country.

While covering the funeral of Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski for my newspaper, in the last several weeks, I could not help but think of the famous quote when I wrote on TheTentacle.com about reporting on the funeral of Marine Staff Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright: “Where do we get such men?”  http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4326


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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Condoleezza Rice Schools Katie Couric on Why U.S. Invaded Iraq

Condoleezza Rice Schools Katie Couric on Why U.S. Invaded Iraq


Noel Sheppard's picture
On December 3, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave CBS's Katie Couric a much-needed lesson on why America invaded Iraq.
When Couric said to her guest during an "HBO History Makers Series" interview, "Documentaries have been made about how intelligence was incorrectly analyzed and cherry-picked to build an argument for war, and memos from that time do suggest that officials knew there was a small chance of actually finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," Rice stopped the host dead in her tracks (video follows with transcript and commentary):  http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/12/12/condoleezza-rice-schools-katie-couric-iraq-and-wmd
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Saturday, October 02, 2010

The real story about combat troops in Iraq from someone who is deployed

The real story about combat troops in Iraq from someone who is deployed


Date: Friday, August 20, 2010, 5:41 PM


http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/10/real-story-about-combat-troops-in-iraq.html

Hey everybody I just wanted to send a quick update and give Yall the REAL story on what's going on over here with the troop withdrawal.  

The picture is of my crew and I on a break during a mission.   The guy to the far left is my gunner (Burks) and the guy in the middle is my driver (Mizell).  They go with me on every mission and are great guys.  

The reason I'm sending this out is because I have had a few people ask if I left Iraq early because all of the combat troops are out of Iraq and I wanted to let everyone know the real deal.  

It's kind of ridiculous how the news is saying that the last of the "combat" troops are out of Iraq because of Pres Osama ( I mean Obama ).  He says that it was his campaign promise.  

Take our Brigade for example.  We were originally called a HBCT ( Heavy Brigade Combat Team).  Well since Obama said he would pull all of the "combat" troops out by Aug all they did before we left was change our name from a HBCT to a AAB ( Advise and Assist Brigade ).  

We have the same personnel/equipment layout as before and are doing the same missions.  The ONLY difference is that they changed our name from a HBCT to an AAB and that's how he is getting away with saying that he has pulled all of the "combat" troops out.  

It is really ridiculous what he's doing and he has ticked alot of people off.  And it's funny how the media is buying all of it to.  So no the last combat troops are not out of Iraq we are still here.  There are other Brigades just like ours that are doing the same missions that are still over here.  

Sorry for going on about it but we are just sitting over here watching it and are like "You've got to be kidding me!"  So anyway now you know the REAL story so that's why I'm not coming back early.  Anyways I hope everyone is doing well and I'll see you soon!

Travis


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cid:898BA4A7036442A798EA84F410E26D45@homee1att2lw8b



from an e-mail source
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