May 04, 2004
140 in April, 19 already in May
Jason Schmidt is dead, just like 759 other American soldiers. 140 American troops died in April.
...Schmidt, 23, was killed last week in Iraq. ......``I'd put on the news and sit here and cry for the loss of every man and woman that was killed in a needless war over what? Oil,'' (Schmidt's mother, Lenore) Roberts said. ``I have major bitterness. I do.''
......Schmidt's tour in Iraq was to conclude April 12, but days before he was to return to his Army base in Germany, the tour was extended three months. Schmidt had to postpone his wedding to his German fiancee, Stephanie Kohler.
Schmidt's grandfather, John Schmidt of Cortez, is a retired Air Force colonel who fought in Vietnam. On Monday, he questioned whether Justin Schmidt should have been put back on the front line after his tour was extended, and he questioned the war itself.
``You can't help but question whether we should be there. I don't think the United States can be the world's police,'' he said. ``War is the end of the line. That's when you start shooting and killing. That's a terrible thing. I think anyone who's been involved in a war wants to avoid it at any cost.''
Note to aWol: getting your teeth cleaned by a NAtional Guard dentist does not qualify as having been involved.
Posted by Norwood at May 4, 2004 07:43 AM