We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:57:51 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification SWWBO and I are off to spend Christmas with the Old Vet and his Lady, as well as the Armorer-Sister and her family. We may or may not check in much. The Old Vet has not yet discovered the joys of cable modemry and wireless. Bill - if you notice the Christmas Posts aren't posted, publish 'em, wouldja? THE SANDS OF CHRISTMAS by Michael Marks I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh, And looked across the table where the bills were piled too high. The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix, My... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html Sat, 24 Dec 2005 08:12:45 -0600 While I was never in the military I have been on a few death notifications. There is one I always remember this time of year because it happened late on Christmas Eve in about 1985 or 86. I got a call from the hospital that they were bringing in a teenager who had been blown apart by a bomb. He was gone by the time I got there. I understand they had to pull the EMT off of the body after giving CPR all the way from the site to the ER. The parents had just arrived and wanted to see their son who only a few hours before had been working in the father's auto shop. But the bomb had taken his hands and forearms and basically eviscerated him. We had to allow the nurses to do their job with towels and drapes before entering the room where only his face could be seen. I will never forget the smell of death in the room. It turns out the boy (about 17?) had been making a bomb for purposes I won’t go into here. He had the pipe bomb assembled and then must have read about shrapnel somewhere because evidently he was trying to grind grooves into the pipe when the bomb of course went off. His dad wanted to see the shop so I went out with him but the Ft Riley Bomb squad was searching the remainder of the shop and in fact found two more unexploded bombs. I say that to just say there is no good way to notify a loved one of a death. There are no magic words. There is no more helpless and scary feeling than being with a parent who has lost a child … and thinking of your own kids who are thankfully alive … and feeling guilty that you feel so thankful. And as far as I am concerned there is no tougher duty. As I said I have never been in combat but I have got to believe combat is a lot easier than doing a notification once let alone over and over. I agree John. Not today and not tomorrow … and if we can dream not ever again. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36955 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36955 Sat, 24 Dec 2005 14:13:38 -0600 Merry Christmas John, your family, and your minions. Cheers, Phibian http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36943 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36943 Sat, 24 Dec 2005 03:05:25 -0600 Keep safe, and enjoy your family, John. I'll be spending most of the next two days helping transfer the MIL over to the new computer. Sounds easy - but it won't be ;-) Merry Christmas, All! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36942 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36942 Sat, 24 Dec 2005 00:03:10 -0600 Gotcha covered. I've got something, too. Enjoy the visit--Merry Christmas and God bless you, every one... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36941 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/12/christmas_eve.html#comment-36941 Fri, 23 Dec 2005 23:21:41 -0600