Took forever to download all 93 megs and even longer to reassemble it. I poked through it a couple of times last year just to keep the name-face links intact.

Somehow, I didn't really consider I might be pulling up pix from it for another reason entirely...

BAGHDAD — At least 19 U.S. troops were killed in a helicopter crash and insurgent attacks across Iraq on Saturday in the deadliest day for the American military here in nearly two years. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The day's deadliest episode was the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter northeast of Baghdad on Saturday afternoon, killing all 12 U.S. soldiers aboard. The military initially had said 13 were killed but revised it to 12 early today. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * U.S. military officials said the cause of Saturday's crash had yet to be determined, but Iraqi sources said it was shot down. A witness said he saw ground fire bring down the aircraft, and an insurgent group claimed responsibility for the attack in an Internet posting that could not be authenticated.

Aviation is the Two-Degrees-of-Separation Branch of the Army -- I no longer know most of the folks in it, but I know those who do. And at 3pm Baghdad time on Saturday, 21 January 2007, there were two fewer of them...

I'd like you to meet COL Paul M. Kelly, 29th Aviation Brigade, Virginia Army National Guard.

COL Kelly was our TF commander. There were five of us Viet Vet Warrant dinosaurs living in a cluster of SEAhuts somebody in IFOR had christened "Raziac Ranch" -- COL Kelly started calling it "Jurassic Ranch"...and it stuck. To show our appreciation, we made him an honorary CW2 and he griped that he'd spent enough time sitting around drinking coffee to qualify for CW3.

He was the only field grade commander I'd seen since 1972 who spent as much time checking on the troops' welfare as he did in his office. And he had the good sense not to be a squad leader while he was doing it...

I'd also like you to meet SSG Darryl D. Booker, 29th Aviation Brigade, Virginia Army National Guard.

Sergeant Booker was my Flight Ops / Tac Ops NCOIC and the only Minister I know who could cite the Old Testament to prove that Rap Music was one of the Ten Plagues visited upon the Egyptians. He kept the TOCettes in line, made sure nobody got less time off than the two of us did and we took turns watching the bottled water on our desks freeze solid after nightfall.

We lost touch after he took leave to visit his daughter -- I heard she'd gotten married and made him a grandpa, which was the one thing he really, really wanted out of life...

Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam.

If I smell green tobacco when I'm on the path to Fiddler's Green, I'll know somebody's saved me a seat...

[Update: The full list of casualties from the Blackhawk is available here.]