DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Jan. 3 in As Sadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small arms fire during combat operations. Both Soldiers were assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Killed were:

Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M.

For further information related to this release, contact Fort Riley public affairs at (785) 239-3410.

Major Andrew Olmstead. You owe it to yourself, and yes, Andy Olmstead, to click that link over there. This is why - and it's not the best part:

What I don't want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren't going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I've enjoyed in my life. So if you're up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw 'Freedom Isn't Free' from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can't laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I'm dead, but if you're reading this, you're not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

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

Update: Email I got in response to a note I sent out.

John, I read the whole piece on his website. Looks like the world is a bit poorer today. Just too bad. Jim

I say we are richer for knowing that we have such men and women who will strive for us, and for others.

And speaking of others, here are some others speaking of Andy:

James Joyner / Andrew Olmsted Killed in Iraq
Just A Grunt / To Honor Major Andrew Olmstead
Jim Henley / In Memoriam  —  I worry that my previous post was edgy.
Ampersand / G'Kar of Obsidian Wings, RIP
Redstate / The death of a co-blogger in Iraq
Billw / Iraq Blogger Major Andrew Olmsted Killed in Ambush
Phillip Carter / RIP, Andrew Olmsted
Rick Moran / ANDREW OLMSTED, R.I.P.
McQ / A BLOGGING FRIEND AND PATRIOT IS DEAD (UPDATED)
Brad DeLong / RIP Major Andrew Olmsted
Curt / Andrew Olmsted Has Died
Cernig / A Soldier And Blogger's Last post
Andy / A Sad Day in the Colorado Blogosphere
Confederate Yankee / A Blogger Dies at War
Noah Shachtman / Soldier-Blogger, RIP  —  Major Andrew Olmsted, a veteran Army officer …
Michael van der Galien / Blogger Dies in Iraq
Michael J. Totten / Andrew Olmsted Killed In Iraq
Stuart Benjamin / HEARTBREAKING POST: Andrew Olmsted, who blogged at Obsidian Wings …
TigerHawk /A blogger's legacy  —  The blogging soldier Andrew Olmsted …
Dave Schuler / Andrew Olmsted Killed in Iraq
Matttbastard / Andrew Olmsted
Chris Orr / The Death of a Soldier; I'm not sure whether I'd read …
Jesse Walker / Andrew “G'Kar” Olmsted, RIP
Mike / Tragedy  —  Andrew Olmsted, who was a friend to this site …
Lizardbreath / Andrew Olmsted  —  Olmsted was one of the posters at Obsidian Wings …
Tom Watson / A Blogging Soldier's Farewell
Spree / Andrew Olmsted-Soldier-Blogger- RIP
Alex Geana /A soldier speaks, from beyond the grave.
Alex Tabarrok / Sentences of Great Sadness
Virginia / In Memoriam: Andrew Olmsted
Simon / Blogger interviewed on Bloggasm has died in Iraq
David / Thunder Run - Blogger killed in Iraq.