I would be remiss if I did not mention something pertaining to Memorial Day. With the Internet one can find just about what ever one wants to find pertaining to the day and its commemoration. With our society heavy on the marketing end, one can find just about any sale, any product, any activity, and any event to buy into on the national holiday. But what's it really about. Its like Christmas, does anyone really remember? 

   I must take cue from my father. During World War II while in the Army, he had been at Kasserine Pass in Africa from December 1942, to February 1943. Conventional wisdom puts American deaths in that battle at around 6,500. It was one of America's toughest battles in any war ever. One would think there might be a tale or two from his experience. He only said a couple times that the mess truck (chow, food, etc) was destroyed and those of them that were left had to scrounge their own food for awhile. I am thinking there is more to the story. But that was Dad. He farmed quietly for 40 years after the war, raised a family, participating in county government, and took care of his ill older brother as well. When I got out of the Army I thought I might have enough status to maybe ask for just a bit more information about his participation in that stunning historical event at Kasserine. "Just like in your generation's war," he said. "Some people did not make it back." Perplexed I let it go. That is what he took to his grave. I think I know now what he would have said about me going to Iraq as a journalist. I can hear his quiet but deep voice say as he holds out his ruddy hand to shake good bye, "I suppose someone needs to go and find out what is going on, I hope you make it back." 

   And for me on Memorial Day, I take my cue from Dad. "Some of us did not make it back."

   This week's Wisconsin soldier to remember is Second Lieutenant Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, of Menomonie.  In the U.S. military's worst single loss of life since the Iraqi war began, 17 101st Airborne Division soldiers, including Wolfe, died Saturday night November 15, 2003 when two helicopters collided in midair and crashed in the northern city of Mosul.  The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were from the 101st Airborne Division. Lieutenant Wolfe became Wisconsin's eighth soldier to die in Iraq.  Jeremy was attached to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.   This was the same crash that killed Army Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, 36 of Clintonville and Army Specialist Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, of Amherst who were Daily Dadio's honored Wisconsin soldiers in the previous two weeks. 

   3,435 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring 2003.

   25,378 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring 2003.

   75 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring 2003.

   102 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring 2003.

Soldier of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; and, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.