Thinking about a boy I didn't know......
I don't like writing this. But for those of you who have followed any of my rants over the last few years, you know I'm fiercely supportive of our troops. I've mentioned it many times on here....how the death of my childhood friend Sgt. Scott Kirkpatrick in Iraq was the catalyst for many of the changes I've made in my life in the last 4 years. And it makes me so terribly sad to say that now my little brother Conrad is faced with the same situation. Last Sunday, one of his best friends, Doug Green, was lost in combat. Like Scott and myself, Conrad and Doug did drama together.....they had adventures out in the woods of Northern Virginia.....they had a funny group of friends that inspired one another.....they made plans for their lives, futures that involved one another.
I never actually met Doug. I graduated 6 years before Conrad and his friends. But every time I was home over the last 10 years, Conrad told me all about "Dougie" and their pack of mischievious friends. He was a constant.....someone who had always been in Conrad's life and someone we expected to have around in the future.
These are not nameless kids dying over there. These are dynamic, beautiful, LOVED people.
And it is our duty to honor them. Say their names out loud. And continue to say them.
Doug Green was a gift. May we all lucky enough to have the chapters of our lives graced with people like him.
Please honor his memory by reading this nice article about him.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-mom-recalls-soldier-who-wanted-to-ser...
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Comments
Death is never a good thing to have to deal with, even though it is a natural part of life. Its something that no one can truly prepare for even if they have a loved one in the military, especially when the loved one is lost so young. My condolences go out to Dougs family and friends. May they all be able to find some sort of peace during this sad time.
XoXo Kait
Geez, he was only 23 years old... This blog post and article really shocked me to be honest. I even find the idea of losing people that young so horrifying. People deserve a chance at life. My condolences go to Conrad and to Doug's family, who must have been so scared to lose him and to hear the fear in his voice. I hope you find comfort in each other.
~ Hanne
Hilarie,
I'm grateful that you share this story about your friend Scott and Doug. I'm offering my deep sympathies to you and your brother. I don't really know how it is to loose a close friend or member of family to a foreign war. For many years, I have been trying to figure out why did the USA really went to the war. It has received more damages than successes. So many people have died and the USA (president and congress and military and people) have not recognized these people. I was born in France before the war with the Algerian government was on. The war started because the French colonists didn't want to leave Algeria. As a result, Algerians fought against French people. I lost my uncle. As his body was coming back home, my other uncle was on his way to fight the war. To me, I can compare the gulf war as the Algerian or Aghanistan war.
It seem to me that Sott and Doug have made a great impact on your life and your brother's too. I hope that they will never be forgotten. By writing about it, Hilarie, you are making an impact and not forgetting them
May Scott and Doug RIP
Helene from France, living in ID.
PS: By the way, Hilarie, I will miss you on OTH. But I understand you want to do something else. I can't wait to see the movie that you are filming now.
Hilarie,
I'm so sorry (to you and your little brother) to hear about your loss. It's never easy to lose a loved one but it's wonderful to hear the way you speak about him, he sounded like an amazing person as I'm sure all the troops out there are.
All the best!
Carla
I read the article and went to the website www.defendingfreedom.org. These words, yours and those of his nearest and dearest, are incredibly moving. Wednesday, I saw in the papers that a French Soldier died in Afghanistan. He is the seventy-fifth French military to life-lost at the heart of this fighting. Each time I feel really sad "thinking about a boy I didn't know...". Your emotion must be stronger... you have your brother's grief to appease and your own pain to handle, this tragedy reminding you of your loss of your friend Scott Kirkpatrick... I wish I could do something more for you and your brother... but I just can say that I think about you, about him, about Scott Kirkpatrick, about Doug Green, and all others... who sacrified their lives to "defending freedom". God bless them.
With a lot of love and support,
Lonae.
•"The truth is rarely pure and never simple. Modern life would be very tedious if it were either, and modern literature a complete impossibility!" - Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, Act 1
Hilarie,
When someone such as this young man lose their life fighting for what they believe in, it is EXTREMELY tragic weather you know them or not. Im very sorry to hear of your brothers loss. I have known quite a few young men that have fought for our country & lost their lives. I pray everyday that they are contining to watch over us. Thank you for pointing out that there are people that dont understand the value of someone elses life when they put it on the line for fight for our freedom.
With much love,
Lisa
Hilarie,
When someone such as this young man lose their life fighting for what they believe in, it is EXTREMELY tragic weather you know them or not. Im very sorry to hear of your brothers loss. I have known quite a few young men that have fought for our country & lost their lives. I pray everyday that they are contining to watch over us. Thank you for pointing out that there are people that dont understand the value of someone elses life when they put it on the line for fight for our freedom.
With much love,
Lisa
Unfortunately wars bring, by the pure nature of conflict, a hugely regrettable waste of life....
Life is fragile, the physically strong can become mentally weak. This waste of life can happen on the battle ground, but it can also happen in the aftermath, once home - changed forever.It is important to support your troops before, during and for those who come home, after!
I'm very sorry for your brother's loss.
I guess there is reason for every death, but that notion doesn't really lessen the nearly unbearable pain and emptyness that this person leaves behind. May his spirit always be with his family and friends and bring a little smile on their lips when remembering him.
This is really awful. I've never known someone fighting overseas but I've lost people close so I can imagine what your brother is going through. May they all rest in peace.
Laura
It makes me sad to read this. I'm so sorry for you and your brother's loss. May they rest in peace. ='(
Lynn
my condolences to Doug's family and friends, death itself is a hard thing to come across but even worse when the victim is young. it will definately be a hard time for conrad but with a sister like you he is in good hands.
val
hey hil! its been a long time since i took the time to comment on anything here but this blog really hit me!! i was engaged to someone who is in the army and did a tour in afghanistan and i cant even describe the worry and fear i dealt with everyday while he was over there. my thought are with you and conrad during this painful time... you've lost a great comrad.... all i can say to doug right now is THANK YOU! thank you so much for believing in America enough to give your life to protect us! a lot of people dont believe in America anymore but our troops will always be believed in and looked up to for their selfsacrifice and detication to our country. they are what keeps us an undivisible one nation under God.
aloha hil,
melissa
Dear Hilarie,
I am very sorry for the loss of Doug Green. I can't begin to put myself in your brother's shoes right now because I don't know anyone fighting overseas. I have heard you mention how Scott changed your life and Doug certainly did that for your brother. People are put into our lives for a reason. The article & this blog were beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. RIP Doug & Scott.
-Lissy