Any day I'm here could be the day I die.

I was going to write something about purchasing only white v neck t shirts so that I never have to choose what to wear, or write about how one of my roommate's cats is mentally retarded, a fact they can't seem to accept, or post the eharmony.com personal profile I've been working on, until I read an April 7th, 2007 issue of Newsweek that my friend Alex let me borrow today.

It is a special issue called Voices of the Fallen: Every day I'm here could be the day I die

It contains writings to family members, loved ones, and friends made by US soldiers serving in Iraq. I cried my way through the issue. All the words reprinted in there belong to soliders who have been killed in the line of duty. Alex had warned me that it would be tough to read but I was not prepared for the sadness that I felt when done.

I have typed up a letter from Lance CPL. Lance Graham that was left behind whey he was killed on May 7th, 2005.

"Well if your reading this I guess this deployment was a one way trip. I just have a few things to ask. Please don't be made at the Marine Corps. It was my choice to join and come here. I honestly believe this is what I was meant to do. I don't care what the media says we are making a difference here. Know that I did not die in vain or for some worthless cause. I died in memory of all those who gave their lives before me. We are fighting for those who can't fight for themselves and I think that is the right thing to do. Not all the people here are bad, so please don't fill your hearts with anger and hate. When I was a kid my dad gave me a Louis Lamour book and in the back of the book was a quote from all his books. One that really suck in head and I tried to live by sinnce the day I read it was on courage - "When ever there was trouble you never had to look back to see if he was there, you knew damn well he was". I hope I lived up to the that. Another thing I ask is that at my funeral the Marine Corps Hymn and Amazing Grace is played with the bag pipes. Nothing sounds better than the bag pipes playing Amazing Grace. I know that I haven't been the best son, brother, friend or boyfriend and I'm sorry if you can find it in your heart to forgive me. Ashley can keep my H5 if she wants. Another thing I ask is at least one of you travel see the world and do the things I never got to do. This is really hard writing this. Theres so much I want to say and I'm at a loss of words. Just know that I have a god in my life and I'm in a better place. Marines guard the streets in heaven. Who else would god trust? Tell Ashley, Nathan, Kevin, Jason, David, Denis that I could not have had better friends. Tell Ashley that I was sorry and I'm stuipd and I really did love her. To my Family I love you all.

Semper Fi,
Love Lance."

We are fighting an unpopular war, orchestrated by a President who the majority of Americans did not elect to office. We have no exit strategy and every day innocent Iraqi men women and children die. The US military is responsible for the deaths of nearly 10,000 innocent Iraqis. Everyday US soldiers are dying and still we fight a way started for reasons that have sinced been revealed to have been falsified reports and documents about alleged weapons of mass destruction. I'm saddened by the state of our world.

My friend Brian is currently serving in Iraq, his second tour of duty. He doesn't know when he is coming home. My friend Kevin Kimmerly was killed in Iraq in the fall of 2003.