Growing up as a kid in S. Jackson on Coronet Place, groups of kids in the neighborhood would ride bikes or play some sort of ball until our parents called us home for supper. Usually, this was around the time that the sun was beginning to set. There was one kid on the street whose father could whistle loudly and when this man whistled, no matter what his son was doing, he took off immediately, headed home.
This past Sunday, the whistle blew for Sgt. 1st Class, Coater B. Debose. While serving his country in Afghanistan, he was killed by small arms fire while conducting security operations. Now, Coater Debose is headed home.
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| Sgt.1st Class, Coater B. Debose State Line, Mississippi |
Just this past July, the U.S. had the most war deaths of any month in 2012. I did not realize this bit of information until I read it in a very recent Associated Press story. It appears that most of the media is disinterested in the Afghan War. I suppose you give your viewers, readers and listeners what they want. In doing so, we wind up watching our flags lowered to half mast for the victims of the "Batman" shooting and the victims of the Hindu Temple shooting but not for the death of Sgt. 1st Class, Coater B. Dubose of State Line, Mississippi. Something about that is very wrong.
Perhaps as a country, we should lower our flag to half mast each time a soldier is killed in the line of duty. At least that way, it would keep Americans knowledgeable of the sacrifice given by so many. Had that been done, in 2012, our flag would have barely ever been raised above half mast. This year alone, we have averaged the death of almost one soldier per day. In the big scheme of things and in comparison to other wars and conflicts, this is a low number. However, to the family of Coater B. DeBose, a soldier on his third tour of duty, his number is the only one that matters and it matters big.
In 2012, the year of a presidential election, it seems that our candidates for President have very little to say about Afghanistan, most times not even being a topic in their speeches. It is evidently a low topic of interest among the American people as both sides worry more about tax returns and birth certificates. No matter who wins in November, Afghanistan is a problem.
I am not an expert on war strategy or foreign affairs, but to me it seems like our job in Afghanistan is done. The sun is beginning to set on America's influence over what happens in Afghanistan. Let's not wait for the whistle to be blown for any more of our soldiers. Let's go on home on our own, and soon.
DEATHS BY YEAR
-2012: 219
-2011: 398
-2010: 492
-2009: 305
-2008: 151
-2007: 110
-2006: 88
-2005: 93
-2004: 49
-2003: 30
-2002: 23
-2001: 3
-2011: 398
-2010: 492
-2009: 305
-2008: 151
-2007: 110
-2006: 88
-2005: 93
-2004: 49
-2003: 30
-2002: 23
-2001: 3
Monthly U.S. death tolls In Afghanistan since January 2010:
-August 2012: 26
-July 2012: 40
-June 2012: 27
-May 2012: 39
-April 2012: 34
-March 2012: 18
-February 2012: 10
-January 2012: 25
-December 2011: 15
-November 2011: 17
-October 2011: 28
-September 2011: 38
-August 2011: 71
-July 2011: 33
-June 2011: 46
-May 2011: 34
-April 2011: 46
-March 2011: 27
-February 2011: 19
-January 2011: 24
-December 2010: 33
-November 2010: 53
-October 2010: 49
-September 2010: 42
-August 2010: 55
-July 2010: 65
-June 2010: 60
-May 2010: 34
-April 2010: 19
-March 2010: 24
-February 2010: 28
-January 2010: 30
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These numbers are based on Department of Defense press releases and include only deaths that occurred from incidents in Afghanistan. Data includes military civilian deaths. It does not include deaths of service personnel from other countries in the U.S.-led coalition. Data is current as of Aug. 16, 2012
