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Jul 14, 2005 13:04

For those of you who don't get the Moscow paper anymore, Nick Dahmen-Bosse recieved a Purple Heart. He was wounded in Iraq on April 28th when an improvised explosive device detonated near the Humvee his patrol was in. Shrapnel hit his leg and clipped his sciatic nerve. He is currently in a wheelchair, and has undergone several surgeries. He expects it may be another year before he will be able to walk.

Mr. Kaag sent the following letter to the editor:

It better be worth the cost
Gen. Douglas MacArthur said: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
And I am fading. I'm old. A teacher. And a Marine. A retired lieutenant colonel.
My first kid to be wounded in Iraq is home on convalescent leave from the military hospital in Ft. Sam Houston.
Nine surgeries down, three to go. His attitude is positive.
He's in a wheelchair, with his left leg stretched our in front of him, wires on hid kneecap, victim of an improvised explosive device.
I remember him as a junior in U.S. history class, an average student who joined the National Guard out of high school and got called up to fight in Iraq.
I saw him coming out of Safeway.
"Mr Kaag!" he said.
I gave him a hug, and said, brother to brother, "I honor your service."
"Sir," he said, " I just did what they sent me to do."
I would have gone in his place if I could. My wounds healed. Most of my life is lived. His is still to come.
I went home and wrapped myself around a large glass of Scotch, and said to myself, "President Bush, this better be worth it."
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