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This Army officer posted a "Final Post" on his blog before he was killed in Iraq.

GOD BLESS!!! :beer::flag_waving::salut:

You can read his final blog here http://www.andrewolmsted.com/

Army Officer Blogs About Own Death

Associated Press | January 07, 2008

DENVER - Maj. Andrew Olmstead's "Final Post" was published online - after the Rocky Mountain News blogger was killed in Iraq.

Olmsted died Thursday with another U.S. soldier when rebels attacked with small arms near Sadiyah, the military said.

Olmsted, who began writing for the News on May 21 had written what he called "Final Post" about his death. He asked a friend to post it on his Web site AndrewOlmsted.com if he died in Iraq.

Op-ed: Andy Oldsted's Final Post

In it, Olmsted, 37, warned against making his death an argument for or against the war.

"My life isn't a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side," he wrote. "I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I'm not around to expound on them I'd prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn't support."

He also quoted Plato as saying "only the dead have seen the end of war."

"The news is devastating," News Editor John Temple said. "The major was a brave man who obviously thrived on sharing his experiences and thoughts on his blog. He provided a perspective on Iraq that would have been impossible for a journalist. Our thoughts are with his wife, family and unit."

The Department of Defense said Olmsted and the other soldier who was killed, Capt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, were assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Olmsted leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Amanda Wilson.

"Believe it or not, one of the things I will miss most is not being able to blog any longer," Olmsted wrote. "The ability to put my thoughts on (virtual) paper and put them where people can read and respond to them has been marvelous, even if most people who have read my writings haven't agreed with them. If there is any hope for the long term success of democracy, it will be if people agree to listen to and try to understand their political opponents rather than simply seeking to crush them."

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RIP and God Bless, but why include "blogging" in any article. The man's an Army Major. Is blogging just a web diary? I have no idea what blogging means and can't figure out how an "avatar" works. Kick me in the ass, but I like how old school works. Now get me a weapon or a white board before there's a power outage. Thanks for kicking ass Andy!

TD

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Guest armygrunt

Been a while since I posted on this site. I was very moved by Major Olmstead's writing and he was able to articulate what many of us felt. I never knew him personally but I knew many like him. His was not a glamorous job but one that meant a great deal to a lot of people on a personal level. He understood as well as anyone what it took to win this war. It was less about bullets and more about getting out among the people. Little things like handing out water to a couple of Iraqi women who had been walking all day in 100 plus degree heat. Helping a farmer get his tractor started. Putting our presence in their village so Al Quaeda couldn't. Now Iraqis can tell from first hand experience to their Muslim brothers around the world how Al Quaeda brutalized them in the name of god while our soldiers gave out pencils and books and built schools. That right there shows that by fighting the terrorist in Iraq we are helping keep it from our soil. "Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets Brother you've done your time in hell" :salut:

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