A certain kind of homecoming

Posted July 7, 2009 at 3:03 PM

http://exurbanleague.com/2009/07/07/a-certain-kind-of-homecoming.aspx?ref=rss

*
Compare and contrast:* The current media hoopla over the death of a pop star who, at best, hasn't had a hit in at least ten years and at worst is a serial child molester.

Versus...

The media coverage over this attack on one of the best and sharpest minds on the front lines of the war on terror overseas contingency thingamajig.

An Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) pierced the armor, took both of Colonel Karcher’s legs off, above the knees and killed his driver. Karcher’s men rushed to his aid. They strapped his thighs with tourniquets and raced him to the closest medical facility. He was initially treated and then flown to Balad where surgeons labored to keep him alive. Once stabilized, he was flown to Landstuhl, Germany were he remains today.

Colonel Karcher is one of thousands of unsung American heroes. It is men like him that have made it possible for us to celebrate this American Independence Day. Tim Karcher is one of the best of the best. He is a “Jedi Knight,” a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). Last year, during an interview, I asked him about being an alumnus of such a prestigious school. He said, “I guess we can wield a laser pointer better than most.” As most great Americans, he is a humble man. But, don’t let his modesty fool you. He is a warrior. He has fought in the fiercest battles of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As the 2-7 Battalion Operations Officer S3, he and Colonel Jim Rainey fought alongside US Marines in the battles of Najaf and Fallujah. On his next deployment, he was shot in the shoulder in one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq – Baqubah.

May God have mercy on us all.