No matter what your view on war, Iraq, Islam, or your political views open your heart to someone who knows first hand what is involved!!  Listen to someone who has been there; put boots on the ground...

Worth the read...

SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching,
inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and since our
nation went to war. Though I am not sure he realized that this would be his last words, maybe he did and this is a way to get the message to us who remain...


" Listen up and pay attention to all of the Cindy Sheehans and Al Frankens of the world.
To : MSNBC, CNN, and CBS.

To all who call themselves Americans ..."

 Hope Rides Alone.


By
Eddie Jeffers


"I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the
ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and
I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their
neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that
has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of
others.


I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American
boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to
see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few
years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I
am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from
around street corners and windows, and it is always there.


There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that
are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with
my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this
world, who walk in the same streets...who feel the same things, whether they
admit to it or not.


And to think, I volunteered for this...


And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.


But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi  , Iraq , the
cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I
will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your
average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the
streets of America , and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who
compare our President to Hitler.


I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens,
and the rest of the ignorant sheep of  America spout off their mouths
about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it
is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls
scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because
that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen
years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First
Class.


People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of
their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its
effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the
horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The
enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is
effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this
war.
And the memory of their service to  America is tainted by the
inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy
changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is
transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming
the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it.

But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the
military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.


Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and
compare this war to Vietnam . In a way they are right, this war is becoming like
 Vietnam . Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military.
 America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here,
some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on.
Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with
our war.


Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the Internet...and there is no
outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and
there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing
their job.

It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are
we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against
this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in
their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of
schools and hospitals in Iraq ?  Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all
happening, but people will not let up their hatred of Bush. They will ignore the good
news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.


America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to
defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is
that  the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing.
It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be
made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to
sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a service
member, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.


But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try
to piece together what's left of them after their service...where will the
detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to
soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most
of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their
friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the
horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain
about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young
men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.


We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in
life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe
to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted,
raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They
want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And  America has given them the
opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end.
But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our
military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not.
And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars.
It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.


Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides
alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and
darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't.


Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop
all the bad news, and let's stand and fight!"


SGT. Edmund John Jeffer ;  United States Army

Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes:


I'm not sure how many letters or articles you've ever read from the genre of
"News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've ever read,
including all of America 's wars. As I was reading this, I forgot that it was my son who had written it.
My emotions range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my little boy
(22 years old) has become this man.


He is my hero. Thank all of you for your prayers for him; he needs them now
more than ever. God bless.

SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and talented writer. He gave the Fullest Measure of his courage, honor and self;  in  Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was a loving husband, brother and son. His service was more than this country could ever grasp - but the least you can do for the man who sacrificed his life for you ... is listen to what he had to say.



Though Eddie is no longer with us, you can help to let his voice be heard. The truth will always prevail, long after we are gone...