[Vision2020] Not Coming Home Alive

[Tom Hansen]

>From today's (October 5, 2006) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with special thanks
to Susan Ripley, appreciation to Captain Benjamin Nagy, and heart-felt
gratitude to Specialist Alexander Jordan.

>From the Army Times:

September 10, 2006

SPC Alexander Jordan 31, of Miami, Fla.; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd
Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Richardson,
Alaska; died Sept. 10 of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy forces
using small arms fire during combat operations in Baghdad.

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Not coming home alive 

In my last letter to the editor (Sept. 9), I mentioned the 172nd Stryker
Brigade and its extended tour after completing 12 months in Iraq. I also
said that Moscow's Capt. Ben Nagy hadn't lost a soldier in his company and
suggested prayers. The following day, I received this e-mail (Space
restrictions prohibit entire letter): 

"10 September 2006 SPC Alexander Jordan was Killed In Action. He did not
suffer, but passed on yesterday afternoon. I would not like to talk about
how he died but more on how he lived. Jordan was one heck of a soldier; he
was 31 years old and from Florida . When Jordan was selected to go home on
redeployment he passed up his slot and gave it to Wolford who had planned a
cruise with his mom. He gave him his slot so he could get things taken care
of quicker, and go and enjoy his cruise. Wolford was one of the 300 that
made it home, and then came back. When Jordan was asked if he was upset
about not getting to spend a month stateside, He Said "No, Wolford got to
see his mom". Jordan was also part of my platoon, for an extended period of
3 months he rode in my truck and walked along the Tigris looking for enemy
mortar men, he never complained about carrying the 45 LB Mortar Tube and the
rounds. Nor walking the 12 clicks in the soft mud and in the waist deep
water along the riverbank. He was always quick with a joke when things were
sucking, he would always bring the morale up. Yesterday when I arrived at
the hospital I was allowed to say my goodbye. Jordan would have not wanted
tears but that's what he got because he was just that type of guy who
touched everyone he talked to. He will be missed, but never forgotten." 

May he rest in peace. 

Susan Ripley, Moscow 

Capt. Benjamin Nagy, Baghdad

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.