SGT James Craig ~ Farewell, My Friend
Sgt James E. Craig
27 years old from Spokane, Washington
1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
January 28, 2008
James, 27, was killed on January 28, 2008, in Mosul, Iraq, along with four other soldiers when the unit encountered an IED, followed by an ambush from a nearby Mosque. It has been a year since James was killed. He was my friend and I miss him each day.
James was on his third deployment to Iraq. There are so many things about James that I admired. He was ‘loud’ and funny and articulate and sweet - even calling himself ‘Sweet Soldier’ - and brave and tough. He was a devout Christian and more comfortable with telling people he was than anyone I ever knew - he had a enviable, easy comfort with this faith. It would be so easy to write and write about James, but let me share some portions of his letters - his long and articulate letters.
“…I am very much looking forward to this war being over. However, I fully support everything that is going on over here ever since I saw first hand what the real situation was. Our media doesn’t portray the truth of this operation or the necessity to the people here. They need freedom and desperately cry out for someone to help them. … I know one thing, God wants me here.”
“The war here is stating to come to an end. It will be a slow transition period where the responsibility of the battle space is handed over to the growing Iraqi Army. It all depends on the Iraqis if we are able to leave them with it safely.”
“…it is a tale of my wonderful journey where I made memories I will never forget and stood up for something that I believe in…that sweet taste of freedom when the day is done and the knowledge that I have done something to ensure the positive future of my loved ones. And, you should know that it comforts me the most that what I do protects wonderful people like you.”
To read more about Sgt James Craig, go here.
It is hard to believe that it has been a year since I received the call letting me know I would no longer have James in my life. A year since his new bride and his parents and sisters had to learn the awful truth. I miss knowing he is no longer in this world. But, I hold onto the faith he had in the better world he has passed into. You are truly missed, my friend.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:53 am
An ambush from a mosque. How come I’m not surprised? There’d be H to pay in world opinion if we promptly turned that “holy place” into a smoking hole.