How sad, Tena. It's worthwhile to step into the gates of hell to fight for survival, but it's another thing to do it under false pretenses. How I wish people would have given this more thought (consequences) - especially those who lived through Viet Nam. It makes it harder when our soldiers come home to see everyone in their castles glued to American Idol, pigging out on ice cream, and flipping through magazines - saying "Where were you? Clean your room - it's a mess!" It's as if we were never really in danger - just wanted them to go away.

I hope you know I am NOT talking about the mother of this young man - just society in general. It breaks my heart to lose another soldier, and it makes me so angry we don't continue to honor and care for them after they come home.

My heart and prayers go out to the family. Rest in peace, Christopher.