There's still the wars...

It's easy to forget there is a war(s) going on.  I don't generally publicly speak about politics and war, but scrolling through the news today, I got hit with a blow.  One of my old units, the ANG 1132nd MP Company out of Rocky Mount, NC, came under rocket/mortar fire in Baghdad.  One soldier, Staff Sgt. Emanuel Pickett, 34, died.  14 others were wounded.

I didn't know Staff Sgt. Pickett.  He joined the 1132nd after I got out of the service (I was part of the unit before it "stood up," or became a deployable unit).  But the news of his passing and the attack hit me in the gut today.

I had a similar feeling back in '05, when I read the report that many of my friends from the 855th MP Company in AZ were receiving purple hearts.  People in my fire team.  Folks I had left when I transfered to the 1132nd. 

Here I am making video games, and my brothers & sisters are taking fire.  I guess I don't know what to say to that, except godspeed.

My thoughts go out to the family of Staff Sergeant Pickett, as well as all my family, friends, and service mates that have served these conflicts...I'm sorry I wasn't standing beside you when it really mattered.