In Memory of Jonathan Yelner
On the Anniversary of SrA Jonathan Yelner's death
Before reading this tribute, please watch this video. (I believe Jonathan’s mom is in the first five minutes).
And then read these few articles if you haven’t already.
RIP Yolanda (Jolie) Vega, Gold Star Mother
Some wounds never heal. Some loss is with you forever. And that’s something that takes a while to get used to.
I struggle to remember my time with Yelner. Team Southern Kapisa was a small but mighty detachment of the Kapisa & Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team that floated between FOB Nijrab and FOB Tag Ab (known at different times by different names). We only shared about six months together, but his mischievous smile is what I will always remember—and the pride he took in his vehicle.
He was a wonderful young man taken too soon from this world. His legacy lives on in all of us fortunate enough to serve alongside him. He gave his life for Afghanistan, helping build bridges and hospitals. He was a righteous Jew killed trying to rebuild a poverty-stricken and war-torn Muslim country.
He was the best of us, and I will always be grateful to G*d for allowing me to spend five months with him.
RIP Wing Nut
Golf Whiskey
You Win Some; You Lose A lot
Beautiful video showing how compassion can help gold star parents honor and remember their sons and daughters who lost their lives serving both our country and our allies. This Memorial is for people in the US armed forces who died after 9/11 in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
I sent collected letters from a friend who stepped on a landmine in Viet Nam's iron triangle area to the Vietnam Center/Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive in Lubbock, Texas so that people studying the war in the future will get to know something about the soldiers who died, not just the body count numbers that at the time were published daily some newspapers.
Thank you for sharing.