Almost two years ago this summer, my ex boyfriend died in Iraq. I know it’s been awhile, but I’m still so sad by the loss. I can’t remember not knowing him and we dated all throughout high school. He was the person I could always turn to and he was always there for me. We shared so many things together and we were literally the perfect Ken and Barbie couple. We broke up our senior year though because he was leaving for boot camp and he didn’t want to put me through that since we knew there was a possibility that he could die when he left for Iraq. I never thought he would ever die and I remember the day I heard about his death like it was yesterday. It seemed like within five minutes I received 100 calls asking if I knew what happened. For a month I couldn’t eat or sleep and the whole time I felt like I was in denial. I mean I never thought my Jonny would die in the war. There was a suicide bomber who bombed the building he was in and instead of saving himself, he saved three other Marines. He received a Purple Heart for his bravery that was displayed at his funeral. His funeral was a beautiful ceremony that really recognized him as a person. I couldn’t help but feel dead too though when I saw his casket at the front of the church. Ever since that day I heard the news I have had nightmares that were as frequent as weekly to now getting one every three months. Along with the dreams about him, I even started having panic attacks, which required me to see a counselor. I’m so by no means over this loss; I don’t think I ever will be. He was such an important part of my life for so long. I just can’t wait for that day when I can see him again.

Dear Minnie,

As someone who appreciates the men and women who are in the armed forces and all they do, I sincerely regret the death in combat in Iraq of your ex-boyfriend.  Sadly, I think he was showing a great deal of maturity when he broke up with you, not because he didn't love you but quite the contrary...because he did.

I hope that someday the pain of his passing will ease, and that you never forget that he was a good man, a good American, and a good Marine.

Semper Fidelis.

You story is very touching. I'm sorry for your loss. I was watching the news yesterday and I think it was saying that it is already our 5th year in Iraq and we have lost over 3000 soldiers. I'm so thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line for my freedom! I also recall them saying that the war was only half over. I think the US is in so much debt over the war. I mean we are the only country that will bomb a place and then spend our money to rebuild it. I still find it hard to think that I am living through a war, it seems like I only would read about war in a history book, but we will be the history book that my child will read about in school.

angelwings2 said:

You story is very touching. I'm sorry for your loss. I was watching the news yesterday and I think it was saying that it is already our 5th year in Iraq and we have lost over 3000 soldiers. I'm so thankful for the men and women who put their lives on the line for my freedom! I also recall them saying that the war was only half over. I think the US is in so much debt over the war. I mean we are the only country that will bomb a place and then spend our money to rebuild it. I still find it hard to think that I am living through a war, it seems like I only would read about war in a history book, but we will be the history book that my child will read about in school.

Sad that it takes the news to remind us that we are at war, and not just in Iraq but also in Afghanistan, where the Army and Marines have been fighting for almost seven years.

I don't know if you support the Iraq War or not, but I think the phrase "the war is only half over" is a bit optimistic. No one knows, really, how far along we are in this dumb and ill-conceived venture in Mesopotamia; this isn't like World War II, a war of well-defined front lines and movement, but rather more like Vietnam, a classic counterinsurgency conflict that will only end when we leave Iraq.

It's funny how things happen. Jonny has been gone for a while now and I just ran across something of his yesterday that made me weak at the knees. I was going through things in my closet because I want to have a yard sale and there it was sitting at the bottom the my closet, Jonny's favorite sweatshirt that he let me borrow one night when it was really cold outside. It's funny how you can see just that one article of clothing that brought back so many memories, which made me sad, but I love remembering him.