US Soldier Weighs In on 4,000 US Death Toll Mark

While the death toll of United States troops has reached the 4,000 mark in Iraq, a US soldier writes a commentary piece in TIME. He writes seeking to understand the cost of the war in Iraq.

Lieutenant Sean Walsh writes a commentary in regards of the US death toll in Iraq which has reached the 4,000 mark. Like many others, Lt. Walsh finds this as a tragic milestone in the war that is going on in Iraq. He writes that the 4,000 mark has made him think about everything in regards to Iraq. Walsh says while the 4,000 mark is considered to be a small cost, he takes these numbers as more personal. So far, he has lost 11 people that are close. Eight of those friends were classmates of Walsh that have died in the combined wars raging on in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He had also lost 3 soldiers under his command. Walsh talks about receiving more funeral invitations than he does with wedding invitations. He said that the 4,000 toll of US troops killed in Iraq is too great for soldiers like him serving in those areas to grasp and comprehend. Walsh says when he opens the daily paper of the United States military known as the “Stars and Stripes,” he immediately looks to see those that have died to check if they are anybody that he knows. Walsh explains that through the paper is that he found out his best friend was killed in Afghanistan. He further talks about that there was no call from either a mutual friend or a visit to the person’s family. In that respect, Walsh writes about what would happen if he did not pick up that paper. At the end, he asks this one question: What is the worth the lives of your loved ones?