In the Long War, you run in to some individuals that you have as ask twice, "You've deployed how many times?"
Once that soaks in - even for Navy types who like to pride themselves in their operational time - it keeps you very quiet about your "sacrifice" and "long deployments."
To deploy in this war in the Navy is one set of odds - the odds for a Soldier or Marine is another. The math is what it is.
U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer Domeij, 29, of San Diego, Calif., assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was killed Saturday in Kandahar province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device, according to an L.A. Times article.A career in a decade of war; SFC Domeij - fullbore.
Domeij was serving on his 14th combat deployment, the report said.
Also killed were Pfc. Christopher A. Horns, 20, of Colorado Springs, Colo., from the same ranger regiment and 1st. Lt. Ashley I. White, 24, of Alliance, Ohio, assigned to 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, Goldsboro, N.C., according to a Defense Department release.
An L.A. Times article said Domeij enlisted in the Army in 2001 and joined the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington in 2002.
Domeij is survived by his wife, Sarah, and daughters Mikajsa and Aaliyah of Lacey, Wash.; his mother, Scoti Domeij, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and his brother, Kyle Domeij, of San Diego, the article said.
According to the L.A. Times report, Col. Mark W. Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, said Domeij was a “veteran of a decade of deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan and hundreds of combat missions ... an operator who in real terms had the value of an entire strike force on the battlefield.”
May God rest his soul. A true American hero.
ReplyDeleteI'd be willing to bet good money it was his choice to go back so many times.
ReplyDeleteFULL BORE!
<span>What upsets me most about this story is that I first learned about it through the Times of London website. NOT an American website. Tells you everything you need to know about how so many Americans have never served during this decade of war and heros like the SFC have made 14.</span>
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<span>FULLBORE for SFJ Domeij.</span>
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<span>SHAME on the slack jaw do nothings.</span>
I saw this on Fox yesterday morning and it was truly amazing. 14 150 day deployments into combat! When they spoke of his awards, 2 Bronze Stars etc, it amazed me they never cited a purple heart. I am sure that was just an oversight but if this was his first time getting hit; wow! My prayers are for his unit survivors and for his family. A true loss for america
ReplyDeleteIt is all too easy to think about war in categories of tanks, guns aircrafts and warships, magnificent death-dealing machines... But in the end the war is about brave people leaving their familes back home and risking lives for their country. God help his family!
ReplyDeleteAnd realities of the long war are gruelling too... For all the bravery of WW2, entire western europe campaign from D-Day to fall of the Reich lasted less than year. Losses were heavy, but there was visible movement of units towards centers of enemy resistance.
He has the kindest eyes for any picture of a Ranger I've ever seen. I feel for his family, that had to do without him for so long, and now will have to do so forever. May God bless him and keep him, and give his family strength for the future.
ReplyDeleteI ran into the family of another Ranger who gave his life in Afghanistan. They had run the Army 10-Miler in his honor. Sgt Andrew Nicol sounded like a great guy to know, including his imitation of Seinfield's Kramer. When you send your best, every one you lose is one of your best.
ReplyDeletehttp://habap.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/ten-miles-in-their-shoes/
Rangers lead the way....
I wonder if the Army leadership ever considered telling him "No, you cannot go anymore. Your experience is too valuable and needs to be passed on." I am sure his friends and unit were crushed by the news. I saw it on NBC Nightly News the other night while having dinner and just wanted to cry. Rest in Peace, Ranger.
ReplyDeleteDamn. Just Damn. Just.....
ReplyDeleteDeepest condolences to his family and friends and comrades in arms. His courage, professionalism and love of country humble us all.
Acta non verba indeed.
Salty, As liberal as the Seattle area is the news media here (including the local NPR affiliates) have done an excellent job of covering the troops who operate out of JB Lewis/McChord. They've covered SFC Domeij fully.
ReplyDeleteGodspeed to Sgt. Domeij and his brave companions, Pfc. Horns and Lt. White.
ReplyDeleteWe are adrift with no one at the helm of the ship of state who has any clear vision of what our goals are in this God-forsaken war. I never thought I would say this, but it's time to stop paying the price for our indecisive leadership in our dearest blood and bring our men and women home.
Media and Hollywood take note: For every story you tell of disenchanted and broken soldiers, there are probably 10 or more Sgt Domeij's: Professionals who have been to hell and back but are willing and proud to do it again and again.
ReplyDeleteRest easy Ranger, you made your Army and your country a better place.
Byron,
ReplyDeleteOne shot of him and his family is the 3 palms at Del Mar. I don't know how many times we saw each other there without knowing. We probably talked to each waiting in the line at the Carmel Beach Robertos if he took his family there often enough. Or mine in Solana Beach.
A very good man.
random got out of the box again and wrote stuff now deleted. There is great truth in your words.
We should not mourn, rather we should rejoice that such men lived among us...GSP Jr.
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<span>My nephew left the Army after six years and two one year tours, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was a SGT, E5 coming up for promotion to SSG, E6. He was also an 11B Airborne Ranger Infantryman with the Army's 10th Mountain Division.</span>
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<span>He was facing a third tour, and after careful consideration, exited when his current enlistment expired before his deployment. He loved the Army and was exactly the sort of NCO the Army needs for its long term success. But, he had seen several of his friends killed in random, roadside IED incidents.</span>
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<span>He said it was one thing to die in a more or less fair firefight, but that riding around on roads was like playing Russian roulette and that you could only spin the cylinder so many times...</span>
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<span>I completely supported his decision. I'd lost faith in both of these missions a long, long time ago. And now we are getting our asses tossed out of Iraq (thanks for nothing...) and the Afghan adventure will likely have a similar bad ending...</span>
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<span>So... after 6,200 lives, over 30,000 wounded, many very seriously... and hundreds of $Billions later... I ask you... was it worth it?</span>
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<span>As we have repeatedly proven since Vietnam that we cannot fight and win these overseas excursions, because we do not have the political will, the staying power, or often, the right military strategies to WIN them. So I'd ask you... why do we keep trying to do them? How many times do we need to relearn these lessons? Our enemies have well learned our weaknesses.</span>
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<span>However, if it were the sons and daughters of the monied and political classes in this country sharing the risks equally, we would be a lot more careful about committing them to begin with and a lot more determined to reach a more desirable outcome if we did...</span>
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<span>My nephew works now as an auto mechanic... but is not very happy in his new line of work... but at least... he is still alive and has all four limbs and a good brain to work with....</span>
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<span>LTC</span>
<span>US Army Retired</span>