*VDARE.com columnist and National Guardsman Allan Wall has been called up for Iraq duty. His farewell thoughts are here. Good luck and Godspeed.

*Milblogger Signaleer , a member of the 45th Infantry Brigade in Afghanistan, returned home this weekend. Welcome back and thank you for your service.

*Sgt. Hook, currently serving in Afghanistan, has an eloquent reflection on fallen hero, Sgt. Daniel Lee Galvan:

I attended SGT Galvan’s memorial service earlier today in the small base chapel built of plywood and faith. At the front, on the altar was placed a pair of combat boots with the business end of an M4 carbine, bayonet affixed, stuck between the boots and an aviator’s flight helmet perched on the weapon’s stock. Rows of seats silently filled up with soldiers dressed in desert camouglage uniforms and flight suits while music played softly from the rear of the sparse room. Precisely at 1000z, the music stopped and a young soldier entered the room, stopping adjacent to the shrine of boots, rifle, and helmet and began playing a moving rendition of Amazing Grace on his bagpipes. The Chaplain then gave the invocation as we all rose to our feet and remained standing as two young female soldiers sang the most incredible version of the Star Spangled Banner, a cappella, all four stanzas…

This was followed by a handful of soldiers paying tribute to their fallen comrade by sharing their personal experiences with SGT Glavan and a fellow crewdog delivered the eulogy through teary eyes and a tight throat. Then, SGT Galvan’s first sergeant stood at the altar, rigid at the position of attention and began calling the roll. He barked a soldier’s name and received the response, “Here first sergeant!” And another, and another. Then he said in a loud, clear voice, “SGT Galvan.” The silence was crushing. “SGT Daniel Galvan.” I could hear my heart pounding. “SGT Daniel Lee Galvan.” The silence hung in the air until it was broken by the retort of an eighteen gun salute being fired outside the chapel…

Read the rest here.

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