S1C10_Godfrin-The Ultimate Sacrifice

I believe that the ultimate sacrificeis to give one’s life for their country.

Most people take for granted the priceAmericans have paid to defend our freedoms. More than a million men and womenhave lost their lives combating tyranny throughout our short history, from theAmerican Revolution to the Civil War, from the World Wars to the current LongWar against transnational terrorism. It is easy to forget the sacrifices ofthese men and women when most people are worried about what is happening intheir own lives at home.

As an Army officer, I have had theprivilege of serving beside some of the best soldiers of this generation. OnJuly 1, 2004, I lost one of our nation’sfinest. His name was Sergeant Christopher Wagener. Chris was a typical young“kid”: outgoing, friendly, well-liked, and extremely hard working. Thatmorning, Chris was a vehicle commander for a small convoy delivering food,water, and supplies to an outpost a few miles away from our base in NorthernIraq. On the way, his vehicle struck a land mine, killing him immediately andseverely injuring the other two occupants.

As an officer, I’ve had to accept the fact that my job is risky. I’ve lost several friends and coworkersin the past because of accidents, but Sergeant Wagener’s death was different. Perhaps it was because he was so young,or that his death was caused by the enemy, or because as his commander I waspersonally responsible for his well-being. For the first time I was forced toconsider the sacrifices we make to defend our country.

I wondered how I could handle this.There are rules for administratively processing the death of a soldier, but wereceive no training on how to handle it emotionally or psychologically. Whatwould I say to the other soldiers? What would I say to his parents?

I pondered these questions for a longtime that night, feeling somewhat sorry for the situation I was in. I quicklyrealized that I was being very selfish. I was still alive, I was still capableof having an impact on the current operations, and I would be able to returnhome from Iraq when my tour was done. Chris would not. He gave his life in afaraway place that few have ever heard of so that other soldiers could continuedoing their jobs. He gave his life in defense of our country.

Now, I’m on my fourth overseas deployment, serving in Afghanistan. Tothis day I still wear a bracelet with Sergeant Wagener’s name and the date of his death on it. It reminds me in timesof stress, trouble, and tribulation that I still have an opportunity to make adifference. I continue to serve our country in hopes that my experience canprotect the lives of our current and future soldiers.

The United States is still at war andour servicemen and women continue to put themselves in harm’s way. I hope our nation will neverforget those who have made – or will make – the ultimate sacrifice in defenseof our freedoms.

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About Author: PeterGodfrin - Kabul, Afghanistan

Major Peter Godfrin has served in theArmy for 14 years, including tours of duty in Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. Herecently completed a Master's Degree in Military Arts and Science at the Army'sSchool of Advanced Military Studies. Major Godfrin is currently serving as aplanner in the International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul,Afghanistan.

Army Major Peter Godfrinwears a bracelet bearing the name of a young sergeant he served with who waskilled by a landmine in Iraq in 2004. Godfrin never wants to forget thesacrifice that soldier and others like him have made in defense of theircountry.