August has been as the Army said it would be, bloody. The Army publication "Stars and Stripes" reported that the first part of August has been the deadlist for Reserve and Gaurd soldiers thus far. My entries this month have been few as a result. The policy here is to stop all communication with the folks back home any time there is a KIA or WIA in the general area.

The logic behind this policy is that when such horrible news has to be delivered to a family, it should be done with complete respect to privacy and the families loss. Everyone here understands how important it is that this be respected. To see such news plastered on the Internet or hear from someone outside the family first is just plain wrong. In theory it's a good policy but in practice it really doesn't work, and does cause another problem for soldiers loved ones.

My loved ones know of this policy because I told them long ago not to worry if I stop communicating for a few days or weeks, because someone has been killed or wounded. The problem now is that when they don't hear from me they assume I'm the one hurt, they have no way of knowing otherwise. So in effect thousands of families are made to suffer just a bit each time there's a shutdown of communication.

I find it insulting that anyone would think I am capable of violating a families right to privacy in mourning, I considered ending my blog because a few family members feared for their loved ones after my entry "Incoming". It troubled me greatly to know a parent was so disturbed by my words. The vast majority of men and women here would never violate a parents right to know first. The assumption that it might happen is the reason for the policy.

I recently read in that same "Stars and Stripes" of a fellow blogger that was hit by an IED and her driver was killed. She was evacuated to a hospital and within four hours was hitting keys on a laptop making a blog entry, the idea was that blogging can be theraputic and should be encouraged, I disagree with this particular application. The point being I completly agree the intent of the policy but wonder about the actual effects on so many family members that just don't know if the one they love is ever going to call back.
And as with the case above some infromation will still get out, so where does one draw the line? I know that no such policy exists on the larger posts and they also experience casualties. It just troubles me that my family just wants to know that I'm OK, like so many others back home everytime CNN makes a broadcast it's as if things are out of control here and it makes them worry everyday.

Of all the recent casualties I have no ideal who the KIA/WIA are because it was just so far away. We here at the FOB have done very well as far as surviving goes and all look foward to going home ASAP. In an effort to put minds at ease let me inform those with loved ones here that over the past two years the amount of KIA's can be counted on one hand. The Army also says things get much safer from September to January, I definetly hope they called that one right.