1,000 US War Dead in Iraq, Sept. 7, 2004

Since September 1, 2004, 22 US forces lost their lives in Iraq, 14 since yesterday. One of the coalition casualties was a Navy Seebee, a branch of service designed for construction efforts rather than destruction associated with war. A young Nebraskan, his grandparents were notified of his death which occurred when the area in which he was working came under attack. He died of shrapnel wounds on September 4, 2004. He was 21 years old. His name is (now, was) Eric L. Knott, Petty Officer 3rd Class. May Peace finally find him.

He was deployed about three weeks ago, along with my step-daughter's fiance, out of the Naval Construction Battalion in Port Hueneme, California. It is highly probable that he was a friend of our "son" , who is now serving his second deployment in Iraq. I am fearful for our family, in which he has been embraced over the last year, because he is to become a first-time father and the loss would reverberate to his unborn child. I pray for his safe return. I pray for his mental well being and I wish we were there to comfort and encourage him when his comrades fall. I support with every chamber of my heart, every fiber of my being, this brave, idealistic young man from northern Washington. But I WILL NOT nor can I support the regime who placed him in harm's way. Shame on you Bush for allowing this to happen to our young Americans.