23 Responses to:
TWO MEN I MET THIS MORNING

# 1. 5/9/12 9:22 AM by Jodi - Wayne County East
For one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Amen.

# 2. 5/9/12 9:57 AM by Doug - Rochester
Time to get out of that hell hole. Napalm and Agent orange the poppy fields. Retaliate fiercely from the air every time something bad is linked to even the tiniest subset of population of that country. Too many from there are barbarians. Barbarians respect only one thing - unbridled devastating military power. Get the boys out of harms way and put all of the drug growing, corrupt,and oppressing criminals in the sights of our air corp.

# 3. 5/9/12 10:21 AM by Mike - Hilton, NY
Amen Bob. I can't imagine how you manage to keep doing this sort of column, I'm sure that it wears on you. But be assured, real Americans appreciate it. Too many local heroes have perished in the last few weeks. I read you every day but it's these columns that truly get to me. And you shouldn't have been working, you were doing what really needed to be done. God Bless you and your family, especially your daughter out there, serving our nation.

# 4. 5/9/12 10:51 AM by Barb - Canisteo Valley
"They spoke of their faith in an eternity together, but of their pain in a lifetime apart." That's a beautiful, poignant way of describing the feelings of loss and hope experienced, Bob. R.I.P David Rylander, Junot Cochilus & Zach Smith...

# 5. 5/9/12 10:53 AM by Cal - Rochester, NY

Bob,

May God bless our servicemen who are dying out there for our feedoms. What really intrigues me today is the serviceman who just died in Afghanistan, WHILE HIS WIFE WATCHED ON SCYPE, WHILE THEY WERE TALKING TO EACH OTHER! Not many details yet given about this killing!

This was Bush`s war, and now President Obama has esculated it even more! Why?! Is this another "political" war, as Sec of State said about Vietnam?

# 6. 5/9/12 11:09 AM by Tom Bastian - Fairport, NY
I agree that it is time to come home. Sacrificing our best and brightest so that corrupt drug smugglers can keep their business can't be justified. There is no way these people can ever be civilized. You beat your opponents into submission not kiss them and hope they behave. On another tangent, yesterday's show was very discouraging. The 50% in WIC and the clear path of the Liberals to push more into government dependence is very depressing. As long as we have liberals in positions of power we will never be able to return America to the land of promise. I'm 68 and I am glad I have seen our country the way it was intended because I don't see it returning to that point in my lifetime.

# 7. 5/9/12 11:58 AM by jaymor
The case for remaining in Afghanistan is long on generalities and short on specifics. Meanwhile, the cost in blood and dollars continues to mount. War should be waged as a last resort. This one doesn't qualify.

# 8. 5/9/12 12:13 PM by dick - n greece
God bless these brave men who put themselves in harms way to protect our liberties.

R.I.P. Sgt. Caleb Paul Christopher

# 9. 5/9/12 1:01 PM by Su-z
Afghanistan is another Vietnam. France in Vietnam and Russia in Afghanistan -- both got out before the wars decimated their young men. No one has made a valid case for Afghanistan -- we cannot "win" or change the hearts of those whose culture and traditions are not democratic and whose religion considers us infidels who need to be killed. They protest the burning of the Koran but it's OK for them to subjugate their women and murder those who are trying to bring "peace" to their land. My heart aches for the families of those serving and for those who have returned physically and mentally wounded. God bless those who have always answered the call of our country and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Do I know anyone in the war in Afghanistan? No, but I do from Vietnam. Which war doesn't matter; they are the same.

# 10. 5/9/12 1:15 PM by U.S. Taxpayer & Voter
And some people in some local neighborhoods don't want any of these military people who have sacrificed life and limb, saw horrific things and need to be eased back into a normal, peaceful life again living near them. How about volunteering to help these vets in their recovery and seeing them get back into a battle free world!!

May the good Lord have mercy on the souls of all who have given their lives for our nation.

# 11. 5/9/12 1:47 PM by David - West Point, New York
I want to thank you very much for this post. I am a Cadet at West Point and the loss of 2LT Rylander in Afghanistan as well as another West Point graduate and former Army football player Mario Hill, who was killed in a car accident, have hit the Corps hard. Many of the upperclassmen who are still here knew 2LT Rylander and Mario Hill personally. One of my good friends had 2LT Rylander as his First Sergeant during his summer training before his first year at the academy. When I heard the news of 2LT Rylander's passing I wondered if anyone else had suffered along with him. Now I know. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of SPC Junot Cochilus and those who were wounded in the blast.

Editor's Note: god bless you, my friend, and thank you for your noble service.

# 12. 5/9/12 2:30 PM by Jawindy Swengbe - New York, NY
Junot Cochilus, was a great friend of mine, I spoke to him last year while he was in Afgan. According to Junot, everything was good there and we was going to contact me soon. i just got a phone call today informing me about his death. Word can not express how sad I feel right now. May heb rest in peace. i know he was married I am unsure whether he had a son or not. i know that one of his mentors is a vet in the army. Please should anyone know when his funeral is please let me know.

# 13. 5/9/12 2:45 PM
How come the USSR put so much treasure into war in Afghanistan followed by America doing likewise?

It isn't the poppy fields attracting so much attention from world super powers.

Why Afghanistan? They were a fairly modern country before all the attention. The wars are what turned it into rubble.

I personally hope we stay there and protect the people from the crazies. I know we can't do that everywhere but we should finish what we started.

# 14. 5/9/12 3:43 PM by Matt - Rochester, NY
Hey "Tom Bastian - Fairport, NY"---leave it to you to taint a perfectly good column today. This is about our men and women of the armed forces, and you go and start dragging liberal nonsense into it. I would expect nothing less from the self-centered folks of Fairyport. That's why the rest of us can't stand people from Fairport or the snobs of Pittsford.

# 15. 5/9/12 6:44 PM by little john - Mt.Morris,N.Y.
I liked your column. I may not agree on some issues with you but when it comes to honoring servicemen, past, present, and future, I am in genuine concordance. Sincerely; may God rest their souls and Bless the family and friends of two unknown soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice. But thanks to you, they are not totally unknown; at least in my mind. Thank you and God Bless. You are a good man Bob.

David Rylander and
Junot Cochilus.
K.I.A. in service to their country,
and countrymen...R.I.P.
JHK

# 16. 5/9/12 9:57 PM by Den Henrickson
I had the privilege of attending the Engineer Basic Officer Leadership course (Class 10-11) with David Rylander. He was the class S1 which is one of the most thankless, stressful and annoying positions that I can imagine. He always handled it with a smile and he gave it his all even though I'm sure he was miserable doing it. He was soft spoken but always was quick with a smile or a very low key joke no matter how miserable the situation.

I respected his work ethic and his attitude and I'm thankful I had the opportunity to work with him and consider him a comrade and a friend.

I truly wish I knew SPC Junot Mevs Legrand Cochilus. I'm sure he was just as upstanding and just as hard of a worker as David. Even though I never met SPC Cochilus I feel like I knew him.

I'll miss them both.

1LT Den Henrickson

# 17. 5/9/12 10:24 PM by BIFF
I used to have frequent columns of my own (at the Writers On The Loose link) and I wrote one explaining that when I learn of the death of a serviceman or servicewoman, I am at a loss of what to do. I feel sad for them and their families, I'm grateful for their sacrifice, I say a prayer, I try to learn a bit about these people who gave all for their country, but still I am at a loss of what more I can do.

I've attended the gut-wrenching funerals of 5 local servicemen who were killed in the wars in the last ten years, thinking that it was the least I could do. But when I learn of new casualties, and casualties of people who live too far for me to attend their funerals, I am at a loss of just what I can and should do, or what more I should do. I feel so helpless and whatever I do seems so inadequate.

But enough about me.

David Rylander and Junot Cochilus, thank you for your service and your sacrifice. May your families be proud, and may their grief be gentle.

May The Lord Bless them and keep them.

Amen.

# 18. 5/9/12 11:01 PM by Larry - Greece, NY
Thank you for telling us Bob. America, Land of the free because of the brave!!

# 19. 5/9/12 11:58 PM by John - SLC
"The Marines are at war, America is at the mall" sadly has more truth in it than there should be.

These two brave soldiers are heroes and died protecting us from the enemy. As have too many others for the gains that have been made.

However, I no longer have confidence in the Commander in Chief to execute a real war against the Islamic terrorists or to protect us.

Eventually, we will leave Afghanistan and the seventh century savages who live there will resume their centuries old intramural killing and brutality when they no longer have Infidel "crusaders" to war against.

Nothing we do there now will make a darn bit of difference to the people or their fantasy "nation", despite our noble intentions and brave personnel on the ground.

Never again should any American family have to learn that one of their children has been killed in Afghanistan on a pointless mission.

Our political leaders gave up on this war, not the troops they sent, but it is time to cut our losses and leave. Declare that "We Won!" and come on home.

Thank you for your service, troops. I salute you all.

# 20. 5/10/12 12:05 AM by JJ
After talking to a couple of soldiers at an Atlanta airport ready to go to Afghanistan, not sure if they were going to the South, North or what area their province was located in, (they speak 48 different languages in Afghanistan) the candidate had this to write.

"To little fanfare, President Obama announced last week that he signed an agreement to extend the U.S. military occupation of Afghanistan for twelve more years. No one noted the irony of this, since under our Constitution, President Obama can be President for no more than another 41/2 years.

Also under our Constitution, a treaty requires the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate. (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2). No one in the Obama Administration even took a stab at explaining why this agreement with a foreign power was not being submitted to the Senate for concurrence. But the reason is obvious: the Senate would not concur.

Also under our Constitution, you will search in vain for any provision that authorizes a lengthy military occupation of a foreign country. In fact, the Constitution does not authorize a standing army, much less an army standing in Kabul. In the Bizarro world in which we live, we have 27 Attorneys General challenging the constitutionality of 35 million Americans getting health coverage, but no one challenges the constitutionality of an undeclared war (see Article I, Section 8 on that) that has now entered its second decade.

This is what State Senator Barack Obama said, in October 2002, in the Federal Plaza in Chicago:

I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.

A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.

Barack Obama was talking about the war in Iraq. But let's be honest. At this point, after 11 years of pointless, fruitless, endless war, doesn't all of that apply equally to the war in Afghanistan?

Courage,

Alan Grayson"

# 21. 5/10/12 5:36 AM by Liberty Tom - Rochester, NY
Vietnam Part 2. The blood of these soldiers and all others killed in that pi$$hole of a country is on the hands of Congress. A Congress that refuses to support the Constitution and is cowed by our first ever "black" President. God bless our service people.

# 22. 5/10/12 7:00 AM by Poplar Beach
I am a hawk, a conservative, a flag waver; I am also a Vietnam veteran.

After 9/11 I was in favor of retribution in Afghanistan, using the CIA, our air power and other Afghans to punish those who would attack the USA and those who gave them safe haven was a very wise strategy and totally necessary.

Anything more, occupation, nation building, in Afghanistan, I thought, was and is a huge mistake. For the same reason I and other Vietnam vets said, stay the hell out of Iraq. You invade it, you own it, I believe was the most common refrain among those of us who saw what happened in Vietnam.

I morn for those men, I morn for their families and I pray our so called leaders who ignore history and play politics with war, to see the light and get us out of there NOW!

# 23. 5/15/12 6:28 AM by Pat N - Lockport, NY
Another interesting point is that these two men of honor were killed by s bomb planted by a courageous Muslium holy warrior..Oh, sorry....I mean a cowardly bastard who had to sneak around in the dead of night with his face covered to plant the bomb.

Editor's Note: well said

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