Adding to the list

Spc. Orlando A. Perez, 23, of Houston, TX, died Feb. 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire during dismounted operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

All of us here offer our sincere condolences to the loved ones Perez leaves behind.

I have not heard from Daniel since his phone call, but this notice was finally posted on Stryker News. One of the things we do is try and read between the lines. "Dismounted Operations" means the squad had left the Stryker had were on foot. I'm guessing they were all under fire, including Daniel, and they were witness to his death.

I try and imagine the theater which will play behind Daniel's eyes when he's home on leave. He has experience and memories we cannot begin to imagine. I suspect he would wish to forget.