A posthumous posting from a B5 fan/soldier

[colonyearth]

Still no word from JMS about this? Knowing him, he has responded in a very private and personal manner. He, too, would respect the Major's request and wouldn't want to be dragged into the inevitable thread that would result in any post he made on the subject.

I cannot imagine how humbling this would be for him. Much like his other humbling tale of Babylon 5 quotes...he must be as speechless as JMS could ever be.

I know his response would reflect that humility and honor paid to him and his words that now have taken on new meaning...which after all, is the sign of lasting thoughts put to paper.

CE

[KoshToo]

There's a link on MSNBC's website today about this:

http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archi...09/563202.aspx

[Belbo]

Here's the official record of Major Olmsted's sad demise, which provides a few details

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

Hilzoy has also a post up regarding this - it seems they were ambushed and the other soldier was killed tring to assist Andy.

There are details of a memorial fund if anyone wants to contribute.

[Jan]

I appreciate the explaination, Whyruss and I can't say I disagree about the amount of disinformation or, perhaps as likely, lack of information out there. From what I've read just over the weekend, though, to assume that the 'G'Kar'/Major Olmsted blog is some sort of plant would be taking skepticism too far IMO.

And I think we've gotten as close to politics in this thread as we need to and it's my fault for having asked a leading question so let's not take it any further in honor of the request in the blog.

Jan

[Whyruss]

To make a clear statement first - I am like most other Europeans totally against the war in Iraq and everyone who is dying down their, independent from their nationality or religion, is a tragedy.
But politicians are using the media (TV, radio, internet,...) for their own purpose to bring the people on their side... I don't know if the text of this soldier is real or a fraud or just some joke from some dude on the net... There is just too much false information all around us so I remain doubting.

[Jan]

I've merged the two threads together now since this one was already several posts long.

I'd be interested to know why Whyruss thinks that it's not real. Having read quite a number of the comments on the ObsidianWings site by people who'd read Major Olmsted's blogging for some time, they certainly seem convinced.

Jan

[AaronB]

Well written - but I don't think it's real...

Sorry to burst your bubble but it's quite real as we have been discussing in another thread.

[Whyruss]

Well written - but I don't think it's real...

[Hal_10000]

Olmsted

For those of you who don't know, Andy Omsted, a soldier serving in Iraq, was killed last week. He was blogging his war experience at Obsidian wings under the moniker of G'Kar. His final message is here:

http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2008/01/andy-olmsted.html

Complete with numerous relevant quotes from B5. In keeping with his wishes, please do not use his words or his death as an opportunity for politics. I post it here merely so that we can share with someone who was not only inspired by B5, but lived its message of self-sacrifice and duty.

RIP.

[raben]

more on Olmsted

I live in central Kansas and get the Wichita paper. The paper reported that Andrew Olmsted was from Colorado Springs and wrote a blog for the Rocky Mountain News. He began blog posting for the Rocky Mountain News on May 21st.

He was based at Ft. Carson, Colorado and had trained at Ft. Riley, Kansas. The paper said he died "during an attack by insurgents." Olmsted was serving in the Military Transition team , 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry division as an advisor to Iraqi forces.

He had a wife, Amanda Wilson, and they had been married 10 years. He was 37 years old.


R. Allen

[Jan]

Also par for the course, I'm afraid. But if you hang back and assume that somebody else will post some bit of news, it's like there's a gaping black hole and it never shows up.

Jan

[FuryPilot]

I just checked again -- yup, my post (and 4 others on the same topic) just came up.

FP

[Jan]

All new threads are hand moderated, FP. Also, while Amy and the others generally check the queue a few times a day, sometimes it takes a considerable amount of time for posts to wend their way to the queue at all. Usually, about the time you give up and repost, it shows up.

Jan

[FuryPilot]

OMG. I've never heard of Andy Omsted before 15 minutes ago and I'm crying at his loss.

Raben, do you have a way of contacting Hilzoy? I would very much like to repost the link over on the moderated newsgroup but I'd like to be sure that she thinks it would be okay. I'm not familiar with that group and don't want to just barge in.

Jan

I posted a link to the moderated newsgroup last night -- it does not appear to have cleared moderation yet.

Is everything over there moderated? I would have thought I'd be off moderation by now.

FP

[Towelmaster]

Yes, I found it too.

http://andrewolmsted.com/archives/2008/01/final_post.html