Nathan Brown and the Nighthawk Platoon

Last night I watched Tom Brokaw's special "To War and Back." It was an hour long, and I have to say, I cried for half of that hour. The program basically covered seven kids who grew up in the same town, went to school together, joined the army together and then went to war together. In Iraq, one of the boys is killed, Nathan Brown, and three others maimed. I cried for the mother of Nathan. As I look my son in the face, I can't imagine how she feels. It truly breaks my heart.

As I cried, my son asked me, "Mama. Why are you crying?" I tell him because that Mama's baby died, and he'll never come back.

"Mama, was he a bad guy?"

"Oh no, he wasn't a bad guy."

"Did the bad guys kill him?"

At that point I didn't know what to say. I love my country. I support our troops. I feel for every young man and woman serving our country in Iraq. But do I think of the Iraqis as bad guys? We're in their country, fighting them. And for what? A lie?

So really, all I could say is, "Mommy doesn't understand what's happening baby. It's just all very very sad."

Rest in peace, Army Pfc. Nathan P. Brown. Even though we never knew you, you will always be in our hearts.