Now this is f'ing sad--Bradenton GI dies after taking buddy's place in Iraq

[trumad]

BRADENTON -- A southwest Florida Army sergeant, who volunteered for a third combat tour in Iraq so a platoon mate could stay home with a newborn child, was killed by a roadside bomb, his family said.

Staff Sgt. John L. Hartman Jr., 39, of Bradenton, died Nov. 30 when the Humvee he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb while on combat patrol in Baghdad, according to a Department of Defense news release. He started his third combat tour in July.

``He knew the chances. He rolled the dice,'' said Rich Hickey, Hartman's longtime friend. ``But he died doing what he was good at -- taking care of his buddies.''

Hartman's family said he felt at home in the military.

``Someone in his platoon who was slated to go just had a child, so he took his place,'' Jared Hartman said Wednesday.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-126gikilled,0,1296208.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[AIJ Alom]

1. And yet another IED. We are losing brave people to police action.

They are trained to fight and win offensive wars and defend the homefront. Not Iraq, where they are mostly unwanted.

Get them out of there !!!! Bring them home !!!