A Dead Friend...

I knew this great NCO and his name was MSG Tulsa Tuliau. The first time I met him in Iraq, I knew he was special. He was a man who's presence in any room was hard not to notice. We weren't best buddies but we talked and chatted often as we crossed paths on Rustamiyah at chow or at the showers getting our morning hygiene.

He was big... really big.
He was tough looking ... really tough looking.
He was proud to be Samoan... really proud.
And he was proud to be an artilleryman in the US Army... really proud.

He was so perfect physically, I thought he could survive anything... really anything.

A roadside bomb killed him and 2 other tough soldiers, SFC Casey Howe and LTC Leon James their commander on the 26th of September, 2005 as they went to train Iraqi Public Order Brigades. I've known since the 29th but I had to see his picture in a death notice to believe it.

I can only lament for him, his widow, and their 2 daughters.

The last time I saw him I told him to be careful and it was great to have known him. I never thought it would be permanent. I joked with him about "kicking ass" at the Public Order Brigades, to get them into shape. He smiled and wished me well.

He died like most in Iraq from an unseen enemy. It is crushing to me to see the loss of such a vital man. He like all, we have lost there, are more than another number in the news as we march toward 2000 dead and beyond.