NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Navy SEAL who was slain after falling out of his stricken helicopter in Afghanistan wrote his wife an open-in-the-event-of-my-death letter in which he assured her: "I died doing what made me happy."

"Although I sacrificed personal freedom and many other things, I got just as much as I gave. My time in the Teams was special," 32-year-old Neil Roberts wrote. "For all the times I was cold, wet, tired, sore, scared, hungry and angry, I had a blast."

"I loved being a SEAL," he wrote. "If I died doing something for the Teams, then I died doing what made me happy. Very few people have the luxury of that."

[url]http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAC1JYJKYC.html[/url]

(I don't know about anyone else but I was moved to tears by this account, despite the fact that I'm not really American.  I am wearing my black armband today and tomorrow in remembrance of this very brave young man, and his fallen comrades.  I hope others will follow suit).

[edited cause I'm a dummy]

Thanks Tatjana.  That [i]was[/i] moving.  Perhaps you are more of a true American than some that were born here.

Wow.  That's about all that comes to mind. [:(]

I hope the letter really comforts his family during this time.

Thanks, Tat.  


And Tat, you [i]are[/i] an American.  You may not have been born here, but you have citizenship and you live here with us.  If that doesn't make you an American, then I don't know what does.  You act like more of a red blooded American than almost anybody I know.  I'm glad that you're here with us.

After clearing the lump out of my throat and wiping the tears out of my eyes, I reflected on the meaning of Freedom and what Freedom costs.

[b]God Bless America and those who protect us and keep us free [/b].

GIB
[sniper]

"....Through his loyalty, he has given all that mortality can give. He has never failed us. Were he to do so, a million ghost's in olive drab, khaki, blue and grey, would rise up from their white crosses, thundering those words....[b]Duty, Honor, Country![/b]"

[USA]

Some of us, in truth, can only ever aspire to be true Americans.