Death in my sons unit

Yesterday the Pentegon released the names of several men killed in Afghanistan. One of them was from my sons battalion (about 500 men): "Matthew D. Blaskowski, 27, of Levering, Mich.; sergeant first class, Army. Blaskowski was killed Sept. 23 when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire in Asadabad, Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy."

This man, as a Sergeant First Class was in the position known as Platoon Sergeant. There are only 15 or 16 of these men in the battalion. They are amazingly important and without them the Army would cease to function. These are the senior sergents who make sure troops are fed, armed, trained, alert, and obedient (this last thing is very difficult when everyone is iritated, tired, and armed) It is going to be difficult for the Staff Sergeant who gets moved into the vacant position to fill those boots. It will be difficult for the unit to functiion as effectively. Please pray for them.