A soldier leaves a last message of love - Dateline NBC - MSNBC.com

A soldier leaves a last message of love - Dateline NBC - MSNBC.com

I just finished watching an NBC Dateline story on Sergeant First Class (SFC) David Salie, who died in Baquba, Iraq on 14 February 2005.

SFC Salie was a combat veteran of Panama (Operation Just Cause), Operation Desert Storm, Somalia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. I'd forgotten about my own contact with SFC Salie, who'd been one of my "blackhats" (non-commissioned officer instructors) at Fort Benning's US Army Airborne School in July 1998.

When I saw the report of his death while watching the evening news in February, I was reminded of our brief acquaintance. SFC Salie and the other blackhats equipped my Airborne class with the skills we needed to survive five jumps from military aircraft.

I'm sure he died while ensuring the soldiers under his leadership had the same purpose, direction, and motivation they needed to survive in combat. SFC Salie was the consumate professional Army non-commissioned officer; he lived the NCO creed and the Warrior Ethos.

Dateline revealed that there was something more, and prescient, within his story of exceptional selfless service and patiotism. The night before he left for Operation Iraqi Freedom, SFC Salie recorded a video message to his wife and their three children, to be read if he didn't come back. His message encompassed future milestones--18th birthdays, registering to vote, etc.--to encourage and support his children as they matured in the event their father did not return from Iraq.

Dedication to one's country runs strong in the Salie family. Generations of Salie men distinguished themselves in combat missions for their country. SFC Salie's father and grandfather served in Operation Desert Storm, and WWII and Korea, respectively.

Captain Brian Salie, David's brother, was also serving in Iraq at the time of his brother's death. Returning to the US to escort his older brother's remains, he volunteered to return to Iraq and complete his tour of duty as an Army Civil Affairs officer despite warranting an exemption under the military's "Sole Survivor" policy.

SFC Salie and the men of the Salie family exemplify the tradition of patriotic service in time of war. This post can't begin to repay the debt of gratitude that we all owe people of the Salie family's caliber. I hope it begins, however, to illuminate the fact that behind each soldier lost in our nation's wars, there existed a uniquely personal story of survivors who cherished the fallens' life, as we should cherish the fallens' service.