Just devastating news

Olmsted, 38, dies in Iraqi ambush; 1st casualty of '08

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Javier Manzano © The Rocky

He was the first 2008 casualty in Iraq. And a small part of Maj. Andrew Olmsted likely would've chuckled at that fact. It would be droll and play into his sense of self-deprecation. Also killed was Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque. Above, Olmsted packs his equipment prior to a training exercise at Fort Riley, Kan. in June of 2007.

Photos By Javier Manzano / The Rocky

Maj. Andrew Olmsted listens to a briefing of the unit's mission as part of a training exercise at Fort Riley, Kan. The prolific blogger deployed to Iraq in July.

Olmsted spends his time off with his wife, Amanda Wilson, as they take advantage of the June weather to hike near their home in Colorado Springs. Olmsted, 38, was killed Thursday.

Correction

This story should have said that Maj. Andrew Olmsted, a blogger for the Rocky Mountain News who was killed Thursday in Iraq, was 37.

He was the first 2008 casualty in Iraq. And a small part of Maj. Andrew Olmsted likely would've chuckled at that fact. It would be droll and play into his sense of self-deprecation.

But for everyone else, the news would be devastating.

Amanda Wilson, his wife of 10 years, could barely talk Friday. The notifying officers came to her door in Colorado Springs on Thursday to tell her that Olmsted's unit had been ambushed and that he was dead. Also killed was Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque.

It was small-arms fire, they said. The gaping blackness after that moment seemed to suck away all the words, leaving only soft sobs in their wake.

"I know," she said quietly when condolences were passed on to her.

Her mother, who was flown in Friday to help, also was having trouble with the news. "She's trying to be brave," Wilson's mother said.

Olmsted, however, asked everyone to avoid being maudlin. And he asked everyone via a blog, of course. The 38-year-old soldier based out of Fort Carson was a prolific blogger - including one he did steadily for the Rocky Mountain News dating back to May.

Always prepared, the former Eagle Scout asked a friend to post a blog in the event of his death.

"I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends," he wrote. "But all the tears in the world aren't going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.)"

A longtime friend and fellow soldier stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., laughed. "That's him all right," Maj. Dave Willis said.

Then he did what Olmsted asked him not to do. He cried.

A love of politics

There are things Olmsted got to see that made him happy before he died. Things that mattered greatly to him. He saw his beloved Boston Red Sox win not just one World Series, but two.

He lived in the era of iTunes and had an extensive library of '80s music downloaded and ready to go at his fingertips. He read voraciously - though he didn't think he was that smart, noting his father had a doctorate and his mother had a master's degree. His brother has a doctorate, and Wilson has a master's, too.

Olmsted had a bachelor's degree from Clark University, in Worcester, Mass. "I'm the intellectual runt of the litter," he said in June while training at Fort Riley, Kan.

Olmsted was born in Maine, lived a few years in New Jersey before spending the bulk of his youth and college years in Massachusetts.

A self-described libertarian, he remembered being political at an early age - dubbed by friends in high school as Alex P. Keaton, a reference to the conservative teen on TV's Family Ties in the 1980s.

In fact, politics was something he could talk about at length. He'd make arguments for small government or areas where government had no business being at all.

He'd make his points and then raise an arched eyebrow - awaiting a challenge.

Despite his politics, he made a plea in his blog - don't politicize his death. His plea was made in words that, if spoken, would be level, and his eyes would look straight into yours.

"I went to Iraq and did what I did for my reasons, not yours. My life isn't a chit to be used to bludgeon people to silence on either side. If you think the U.S. should stay in Iraq, don't drag me into it by claiming that somehow my death demands us staying in Iraq," he wrote. "If you think the U.S. ought to get out tomorrow, don't cite my name as an example of someone's life who was wasted by our mission in Iraq. I have my own opinions about what we should do about Iraq, but since I'm not around to expound on them I'd prefer others not try and use me as some kind of moral capital to support a position I probably didn't support."

'I will see you again'

There was little equivocation from the career soldier. He signed up originally for the Massachusetts National Guard in 1988 and then signed up for the U.S. Army in 1992.

He kept enlisting and figured he'd finally get out in 2012 after serving 20 years.

Not that he didn't see flaws in the Army. He could roll his eyes at the "hurry up and wait" rhythm of the military. Once while training at Fort Riley, his unit was supposed to go on a mission to talk to a town leader about possible insurgent activity. When the caravan was ready to roll, it suddenly had to stop.

The group ahead hadn't finished its training yet.

He took off his sunglasses. He rolled his eyes. He smirked from beneath the moustache he hated but grew because he read that Iraqi men were suspicious of guys without facial hair.

But then he did what his team members said made him a leader. He had the medic take out IV needles so each one of them could practice finding a vein in case the doctor was hurt during combat and one of them had to treat wounded.

Staff Sgt. Brandon Shaw, the medic, brought out the needles. Shaw said medics sometimes gather together in a dark room and practice sticking themselves to simulate night combat situations.

Shaw said Olmsted was the only non-medic he knew who also practiced that.

Willis said it was important to know that Olmsted died doing what he loved to do - not just being a soldier, but posting his blogs for the Rocky and other sites.

"The news is devastating," said Rocky Editor John Temple. "The major was a brave man who obviously thrived on sharing his experiences and thoughts on his blog. He provided a perspective on Iraq that would have been impossible for a journalist. Our thoughts are with his wife, family and unit."

Olmsted's final posting was filled with humor and political philosophy (he can't help himself). But the last part exposed another side of him - the side that freely admitted to playing A Whole New World as his and Wilson's wedding song.

The blog ended with a quote from Ambassador Delenn in the science-fiction TV show Babylon 5 that reads; "I will see you again, in the place where no shadows fall."

He posted: "I don't know if there is an afterlife; I tend to doubt it, to be perfectly honest. But if there is any way possible, Amanda, then I will live up to Delenn's words, somehow, some way. I love you."

Wilson had read it. For her, there was now a hole in her world.

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com

From the Front Lines

Some selections from Maj. Andrew Olmsted's blogs last year. To read all his blog entries and to see a tribute to Olmsted in photos, go to RockyMountain News.com.

* Dec. 26: Thanks to everyone back in the U.S. for your kind donations. Until you see how little a lot of these people have, you don't really understand poverty; your donations go a long ways.

* Dec. 25: From all of us on Team Nightmare to our friends, families, and fellow citizens: have a very Merry Christmas, and know that you are in our thoughts. We'll be home for next Christmas, but until then, our hearts are with you.

* Dec. 6: There are only so many ways for us to get from our Forward Operating Base to our battalion's FOB. That means that the enemy has an easier time of targeting us if he so chooses, because there are so many places we can be. Since we want to spend our time targeting the enemy and not being targets, we are always looking for ways to turn the tables.

* Nov. 17: For the first few months we were here, every time I walked into headquarters I had to walk by the memorial to all the soldiers from the squadron who had died during the deployment. It was impossible to walk by and not notice them. Brave young men who died long before they should have, far from home. When that squadron rotated out of our FOB, though we had a very good working relationship, I did not miss seeing that wall every day . . . We are in a dangerous business. Soldiers die in war; there's no way around it. But that knowledge does not make those losses any less bitter.

* Sept. 22: The average Iraqi probably would love to see the U.S. gone, at least if we could leave without the country descending into chaos and bloodshed. But Iraqi children still love U.S. convoys, if only because we like to toss goodies to them as we pass by. It's debatable whether or not we should, but it's hard to resist when you see the children swimming in dirty canals and making do at levels of subsistence that make poverty in the U.S. seem like a sweet deal in comparison. So we like to toss candy, school packets, and soccer balls to the kids when we can.

* May 21, Olmsted's first entry: I won't pretend to be objective. It's my job to help the Iraqis improve, and when I see success you'll read about it here. But because I will be on the scene, I hope to bring a snapshot of what so many U.S. troops are doing back for the average American to read about and understand. My specific experiences will be unique to me but I hope that they will serve to bring a picture of the war that is sometimes hard to bring into focus for the people back home.

• January 5, 2008

  6:47 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Kathianne writes:

  Amanda and the entire family and friends of Major Olmsted, my heartfelt condolences. I cannot express my heartbreak for your loss. Having read Andy's blog and his final post last night, I know how much my heart hurts, which is nothing compared to what he had given you.

  Thank you for supporting him, a man who for his own reasons, was willing to put it all on the line for our country and those he served in. That's what professional soldiers do and he exemplified professional. That he was able to, that came from you Amanda. Thank you.

  Obviously Andy probably wasn't much for prayers, but he is in mine.

• January 5, 2008

  8:05 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  vudumom writes:

  What a truly sad day for Coloradoan's who have had the pleasure to read his blog's,his thoughts and his keen sense of wit and humor.I e-mailed him last year with a question and to thank him for taking the time to write his blog and his service. I recieved an e-mail back from him in two days.He was and is in our hearts and prayers today.

  If I was to write an e-mail to him today it would say this.

  Dear Major Andrew Olmsted,

  Thank You for your brave service to our country. I will always be grateful for your ultimate sacrifice and your blog's you have given us for so long. I will grieve with your famly today and cut a onion up in your honor.
  Your family will be in good hands. The people of Colorado will see to it that they are well taken care of. They gave you to the RMN reader's. When you could have been communicating with them,you were communicating with us. I thank you for that time you gave the people who read your blog's.
  I will miss your thoughts and insights in the RMN. You will be mourned. There will be tears and the people of Colorado will miss you. Thank you for your honor and your bravery you gave to our country.
  Rest in Peace knowing you will someday see your loved one's again,even though your not sure there is an afterlife.If their isn't and none of us really know, I think an exception will be made for you.Thank You and may your family get through this difficult time in their lives. You will be truly missed by alot of people.
  Sincerely,
  vudumom

• January 5, 2008

  8:37 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  NewsReader writes:

  I wish that I were 1/2 the man Major Andrew Olmsted was.

• January 5, 2008

  9:08 a.m.

  Walter2 writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• January 5, 2008

  9:50 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Strange writes:

  Walter2:

  From someone who is here: STFU.

• January 5, 2008

  10:56 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Zuwadza writes:

  Walter2:

  You obviously did not care what MAJ Olmstead requested. His loss was not to be used for one arguement or another. You showed this man no honor or respect with your comment. Please show some respect next time.

• January 5, 2008

  11:55 a.m.

  vudumom writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• January 5, 2008

  12:17 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Kathianne writes:

  Rocky Mountain News was kind enough to provide the (suggest removal) button, let's use that and not get into fighting. I believe that is what Andy's request was about.

• January 5, 2008

  1:16 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  aeb1barfo writes:

  Sir:

  The people like you are what made this country a great one.

  May you sit at the table occupied by the many patriots that came before you, for you have made the ultimate sacrifice beside them.

• January 5, 2008

  1:23 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  wow writes:

  I spent a long time last night reading Major Olmsted's blog. All are informative, and filled with his humor and compasion, but one called "No Greater Love" from Nov.17 stands out under the circumstances. He touched my heart from beyond the veil...It's such a pity and a shame I never read him before he died, because I could have benefitted from his insight years ago, and I would have said thank you much sooner. I have been too quiet and I think I have seemed ungrateful. So to Major Olmsted, and all of our Service men and women who still serve us, thank you...I should always tell you that no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, and no matter the reason, I admire and respect you deeply. To live a noble life in harm's way, serving principles you believe in is a thing that I can only imagine. Major, I'm so sorry you are gone now, but I am so glad you lived.
  I've expressed this all too clumsily, but I hope you understand.
  With Deepest Gratitude--Jo

• January 5, 2008

  6:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  HolierThanThou writes:

  We all have lost a primary source of news from the front line. We are grateful to Major Andrew Olmsted for contributing his views, tremendously sad in knowing that we have no further opportunity to read him. He served us all with honor and integrity.

  This writer extends his condolences to the family of Andrew Olmsted.

• January 6, 2008

  1:41 a.m.

  censorship_never_works writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• January 6, 2008

  9:05 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  vudumom writes:

  They censor my comment to Walter2,but allow him to politicize Major Olmsted's death, something he asked people not to do if he died?The Rocky Mountain News can't even give him that after all he has done for this paper and it's readers?I find that insulting and self serving if they censor my response that was showing my anger at someone who couldn't give Major Olmsted the repect that he deserves.
  This man died doing what most of us don't have the guts to do ,serving in the military and our country.How dare the RMN censor my angery post at someone who went against the wishes of a honorable man.He was the one who should have been censored not me.

  I was just responding to someone who posted against a dead man wishes. The least the RMN could have done is censor that anti-war post and respected the wishes of a man they profess to care about.
  The RMN was wrong for censoring my post and not the one who went against Major Olmstead's wishes.

  The RMN has dishonored Major Olmsted in not censoring all anti-war posts in keeping with Major Olmsted's wishes. If they really cared about him they would.

• January 6, 2008

  12:27 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  LOUIE writes:

  Another reason to stand when colors of this great nation pass by; the reason the hand covers the heart when national anthem is played. To be one nation under God, to lay one's life upon it's alter...

• January 6, 2008

  5:50 p.m.

  ripcord writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• January 6, 2008

  6:20 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  wow writes:

  Censorship-
  I followed your link and read a well written diatribe against war causing suffering etc... but posting that diatribe on obsidianwings in the thread set aside specifically to memorialize the Major was tacky. It would have made more sense to put it here, if at all, if anywhere... You are free of course to express your sympathy for other fallen people, but that's not really the point there, or on this thread for that matter, as it stands now. Your opinion is rendered irrelevent.

  vudumom, you're right 100%, but the rocky probably wiped your comment because of it's abusiveness, not because you were defending the Major's wishes. I know you're angry...we all should be.
  You were a good man Major. Rest well.

• January 7, 2008

  3:28 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  JWHII writes:

  I am grieved to hear of the passing of a fine individual, MAJ Andrew Olmsted. Many do not truly understand the sacrifices made by the men and women who have the courage and fortitude to put on the uniform, raise their right hand, and swear an oath to personally submit themselves to the defense of our nation. Whether some agree as to the validity of the current conflict that our nation is involved with is an opinion that is best left for another discussion. A discussion that people often engage in when they don’t know the people who are involved who are effected by a tragic incident such as this one. However Andrew Olmsted is a hero, A man that stood for principles and qualities that are falling by the waist side in today’s society. A man that had the integrity to provide for his family, honored his wife and was a positive example to others. I enjoyed serving with him and know that he is sincerely missed. May God bless and comfort the Olmsted family

  V/R

  MAJ Howard

  {Ad maiorem dei gloriam}

• January 8, 2008

  5:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  katstevens writes:

  I am in New York,it doesn't matter what state or country we are in, in the fact that, the tears shed just the same!I want to say Thank You to Andrew for the man that he was in being a Brave Hero and to our fellow brothers and sisters that he has joined and the ones still fighting to keep themselves alive!GOD BLESS you all!And I want to tell Amanda that she IS just as brave as Andrew and Thank You for that as well.God will walk with him and keep him safe until you two meet again! May God Bless and protect! Kathy.S.

• January 12, 2008

  5:15 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Sgt.Colt writes:

  We have lost a great brother, a man that has answered the calling of his country and given the ultimate in sacrifice. He painted a pictured that allowed all that were back home to see the daily struggles that the troops go through. It isn't about whining but of telling the truth of what we see and live through. Have no doubt my friend, others will step up and carry on based on what they have learned from you. For those back home and for those of us that serve in the land of the sand, thank for touching our lives.
  If One Man Can Make A Difference....Imagine What a Nation Can Do
  Sgt Colt