There is another empty cot in the Army barracks tonight...another warrior has gone to Valhalla

Part way down Monday night's Washington Post's web page you would have seen this small banner:

"2 U.S. troops, 5 Afghans killed in ‘insider attack’"

You can read the story here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/2-us-troops-and-5-afghans-killed-in-insider-attack/2013/03/11/43c5289c-8a50-11e2-8d72-dc76641cb8d4_story.html

To many folks, these 2 U.S. soldiers and 5 Afghans have already become numerical statistics to be filed away - data to be used in debates about what they think is right or wrong. 

But these 7 beings are real people. They have names. God knows and loves each of them personally. 

One of them was Staff Sergeant Rex Schad, from Oklahoma. I know all of his family on his Mother's side. 

He was raised by his single Mom with the help of his maternal grandparents, and joined the Army right out of high school. He adapted well to military life, advancing rapidly up the ranks. I borrowed this photo from his facebook page.

I borrowed this photo from my daughter's blog. As of Monday, Rex had not quite reached the halfway point of his second combat tour in Afghanistan. He was happy and successful in a challenging career, that he voluntarily chose, as a professional soldier. After this deployment, he looked forward to marriage, and the options of being commissioned an officer or getting out of the service and going to college - the sky was the limit! That all changed Monday. As a child of God, Rex's time on earth ended, far sooner than many expected. There is great shock, grief and mourning in the hearts of those who knew him. But after being physically, mentally, and spiritually "numb" for several hours this evening, I find great comfort in the knowledge of Jesus' atoning sacrifice and the Plan of Salvation. I know that Rex is in Heaven with his maternal Grandmother, "Nana" (my Mother), his aunt Tina (my sister), and all our ancestors. As much as we mortals miss him at this moment in time, we will all be reunited together in the future, and Oh, what great joy and happiness that will be!