Hi, my name is Pasquale Lamperelli a soldier of the 101st Airborne 1/61 Cav Recon; I did my tour in 2005-2006 in Baghdad, Iraq. We saw some fierce fighting, severe enough for Bing West to come interview us for his book "The Strongest Tribe" and my captain, captain Timothy Gittens to be named Times Magazine number 1 hundred greatest men for the battle we fought in Jiza Diyahla. During our war we fought hard through the streets of Jiza Diyahla lossing some great men.

David Weir and Edgardo Zayas gave their lives so the rest of us could make it home. American's question the facts and reasons for this war while men like my two friends gave their lives for a higher cause. My war is about the love for these two American Heroes. I could sit here and tell stories and show pictures of what combat is but, thats not my goal. I want the world to hear these two men's names and remember who they are and know they died for their country .

Reports say Zayas died while on foot patrol from an I.E.D. blast but, that isnt true. Zayas did die from an I.E.D blast but, it happened while he was driving a humvee. Shrapnel cut through the driver door and then entering his body killing him instantly. This all happened just a week after Zayas was hit by an I.E.D giving him shrapnel wounds to the face.

One night in September of 2006 my unit was tasked to do yet another high value target raid in the town of Jiza Diyahla; as we entered the town we came under intense rockets and gunfire from all directions. We were completely surrounded and out numbered. We fought hard to try and push through the streets while helicopters and jets flew in to try and give us cover. We were forced to enter houses and take the enemy on face to face. Eventually we overwhelmed the enemy and started to push them back after hours of intense fighting, this would not come without a loss. During the battle one Sgt. took a bullet to the back but, was alright due to it logging in his bullet proof vest and a medic broke his arm while trying to tend to the aid of another soldier and my boot being graized by bullet but missing my skin. As we started to pull out Sgt. David Weir was the gunner on the Humvee I was riding in. I heard three AK47 gun burst and then Weir fell inisde the Humvee. Sgt. Bryan Berry and myself quickly started giving medical aid to David only to find a bullet entered his forhead and exited the crown of his head. David was still alive though but, would perish shortly after getting him to a medical station.

This is just two stories in my year of combat in Iraq. Two stories and two lives that will never be forgotten. While you lay down at night please remember what I have said here and these brave men cause, they gave it all so we can all live with freedoms. Think of these men even though you don't know them cause, they thought of you when they didn't know you.