Arizona: Only in America. It is a place of impossible natural beauty, filled with nature-hating things. I wish I’d been able to pitch my tent there before everyone left the suburbs and decided to start their lives anew and indoors in Arizona.

Thanksgiving weekend I saw more Hummers than I have collectively seen in all my years, and I’m counting ads as well as real-life Hummers. Most of them are Colgate white, and I have it on good authority that when it rains once a year the Hummer drivers slow down to go through puddles.

In addition to paying out the ass for gasoline, the people of Arizona pay huge electricity bills to air-condition their desert homes through the 115-degree summers. It may be the Northern California in me talking, but it seems a lot cheaper and more efficient to put solar panels on the roof, especially considering Arizona has the perfect sunny climate to fuel them. But those solar panels might clash with the Hummer parked in the driveway. Better to stick with the $500 monthly electric bills and continued draining of natural resources.

Also in Arizona there are communities where people ride around on golf carts. There are offical yellow traffic signs alerting you to this, as if it’s a common spot for deer crossing or cattle grazing. I know I should not laugh at retirees and that if I’m lucky enough to be that old, I might enjoy carting around the desert on three-lane city streets as well. Another transportation tidbit: the public transit system in one of these townlets is called SCAT — that’s Sun City Arizona Transit. There are actual signs and schedules that say SCAT Connection.

Sunsets are amazing in Arizona, as are the cacti. I’d forgotten how much I love a desert landscape (which is more like moonscape). I love the big-sky feel and the painted-on clouds and warm weather and did I mention how much I like being outside? We did three hikes and a dash of camping. Saturday we rented a boat at Lake Patagonia and stayed for the night. Row-in camping is like hike-in camping, only you row a boat across the water to get away from the people in the RVs. Row-in camping allows for rowdier tequila-drinking and quesadilla-making opportunities. I fully support row-in camping.

There is a place in Tucson called Hotel Congress which I insist you visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner should you be in that locale. The Dillinger Gang stayed there. A talkative waiter named Travis will serve you food. If you’re lucky enough to get a room that isn’t above the stage or drum kit, you should stay the night.

I realize I’m writing about Arizona the way some people write about their trips to the South. Arizona feels more than a time zone away from my home state. I am still chipping away at why I felt like an alien for four whole days despite having a great time. Like many of the red states, I wanted to yell out to the citizens of Arizona (and especially the people in the Hummers and omnipresent sand-colored Cadillacs) “What is going on here?” But I didn’t. I ran back to San Francisco with the memories.

Leave the Macy’s madness behind and support local artists! Yours truly will have a booth at Santa’s Black Market. I will be selling fabulous fur collars, which make you look more than a little like a Who from down in Whoville. Tina will be slingin’ some hand-made lighters and Polly is covered in paste from all the decoupage Kleenex cozies she’s making. Photos are coming soon so stay tuned.

Booths will feature 70 of San Francisco’s coolest artisans proffering their wares and most items are priced less than $25. If you’re not in the mood to shop, there will be live entertainment from some of San Francisco’s finest and funniest yule-time acts.

This is a fun event — it’s part party and part shopping. People are making some ingenious stuff these days and this is a great place to see what’s going on in the DIY world. Buy everyone on your list something you can be sure they don’t already have.

Please stop by and say hello!

9th Annual Naughty Santa’s Black Market

Sunday, Dece. 12
Hours: 4pm - Midnight
Admission: $6

SomArts Gallery
located at
934 Brannan and 8th Streets, San Francisco

Ho’s, wranglers, comrades, please lend me your ear.

MGL is hanging up her silver cowgirl hat.

It has taken months for me to write this email. In short: I don’t
know if I’m going back to Burning Man. I’ve had “off” years before, but it seems
like the dust needs to settle longer than 365 days this time. Even thinking
about it makes me want to cry. It feels like the end of a long and intense
romance.

This year I was tired and let-down — with myself (for being tired) and with
Burning Man (for being unremarkable). I know that’s not fair. I felt like
a jaded old burner whose tales of woe I’d heard before but never believed
would happen to me. But it is the rules and it is the newbies and it is the
control exerted over everyone’s “radical self-expression.”

Looking around during the burn of the Man, I didn’t feel like those were
my people. I did not feel the pull of art so grand and out of place that
there is no locale for it but the middle of a barren desert. Time will tell
if I can resist Black Rock City next August. I may yearn for a bit of dust
in my absynthe to shake me from my comfort and into a corset and combat boots.

Burning Man (and the media team) has been monumental for me. I have used
writing as a creative outlet for as long as I can remember, but Burning Man
gave me a swift push toward sewing machines and clear-coat acrylic and table
saws. I witnessed superstar DJs being gracious and understanding while others
showed me why big-name talent is big-nothing on the playa. I laughed, I cried,
I found a posse of friends and a life partner along the way.

And I learned that I can hold my breath for a really, really long time when
a sheriff’s deputy walks into the Spartan.

best,
Molly Golightly

San Francisco has been my home longer than any other city. I moved here as a life-long outcast to finally fit in. I spent my formative years in red states, and those red states shaped who I am. San Francisco set me free but Indiana and Tennessee taught me more about myself and how I want the world to be than California ever could.

I don’t know if I would have sought out Gertrude Stein and mope rock and Diet For A Small Planet at age 15 if I had been blessed a Northern Californian at birth. Growing up in conservative places with conservative people never felt right, and I sought out things that made me feel more comfortable about myself.

Former Vogue editor Diana Vreeland, commenting on her friends Cole Porter and Bill Blass, said “Indiana, Indiana… don’t tell me he is from Indiana. They all come from Indiana. It may be a horrible, snowy, deserty place — I don’t know, I’ve never been in the Middle West. But all of you who come from there - that I admire, that I love, and are good friends of mine all have this great sort of serenity of spirit.” Many of my good friends are midwesterners who I met in California. They are among the most interesting of my interesting friends. They know who they are, they know what they like, they know what they believe and they formed these ideas while swimming upstream, in the snow. It makes me mad to hear people demonizing the red states, because while there may be gay-marriage hating majorities there are plenty of people who are there right now, being open-minded despite their being the minority. It’s a tough way to live, unlike San Francisco where you can just be gay and married and have kids and no one tries to vote your life out of existence.

San Francisco is an island surrounded by a bubble shaded by a giant rainbow flag sheltered by the First Amendment. It is a wonderful place to be a liberal or a woman or an immigrant or just about anyone. Our problem is we can’t see outside the city, past that big gay pride flag and all the protective layers we wear to keep out the encroaching fog. This is the most liberal city in the country and the queerest city on earth. Celebrating being the most out-there place and then being let down with the rest of the country for not going our way makes no sense. Most of us are San Franciscans because of the compassion this city affords us. Not many people have that reasoning for living in other parts of the country.

I don’t think the sadness and doom that has enveloped San Francisco for the past week is as intense anywhere else in the country — even New York has a Republican for mayor. We are not used to a diversity of political ideas here. We celebrate diversity of everything else, but we need to work on accepting 51 percent of the country. We have preached about racism, sexism, free needles, the right to marry and no-kill animal shelters. We must respect people’s right to vote from their heart. San Francisco has a big heart, but it is not shared by everyone. That is our job: compassion. Pulling away from the heartland is the last thing we should be doing.

This is not the end of the world. It’s a beginning. I cannot get sucked into a depression and I will not await the armageddon of my rights. This is a renewed opportunity for me to show 51 percent of the country what freedom means. There are people just like me growing up in the red states who may someday leave for kinder pastures. Some of them may be braver than me and stay in their home states. Telling them that they suck is no way to bring the reds to the blue side.

I’ve seen sites like this one and I can’t help but think that people are angry and not thinking before they swing. Pot, kettle, you’re both black. Lumping everyone together is a narrow worldview — the very charge being leveled at the red states. This election was not won on facts and truths. Educating voters about the system is a great idea. We didn’t do a great job of that this time out. We were so focused on what we are not that we didn’t tell them who we are.

Read more »

Cpl. Roberto Abad, Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, Spc. Genaro Acosta, Pfc.
Steven Acosta, Capt. James F. Adamouski, Pvt. Algernon Adams, Sgt.
Brandon E. Adams, Spc. Clarence Adams III, 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams,
Pfc. Michael S. Adams, Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, Spc. Jamaal R. Addison,
Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Adle, Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, Spc. Segun
Frederick Akintade, Lance Cpl. Nickalous N. Aldrich, Spc. Ronald D.
Allen Jr., Sgt. Glenn R. Allison, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Allred, Capt.
Eric L. Allton, Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, Cpl. Daniel R. Amaya, Pfc. John D.
Amos II, Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, Airman 1st Class Carl L. Anderson
Jr., Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael C. Anderson, Spc. Michael Andrade,
Pfc, Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros, Lance Cpl. Levi T. Angell, Army Spc. Edward J.
Anguiano, Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Todd Arnold, Lance Cpl. Alexander
S. Arredondo, Spc. Richard Arriaga, Staff Sgt. Jimmy J. Arroyave, Spc.
Robert R. Arsiaga, Sgt. Evan Asa Ashcraft, Pfc. Shawn M. Atkins, Maj.
Jay Aubin, Capt. Matthew J. August, Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Austin, Spc.
Tyanna S. Avery-Fedder, Lance Cpl. Andrew Julian Aviles, Pfc. Eric A.
Ayon, Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, Sgt. Andrew Joseph Baddick, Staff
Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, Spc. Ronald W. Baker,
Spc. Ryan T. Baker, Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker.

Pfc. Chad E. Bales, 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard, Maj. Spc. Solomon
C. Bangayan, Lt. Col. Dominic R. Baragona, Pfc. Mark A. Barbret, Pfc.
Collier E. Barcus, Sgt. Michael C. Barkey, Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes,
Command Sgt. Maj. Edward C. Barnhill, Lance Cpl. Aric J. Barr, Sgt.
Michael Paul Barrera, Maj. Carlos Barro Ollero, Sgt. Douglas E. Bascom,
Spc. Todd M. Bates, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Battles Sr., Gunnery Sgt.
Ronald E. Baum, Spc. Alan N. Bean Jr., Spc. Bradley S. Beard, Spc. Beau
R. Beaulieu, Capt. Ryan Beaupre, Spc. James L. Beckstrand, Sgt. Gregory
A. Belanger, Cpl. Christopher Belchik, Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell, Pfc. Wilfred
D. Bellard, Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, Sgt. 1st Class William M.
Bennett, Spc. Robert T. Benson, 1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, Spc. Joel L.
Bertoldie, Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino Sr., Staff Sgt. Marvin Best,
Cpl. Mark A. Bibby, Sgt. Benjamin W. Biskie, Sgt. Michael E. Bitz, Sgt.
Jarrod W. Black, Chief Warrant Officer Michael T. Blaise, Capt. Ernesto
M. Blanco, Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, Spc. Joseph M.
Blickenstaff, Spc. Nicholas H. Blodgett, Sgt. Trevor A. Blumberg, Lance
Cpl. Jeremy L. Bohlman, Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey E. Bohr Jr., Lance Cpl.
Todd J. Bolding, Sgt. Dennis J. Boles, Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling,
Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger Jr, Sgt. 1st Class Kelly
Bolor, Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker.

Chief Warrant Officer Clarence E. Boone, Capt. John J. Boria, Pfc.
Rachel K. Bosveld, Spc. Mathew G. Boule, Staff Sgt. Elvis Bourdon, Pvt.
1st Class Samuel R. Bowen, Staff Sgt. Hesley Box Jr., Pvt. Noah L. Boye,
Lance Cpl. Aaron Boyles, Spc. Edward W. Brabazon, Cpl. Travis J.
Bradach-Nall, Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, Staff Sgt. Stacey C.
Brandon, Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield, Pfc. Joel K. Brattain, Pfc. Jeffrey
F. Braun, Chief Warrant Officer William I. Brennan, Staff Sgt. Steven H.
Bridges, Spc. Kyle A. Brinlee, Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, Sgt. Thomas F.
Broomhead, Sgt. Andrew W. Brown, Tech. Sgt. Bruce E. Brown, Lance Cpl.
Dominic C. Brown, Cpl. Henry L. Brown, Pfc. John E. Brown, Spc. Larry K.
Brown, Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II, 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Spc. Philip D.
Brown, Pfc. Timmy R. Brown Jr., 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, Cpl. Andrew D.
Brownfield, Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, Lance Cpl.
Cedric E. Bruns, 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant, Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, Spc.
Roy Russell Buckley, Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring,
Lance Cpl. Brian Rory Buesing, Sgt. George Edward Buggs, Spc. Joshua I.
Bunch, Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, Staff Sgt. Michael L. Burbank,
Staff Sgt. Richard A. Burdick, Spc. Alan J. Burgess, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey
C. Burgess, Pfc. Tamario D. Burkett, Sgt. Travis L. Burkhardt.

Pfc. David P. Burridge, Pfc. Jesse R. Buryj, Pfc. Charles E. Bush Jr.,
Pvt. Matthew D. Bush, Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, Sgt. Jacob L. Butler,
Capt. Joshua T. Byers, Cpl. Juan C. Cabralbanuelos, Pfc. Cody S.
Calavan, Sgt. Juan Calderon Jr, Sgt. Charles T. Caldwell, Spc. Nathaniel
A. Caldwell, Staff Sgt. Joseph Camara, Spc. Michael C. Campbell, Sgt.
Ryan M. Campbell, Spc. Marvin A. Camposiles, Spc. Isaac Campoy, Spc.
Ervin Caradine Jr., Spc. Adolfo C. Carballo, Pfc. Michael M. Carey, Cpl.
Richard P. Carl, Pfc. Ryan G. Carlock, Pfc. Benjamin R. Carman, Staff
Sgt. Edward W. Carmen, Spc. Jocelyn L. Carrasquillo, Sgt. Frank T.
Carvill, Capt. Christopher S. Cash, Spc. Ahmed A. Cason, Pfc. Jose
Casanova, Lance Cpl. James A. Casper, Capt. Paul J. Cassidy, Staff Sgt.
Roland L. Castro, Sgt. Sean K. Cataudella, Lance Cpl. Steven C. T.
Cates, Pfc. Thomas D. Caughman, Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, Spc. Jessica
L. Cawvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, Lance Cpl. Manuel
A. Ceniceros, Cpl. Kemaphoom A. Chanawongse, Spc. James A. Chance III,
Staff Sgt. William D. Chaney, Chief Warrant Officer Robert William
Channell Jr., Spc. Jason K. Chappell, Pfc. Jonathan M. Cheatham, Sgt.
Yohjyh L. Chen, Lance Cpl. Marcus M. Cherry, 2nd Lt. Therrel S.
Childers, Spc. Andrew F. Chris.

Staff Sgt. Thomas W. Christensen, Spc. Brett T. Christian, Spc. Arron R.
Clark, Staff Sgt. Michael J. Clark, Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr., Pfc.
Christopher R. Cobb, Lance Cpl. Kyle W. Codner, 1st Sgt. Christopher D.
Coffin, Pvt. Bradli N. Coleman, Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 2nd Lt. Benjamin
J. Colgan, Sgt. Russell L. Collier, Sgt. 1st Class Gary L. Collins,
Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Collins, Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S.
Colton, Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga, Sgt. Robert E. Colvill, Sgt. Kenneth
Conde Jr., Sgt. Timothy M. Conneway, Spc. Steven D. Conover, Capt. Aaron
J. Contreras, Lance Cpl. Pedro Contreras, Sgt. Jason Cook, Command Sgt.
Major Eric F. Cooke, Sgt. Dennis A. Corral, Chief Warrant Officer
Alexander S. Coulter, 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, Spc. Gregory A. Cox,
Pfc. Ryan R. Cox, Lance Corporal Timothy R. Creager, Sgt. Michael T.
Crockett, Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Crockett, Sgt. Brud J. Cronkrite, Lance
Cpl. Kyle D. Crowley, Pvt. Rey D. Cuervo, Pfc. Kevin A. Cuming, Spc.
Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, Staff Sgt. Darren J. Cunningham, Spc. Carl
F. Curran, Cpl. Michael Edward Curtin, Staff Sgt. Christopher E.
Cutchall, Pfc. Brian K. Cutter, Pfc. Anthony D. D’Agostino, Spc. Edgar
P. Daclan Jr., Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Dang, Spc.
Danny B. Daniels II, Pvt. 1st Class Torey J. Dantzler, Pfc. Norman
Darling, Capt. Eric B. Das.

Spc. Shawn M. Davies, Pvt. Brandon L. Davis, Staff Sgt. Craig Davis,
Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis, Spc. Raphael S. Davis, Staff Sgt. Wilbert
Davis, Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, Pvt. Jason L. Deibler, Spc. Lauro
G. DeLeon Jr., Sgt. Felix M. Delgreco, Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, Staff Sgt.
Mike A. Dennie, Spc. Darryl T. Dent, Pfc. Ervin Dervishi, Spc. Daniel A.
Desens, Pfc. Michael R. Deuel, Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, Petty Officer
3rd Class Christopher M. Dickerson, Cpl. Nicholas J. Dieruf, Spc.
Jeremiah J. DiGiovanni, Spc. Jeremy M. Dimaranan, Spc. Michael A.
Diraimondo, Spc. Anthony J. Dixon, Spc. Ryan E. Doltz, Sgt. Michael E.
Dooley, Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Dorff, Petty Officer 2nd Class
Trace W. Dossett, Lance Cpl. Scott E. Dougherty, 1st Sgt. Robert J.
Dowdy, Pfc. Stephen P. Downing II, Spc. Chad H. Drake, Pvt. Jeremy L.
Drexler, Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Staff Sgt. Joe L. Dunigan Jr., Spc.
Robert L. DuSang, Spc. William D. Dusenbery, 2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin,
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle,
Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., Cpl. Christopher S. Ebert, Sgt. William
C. Eckhart, Spc. Marshall L. Edgerton, Pfc. Shawn C. Edwards, Spc.
Andrew C. Ehrlich, Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt, Spc. William R. Emanuel IV,
Lance Cpl. Mark E. Engel, Spc. Peter G. Enos, Senior Airman Pedro I.
Espaillat Jr.

Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, Sgt. Adam W. Estep, Pvt. Ruben
Estrella-Soto, Pfc. David Evans, Cpl. Mark A. Evnin, Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo
Ewing, Sgt. Justin L. Eyerly, Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, Sgt. James D.
Faulkner, Pfc. Raymond J. Faulstich Jr., Capt. Brian R. Faunce, Capt.
Arthur L. Felder, 2nd Lt. Paul M. Felsberg, Spc. Rian C. Ferguson,
Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, Staff
Sgt. Clint D. Ferrin, Spc. Jon P. Fettig, Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, Sgt. Jeremy
J. Fischer, Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, Lance Cpl. Dustin R. Fitzgerald, Pfc.
Jacob S. Fletcher, Spc. Thomas A. Foley III, Sgt. Timothy Folmar,
Gunnery Sgt. Elia P. Fontecchio, Spc. Jason C. Ford, Capt. Travis A.
Ford, Chief Warrant Officer Wesley C. Fortenberry, Sgt. 1st Class
Bradley C. Fox, Spc. Craig S. Frank, Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank, Staff
Sgt. Bobby C. Franklin, Pvt. Robert L. Frantz, Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman,
Sgt. David T. Friedrich, Spc. Luke P. Frist, Spc. Adam D. Froehlich,
Pvt. Kurt R. Frosheiser, Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, Sgt. 1st Class Dan H.
Gabrielson, Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Gadsden, Capt. Richard J. Gannon II,
Spc. Tomas Garces, Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, Cpl. Jose A. Garibay,
Spc. Joseph M. Garmback Jr., Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, Sgt. Justin W.
Garvey, Spc. Israel Garza.

1st Sgt. Joe J. Garza, Pfc. Juan Guadalupe Garza Jr, Spc. Christopher D.
Gelineau, Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Guerin, Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, Pvt.
Jonathan L. Gifford, Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert, Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell W.
Gilmore, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald A. Ginther, Pfc. Jesse A.
Givens, Spc. Michael T. Gleason, Cpl. Todd J. Godwin, 2nd Lt. James
Michael Goins, Spc. Christopher A. Golby, Spc. David J. Goldberg, Lance
Cpl. Shane L. Goldman, Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, Lance Cpl. Benjamin
R. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jesus A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, Lance Cpl.
Victor A. Gonzalez, Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, Pfc. Gregory R. Goodrich,
Sgt. 1st Class Richard S. Gottfried, Spc. Richard A. Goward, 2nd Lt.
Jeffrey C. Graham, Sgt. Jamie A. Gray, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael
J. Gray, Sgt. Tommy L. Gray, Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray, Cpl. Jeffrey G.
Green, Lt. Col. David S. Greene, Pfc. Devin J. Grella, Spc. Kyle A.
Griffin, Staff Sgt. Patrick Lee Griffin Jr., Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, Pvt.
Joseph R. Guerrera, Chief Warrant Officer Hans N. Gukeisen, Pfc.
Christian D. Gurtner, Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, Pfc. Richard W. Hafer,
Staff Sgt. Guy S. Hagy Jr., Spc. Charles G. Haight, Lance Cpl. Michael
J. Halal, Pfc. Deryk L. Hallal, Pvt. Jesse M. Halling, Pfc. Andrew
Halverson, Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, Capt. Kimberly N.
Hampton, Sgt. Michael S. Hancock.

Pfc. Fernando B. Hannon, Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, Sgt. James W. Harlan,
Sgt. Atanacio Haro Marin, Staff Sgt. William M. Harrell, Sgt. Foster L.
Harrington, Pfc. Adam J. Harris, Sgt. Kenneth W. Harris Jr., Pfc. Torry
D. Harris, Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, Pfc. John D. Hart, Sgt. Nathaniel
Hart, Sgt. 1st Class David A. Hartman, Sgt. Jonathan N. Hartman, Staff
Sgt. Stephen C. Hattamer, Staff Sgt. Omer T. Hawkins II, Sgt. Timothy L.
Hayslett, Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hazelgrove, Sgt. David M.
Heath, Spc. Justin W. Hebert, Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, Pfc. Raheen
Tyson Heighter, Spc. Jeremy M. Heines, Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellerman,
Staff Sgt. Terry W. Hemingway, Cpl. Matthew C. Henderson, 1st Lt. Robert
L. Henderson II, Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Hendrickson, Sgt. Jack T.
Hennessy, Spc. Joshua J. Henry, Pfc. Clayton W. Henson, Spc. Armando
Hernandez, Spc. Joseph F. Herndon II, Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, Spc.
Jacob B. Herring, Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, Spc. Christopher K.
Hill, Spc. Stephen D. Hiller, Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, Pfc. Melissa J.
Hobart, Sgt. Nicholas M. Hodson, Sgt. 1st Class James T. Hoffman, Spc.
Christopher J. Holland, Staff Sgt. Aaron N. Holleyman, Staff Sgt.
Lincoln D. Hollinsaid, Spc. James J. Holmes, Spc. Jeremiah J. Holmes,
Cpl. Terry Holmes, Airman 1st Class Antoine J. Holt, Pfc. Sean Horn,
Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy R. Horton, Capt. Andrew R. Houghton, Lance Cpl Gregory
C. Howman, Pfc. Bert E. Hoyer, Spc. Corey A. Hubbell, Pfc. Christopher
E. Hudson, 1st Lt. Doyle M. Hufstedler, Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins,
Spc. Eric R. Hull, Cpl Barton R. Humlhanz, Lance Cpl. Justin T. Hunt,
Spc. Simeon Hunte, 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, Lance Cpl. James B. Huston
Jr., Lance Cpl. Seth Huston, Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings, Pfc. Ray J.
Hutchinson, Pfc. Gregory P. Huxley Jr., Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg, Spc.
Craig S. Ivory, Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, Spc. Morgen N. Jacobs, Chief
Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, Cpl. Evan T. James, 2nd Lt. Luke S. James,
Spc. William A. Jeffries, Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Jenkins,
Sgt. Troy David Jenkins, Spc. Darius T. Jennings, Pfc. Ryan M. Jerabek,
Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 1st Lt. Oscar Jimenez, Capt. Christopher B.
Johnson, Spc. David W. Johnson, Pfc. Howard Johnson II, Spc. John P.
Johnson, Pfc. Markus J. Johnson, Spc. Maurice J. Johnson, Hospital
Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr., Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson,
Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson, Chief Warrant Officer, Pfc. Rayshawn S.
Johnson, Pvt. Devon D. Jones, Capt. Gussie M. Jones, Staff Sgt. Raymond
E. Jones Jr., Spc. Rodney A. Jones, Lt. Kylan A. Jones- Huffman, Sgt.
Curt E. Jordan Jr., Sgt. Jason D. Jordan.

Staff Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan, Cpl. Forest J. Jostes, Spc. Spencer T.
Karol, Spc. Michael G. Karr Jr., Spc. Mark J. Kasecky, 1st Lt. Jeffrey
J. Kaylor, Spc. Chad L. Keith, Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, Lance Cpl.
Bryan P. Kelly, Cpl. Brian Kennedy, Chief Warrant Officer Kyran E.
Kennedy, Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon, 1st Lt. Christopher J. Kenny, Spc.
Jonathan R. Kephart, Cpl. Dallas L. Kerns, Chief Warrant Officer Erik C.
Kesterson, Capt. Humayun S. M. Khan, Spc. James M. Kiehl, Pt. Jeungjin
Na Kim, Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Kimmerly. Spc. Levi B. Kinchen, Staff Sgt.
Lester O. Kinney II, Pfc. David M. Kirchhoff, Staff Sgt. Charles A.
Kiser, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Brian Kleiboeker, Spc. John K. Klinesmith
Jr., Sgt. Floyd G. Knighten Jr., Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Knott,
Spc. Joshua L. Knowles, Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig, Cpl. Kevin T. Kolm,
Pfc. Martin W. Kondor, Chief Warrant Patrick W. Kordsmeier, Capt. Edward
J. Korn, Sgt. Bradley S. Korthaus, Cpl. Jakub Henryk Kowalik, Sgt. Elmer
C. Krause, Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, Pfc. Bradley G. Kritzer, Capt. John
F. Kurth, Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie Jr., Sgt. Joshua S. Ladd,
Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, Lance Cpl. Alan Dinh Lam, Spc. Charles R. Lamb,
Spc. James I. Lambert III, Pfc. James P. Lambert, Sgt. Jonathan W.
Lambert, Capt. Andrew David Lamont, Staff Sgt. Sean G. Landrus, Gunnery
Sgt. Shawn A. Lane.

Pfc. Moises A. Langhorst, Spc. Tracy L. Laramore, Spc. Scott Q. Larson
Jr., Chief Warrant Officer Matthew C. Laskowski, Staff Sgt. William T.
Latham, Pfc. Karina S. Lau, Cpl. Jeffrey D. Lawrence, Staff Sgt. Mark A.
Lawton, Lance Cpl. Travis J. Layfield, Staff Sgt. Rene Ledesma, 2nd Lt.
Ryan Leduc, Cpl. Bum R. Lee, Pfc. Ken W. Leisten, Staff Sgt. Jerome
Lemon, Spc. Cedric L. Lennon, Pfc. Farad K. Letufuga, Spc. Justin W.
Linden, Spc. Roger G. Ling, Spc. Joseph L. Lister, Staff Sgt. Nino D.
Livaudais, Sgt. Dale T. Lloyd, Sgt. Daniel J. Londono, Spc. Ryan P.
Long, Spc. Zachariah W. Long, Pfc. Duane E. Longstreth, Sgt. Edgar E.
Lopez, Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez, Sgt. Richard M. Lord, Staff Sgt. David L.
Loyd, Capt. Robert L. Lucero, Pfc. Jason C. Ludiam, Lance Cpl. Jacob R.
Lugo, Pfc. Jason N. Lynch, Pfc. Christopher D. Mabry, Lance Cpl. Gregory
E. MacDonald, Lance Cpl. Cesar F. Machado-Olmos, Pfc. Vorn J. Mack,
Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, Spc. William J. Maher III, Staff Sgt.
Toby W. Mallet, Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, Pfc. Pablo Manzano,
Pfc. Lyndon A. Marcus Jr., Staff Sgt. Paul C. Mardis Jr., Cpl. Douglas
Jose Marencoreyes, Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, Spc. James E. Marshall,
Sgt. 1st Class John W. Marshall, Pfc. Ryan A. Martin, Staff Sgt. Stephen
G. Martin.

Sgt. Francisco Martinez, Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores, Pfc. Jesse
J. Martinez, Spc. Michael A. Martinez, Pfc. Oscar A. Martinez, Spc.
Jacob D. Martir, Sgt. Arthur S. Mastrapa, Chief Warrant Officer Johnny
Villareal Mata, Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Spc. Clint Richard Matthews,
Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, Cpl. Matthew E. Matula, Staff Sgt. Donald C. May
Jr, Pfc. Joseph P. Mayek, Spc. Patrick R. McCaffrey Sr., Lance Cpl.
Joseph C. MacCarthy, Pfc. Ryan M. McCauley, Cpl. Brad P. McCormick, 1st
Lt. Erik. S. McCrae, Spc. Donald R. McCune, Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, Pfc.
Holly J. McGeogh, Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, Spc. Michael A. McGlothin.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott R. McHugh, Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh,
Spc. David M. McKeever, Spc. Eric S. McKinley, Pvt. Robert L. McKinley,
Staff Sgt. Don S. McMahan, Sgt. Heath A. McMillin, 1st Lt. Brian M.
McPhillips, Cpl. Jesus Martin Antonio Medellin, Spc. Irving Medina, Spc.
Kenneth A. Melton, Cpl. Jaygee Meluat, Petty Officer 3rd Class Fernando
A. Mendezaceves, Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa, Staff Sgt. Eddie E.
Menyweather, Spc. Gil Mercado, Spc. Michael M. Merila, Spc. Christopher
A. Merville, Sgt. Daniel K. Methvin, Pfc. Jason M. Meyer, Sgt. Eliu A.
Miersandoval, Spc. Michael G. Mihalakis, Pfc. Matthew G. Milczark, Cpl.
Jason David Mileo, Pfc. Anthony S. Miller, Pfc. Bruce Miller Jr., Staff
Sgt. Frederick L. Miller Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class Marvin L. Miller, Sgt. Joseph Minucci II, Sgt. First
Class Troy L. Miranda, Spc. George A. Mitchell, Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell,
Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, Spc. Sean R. Mitchell, Pfc. Jesse D. Mizener,
Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molinabautista, Pfc. Anthony W. Monroe, 1st Lt. Adam
G. Mooney, Lance Cpl. Jason William Moore, Pfc. Stuart W. Moore, Sgt.
Travis A. Moothart, Spc. Jose L. Mora, Sgt. Melvin Y. Mora, Pfc. Michael
A. Mora, Master Sgt. Kevin N. Morehead, Capt. Brent L. Morel, Petty
Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, Sgt. Gerardo Moreno, Spc. Jaime
Moreno, Pfc. Luis A. Moreno, Spc. Dennis B. Morgan, Staff Sgt. Richard
L. Morgan Jr., Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, Pfc. Ricky A. Morris Jr., Lance
Cpl. Nicholas B. Morrison, Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, Sgt. Keelan L. Moss,
Spc. Clifford L. Moxley Jr., Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, Sgt. Rodney A. Murray,
Sgt. Krisna Nachampassak, Spc. Paul T. Nakamura, Spc. Nathan W. Nakis,
Pvt. Kenneth A. Nalley, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher G. Nason, Maj.
Kevin G. Nave, Spc. Rafael L. Navea, Spc. Charles L. Neeley, Staff Sgt.
Paul M. Neff II, Pfc. Gavin L. Neighbor, Spc. Joshua M. Neusche, Cpl.
Dominique J. Nicolas, Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice, Spc. Isaac Michael
Nieves, Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, Spc. Allen Nolan, Spc. Marcos O.
Nolasco.

Sgt. William J. Normandy, Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott,
Staff Sgt. Todd E. Nunes, Spc. David T. Nutt, Cpl. Mick R.
Nygardbekowsky, Spc. Donald S. Oak Jr., Pfc. Branden F. Oberleitner,
Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O’Day, Spc. Charles E. Odums II, Spc. Ramon C.
Ojeda, Cpl. Terry Holmes Ordonez, Cpl. Brian Oliveira, Spc. Justin B.
Onwordi, Spc. Richard P. Orengo, Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, Lance Cpl.
Eric J. Orlowski, 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, Pfc. Cody J. Orr, Staff Sgt.
Billy J. Orton, Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne, Lance Cpl. Deshon E. Otey, Pfc.
Kevin C. Ott, Sgt. Michael G. Owen, Lance Cpl. David Edward Owens Jr,
Sgt. Fernando Padilla- Ramirez, Pvt. Shawn D. Pahnke, Spc. Gabriel T.
Palacios, Capt. Eric T. Paliwoda, 1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer, Staff Sgt.
Dale A. Panchot, Pfc. Daniel R. Parker, Pfc. James D. Parker, Pfc.
Kristen Parker, Cpl. Tommy L. Parker Jr., Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III,
Sgt. David B. Parson, Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson Jr., Master Sgt.
William L. Payne, Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, Staff Sgt. Abraham D.
Penamedina, Spc. Brian H. Penisten, Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, Staff Sgt.
Gregory V. Pennington, Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez,
Sgt. Joel Perez, Spc. Jose A. Perez III, Pfc. Luis A. Perez, Lance Cpl.
Nicholas Perez.

Spc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pernaselli,
Staff Sgt. David S. Perry, Pfc. Charles C. Persing, Staff Sgt. Dustin W.
Peters, Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, Staff Sgt. Brett J. Petriken, Staff
Sgt. James L. Pettaway Jr., Staff Sgt. Erickson H. Petty, Pfc. Jerrick
M. Petty, Lt. Col. Mark P. Phelan, Pfc. Chance R. Phelps, Sgt. 1st Class
Gladimir Philippe, Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, Capt. Pierre E. Piche, Pfc.
Lori Piestewa, Capt. Dennis L. Pintor, Spc. James H. Pirtle, Pfc. Jason
T. Poindexter, 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., Staff Sgt. Andrew R.
Pokorny, Spc. Justin W. Pollard, Spc. Larry E. Polley Jr., Sgt. Darrin
K. Potter, Pfc. David L. Potter, Sgt. Christopher S. Potts, Spc. James
E. Powell, Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, Cpl. Dean P. Pratt, Pfc. James E.
Prevete, Pvt. Kelley S. Prewitt, Sgt. Tyler D. Prewitt, Pfc. James W.
Price, 1st Lt. Timothy E. Price, Lance Cpl. Mathew D. Puckett, Sgt.
Jaror C. Puello- Coronado, Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, Staff Sgt.
Richard P. Ramey, Sgt. Christopher Ramirez, Spc. Eric U. Ramirez, Pfc.
William C. Ramirez, Pfc. Christopher Ramos, Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, Pfc.
Brandon Ramsey, Pvt. Carson J. Ramsey, Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, Pfc.
Cleston C. Raney, Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff, Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV, Spc.
Omead H. Razani.

Spc. Brandon M. Read, Pfc. Christopher J. Reed, Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, Sgt.
Tatjana Reed, Staff Sgt. Aaron T. Reese, Spc. Jeremy F. Regnier, Sgt.
1st Class Randall S. Rehn, Sgt. Brendon C. Reiss, Staff Sgt. George S.
Rentschler, Sgt. Sean C. Reynolds, Lance Cpl. Rafael Reynosa- Suarez,
Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso, Cpl. Demetrius L. Rice, Sgt. Ariel Rico, Spc.
Jeremy L. Ridlen, Pfc. Diego Fernando Rincon, Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki,
Sgt. Duane R. Rios, Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, Pfc. Henry C. Risner,
Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Rivera, Cpl. John T. Rivero, Spc. Frank K. Rivers
Jr., Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, Lance Cpl. Anthony P.
Roberts, Lance Cpl. Bob W. Roberts, Spc. Robert D. Roberts, Staff Sgt.
Joseph E. Robsky, Sgt. Moses D. Rocha, Pfc. Marlin T. Rockhold, Pfc.
Jose Francis Gonzalez Rodriguez, Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, Spc. Philip
G. Rogers, Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Rooney, Cpl. Randal Kent Rosacker,
Staff Sgt. Victor A. Rosales, Pfc. Richard H. Rosas, Sgt. Scott C. Rose,
Sgt. Thomas C. Rosenbaum, Sgt. Randy S. Rosenberg, Spc. Marco D. Ross,
Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey, Capt. Alan Rowe, Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, Sgt.
Roger D. Rowe, 2nd Lt. Jonathan D. Rozier, Spc. Isela Rubalcava, Pfc.
Aaron J. Rusin, Sgt. John W. Russell.

1st Lt. Timothy Louis Ryan, Chief Warrant Officer Scott A. Saboe, Spc.
Rasheed Sahib, Cpl. Rudy Salas, Cpl. William I. Salazar, 1st Lt. Edward
M. Saltz, Capt. Benjamin W. Sammis, Spc. Sonny G. Sampler, Spc. Gregory
P. Sanders, Pfc. Leroy Sandoval Jr., Spc. Matthew J. Sandri, Staff Sgt.
Barry Sanford, 1st Lt. Neil Anthony Santoriello, Spc. Jonathan J.
Santos, Pfc. Brandon R. Sapp, Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, Staff Sgt.
Scott D. Sather, Lance Cpl. Jeremiah E. Savage, Capt. Robert C. Scheetz
Jr., Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk, Pfc. Sean M.
Schneider, Cpl. Dustin H. Schrage, Maj. Mathew E. Schram, Lance Cpl.
Brian K. Schramm, Spc. Christian C. Schulz, Master Sgt. David A. Scott,
Pfc. Kerry D. Scott, Spc. Stephen M. Scott, Spc. Marc S. Seiden, Capt.
Christopher Scott Seifert, Pfc. Dustin M. Sekula, Lance Cpl. Matthew K.
Serio, Sgt. Juan M. Serrano, Staff Sgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger
III, Spc. Jeffrey R. Shaver, Maj. Kevin M. Shea, Spc. Casey Sheehan,
Sgt. Kevin F. Sheehan, Sgt. Daniel Michael Shepherd, Sgt. Alan D.
Sherman, Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman, Pfc. Harry N. Shondee Jr., Lance
Cpl. Brad S. Shuder, Capt. James A. Shull, Pfc. Kenneth L. Sickels,
Lance Cpl. Dustin L. Sides, Cpl. Erik H. Silva, Pvt. Sean A. Silva, Sgt.
Leonard D. Simmons.

Pfc. Charles M. Sims, Lance Cpl. John T. Sims Jr., Spc. Uday Singh, Spc.
Aaron J. Sissel, Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson, Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner,
Petty Officer 3rd Class David Sisung, 1st Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, Pvt.
Brandon Ulysses Sloan, Lance Cpl. Richard P. Slocum, Lance Cpl. Thomas
J. Slocum, Pfc. Corey L. Small, Sgt. Keith L. Smette, Capt. Benedict J.
Smith, Sgt. Benjamin K. Smith, Pfc. Brandon C. Smith, 2nd Lt. Brian D.
Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, Cpl. Darrell L. Smith, 1st
Sgt. Edward Smith, Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, Pfc. Jeremiah D.
Smith, Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Smith Jr.,
Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Capt. Christopher
F. Soelzer, Sgt. Roderic A. Solomon, Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau, Maj. Charles
R. Soltes Jr., Sgt. Skipper Soram, Pfc. Armando Soriano, Cpl. Tomas
Sotelo Jr., Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, Spc. Philip I. Spakosky, Pfc. Jason
L. Sparks, Cpl. Michael R. Speer, Staff Sgt. Trevor Spink, Maj.
Christopher J. Splinter, Sgt. Marvin R. Sprayberry III, Pvt. Bryan N.
Spry, Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, Pfc. Nathan E. Stahl, 1st Lt. Andrew
K. Stern, Staff Sgt. Robert A. Stever, Maj. Gregory Stone, 2nd Lt.
Matthew R. Stovall, Pfc. William R. Strange, Sgt. Kirk Allen Straseskie,
Pfc. Brandon C. Sturdy.

Spc. William R. Sturges Jr., Spc. Paul J. Sturino, Lance Cpl. Jesus A.
Suarez Del Solar, Spc. Joseph D. Suell, Spc. John R. Sullivan, Spc.
Narson B. Sullivan, Lance Cpl. Vincent M. Sullivan, Staff Sgt. Michael
J. Sutter, Pfc. Ernest Harold Sutphin, Chief Warrant Officer Sharon T.
Swartworth, Spc. Thomas J. Sweet II, Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher,
Maj. Paul R. Syverson III, Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh, Sgt. DeForest L.
Talbert, Sgt. 1st Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, Spc. Christopher M.
Taylor, Maj. Mark D. Taylor, Capt. John R. Teal, Staff Sgt. Riayan A.
Tejeda, Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, Spc. Joseph C. Thibodeaux,
Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen Sr., Cpl. Jesse L. Thiry, Sgt. Carl
Thomas, Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas, Spc. Kyle G. Thomas, Sgt. Anthony O.
Thompson, Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson, Sgt. Humberto F. Timoteo, Capt. John
E. Tipton, Pfc. Joshua K. Titcomb, Spc. Brandon T. Titus, Spc. Brandon
S. Tobler, Sgt. Lee D. TodacheeneCpl. John H. Todd III, Sgt. Nicholas A.
Tomko, Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, Pfc. George D. Torres, Lance Cpl.
Michael S. Torres, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres,
Lance Cpl. Elias Torrez III, Sgt. Michael L. Tosto, Spc. Richard K.
Trevithick, Pfc. Andrew L. Tuazon, Staff Sgt. Roger C. Turner Jr., Pvt.
Scott M. Tyrrell, 2nd Lt. Andre D. Tyson, Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, Lance
Cpl. Drew M. Uhles.

Rick A. Ulbright, Pfc. Daniel P. Unger, Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, 1st
Sgt. Ernest E. Utt, Sgt. Michael A. Uvanni, Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant,
Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez Jr., Sgt. Melissa Valles, Spc. Allen J.
Vandayburg, Spc. Josiah H. Vandertulip, Chief Warrant Officer Brian K.
Van Dusen, Lance Cpl. John J. Vangyzen IV, Lance Cpl. Gary F. Van
Leuven, Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, Spc. Frances M. Vega, 1st Lt.
Michael W. Vega, Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, Cpl. David M. Vicente,
Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, Staff Sgt.
Kimberly A. Voelz, Staff Sgt. Michael S. Voss, Spc. Thai Vue, Lance Cpl.
Michael B. Wafford, Sgt. Christopher A. Wagener, Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl,
Staff Sgt. Allan K. Walker, Sgt. Jeffery C. Walker, Sgt. Donald Ralph
Walters, Pvt. Jason M. Ward, Pfc. Nachez Washalanta, Lance Cpl.
Christopher B. Wasser, Pvt. David L. Waters, Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon
Waters-Bey, Maj. William R. Watkins III, Petty Officer 2nd Class
Christopher E. Watts, Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, Spc.
Michael S. Weger, Staff Sgt. David J. Weisenburg, Spc. Douglas J.
Weismantle, Pfc. Michael Russell Creighton Weldon, Lance Cpl. Larry L.
Wells, Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow,
Spc. Christopher J. Rivera Wesley, Sgt. James G. West, 1st Lt. Alexander
E. Wetherbee, Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, Pfc.
Marquis A. Whitaker.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Dean White, Lt. Nathan D. White, Sgt. Steven W. White,
Lance Cpl. William W. White, Pfc. Joey D. Whitener ,Spc. Chase R.
Whitman, Spc. Michael J. Wiesemann, Cpl. Joshua S. Wilfong ,Sgt. Eugene
Williams, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams, Spc. Michael L. Williams, Sgt.
Taft V. Williams ,1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, Sgt. 1st Class
Christopher R. Willoughby, Spc. Dana N. Wilson, Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry
L. Wilson, Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, Lance
Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 1st Lt. Ronald Winchester, Spc. Trevor A. Wine,
Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, Spc. Robert A. Wise, Spc. Michelle M.
Witmer, Pfc. Owen D. Witt, Spc. James R. Wolf, 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe,
Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, Sgt. Brian M. Wood, Capt. George A. Wood, Spc.
Michael R. Woodliff, Spc. James C. Wright, Pfc. Jason G. Wright, 2nd Lt.
John T. Wroblewski, Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Wyatt, Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt,
Sgt. Michael E. Yashinski, Sgt. Henry Ybarra III, Pfc. Rodricka A.
Youmans, Sgt. Ryan C. Young, Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Zabierek, Spc.
Nicholas J. Zangara, Spc. Mark Anthony Zapata, Pfc. Nicholaus E. Zimmer,
Cpl. Ian T. Zook, Lance Cpl. Robert P. Zurheide Jr.

+100,000 Iraqis casualties (approximately the same population as Cambridge, Mass.)

The list of U.S. casualties was sent in an email from michaelmoore.com, with whose tactics I do not always agree but whose sympathies and outrages I feel more deeply every day.

I don’t think that a Kerry victory would have translated to an immediate withdrawl of troops from Iraq, but it seemed more hopeful that resolution could be found sooner than with the current administration. With so many Americans supporting this war and this administration, I ask: For what?

It feels like someone took a blow-dryer to my nerves.

This time tomorrow, I will have voted for the next president of the United States. I look forward to getting that out of the way. I will have also voiced opinions regarding health care, slot machines, career criminals and whatever else someone bribed onto the ballot. Perhaps I will get one of those “Yay me, I voted!” stickers that people wear around all day, as though they gave blood or had a cavity-free checkup. Even Democratic process gets a participation ribbon these days.

Whatever is making me raw and turned inside-out is not the outcome of the election. It is — and pardon me if I go California on you here — the vibe. Everyone is tense. People are talking about how angry they are at the prospect of four more sneers. They’re rattling off every worst-case scenario and cursing Karl Rove and sweating about who’s going to win Florida and it’s giving me high blood pressure and dandruff and arachnophobic dreams. Praise Jebus I don’t live in a swing state because those Bush and Kerry TV ads would lace me into a straightjacket.

I have tried not to fear the outcome of this election. My experience reminds me that whatever I’ve feared, whatever I’ve let take root in my gut and dictate my decisions, has not been half as bad as I thought. Fear is attachment to bad things. It is obsession. It ain’t healthy and I do my damnedest to get zen on fear’s ass and just let it roll on by. Once something is out of your control, you can’t let it control you.

Like the swing state voters barraged with strangers’ advice and smear campaigns and junk mailers, I am ready for this election to be final. No more what-ifs and no more you-know-who’s-really-pulling-the-puppet-strings and no more betting on who’ll win Florida. Once it’s over, people will accept it. If America votes for four more sneers, there will be anger but the anticipation will be gone. The charged air will dissipate. Some sadness will stay there, because there will always be a looming darkness knowing that the person in the White House isn’t the one you wanted.

Somehow I survived the last four years. When stuff gets tense and people are talking about empty seats on the Supreme Court and who’s going to win Florida, I remind myself that I found someone who loves me even though I am an aggressive blanket-stealer. I started a website, developed arm muscles, and sewed the perfect A-line skirt. The Middle East is blowing up right now and I channeled my anger into creative energy. The personal is political.

I have considered skipping the election-night coverage all together. Maybe I’ll go to a restaurant where there is no TV and wear earplugs so as not to overhear who’s won Florida. I’ve been invited to an election-night party where sedatives and pizza will be served. Going straight to bed with a stack of magazines and a mixing bowl of guaca-molly is another option. Maybe not the healthiest route, but neither is blowing out an ulcer listening to bobble heads babble about the electoral college and who’s won Florida.