It is still happening

AmyB called me today to tell me this horrible news. Her friend Jason was killed in Iraq last week by a suicide bomber. It was a terrible shock to her, and the theme that kept coming up was that it has gotten to the point that many of us do not think about it all that often, but our people are still dying every day in this "war". This sure drove it home.

I blogged about Jason before, after my Vegas trip with Amy. Although they lived far from each other, they were very close, and in a weird turn of events, ran into each other at the Bellagio one night when we were there. It was a going away of sorts for him, as he was gearing up to go to Iraq. Amy was so surprised to see him, and now I know how much she must treasure that surprise nite they got to spend together before he went.

Anyway, here is one of the many stories about him

Major Jason E. George

Major Jason E. George in his West Point graduation uniform. Photo courtesy of Bakersfield.com and the Mason family.

Bakersfield.com notes that Hugh and Candy Mason knew the loveliest of rituals: "When he [their son, Jason] was close [to their house], he'd honk the horn twice. Then his parents would smile, look at each other and move toward the door. Jason was home."

They received visitors of another kind last week, when solemn military personnel arrived to inform them that their 38-year-old son, Major Jason E. George, had been killed by an IED while on foot patrol in the Dora district of Baghdad. Horribly, the explosion killed two other American soldiers and at least 25 Iraqi civilians.

A resident of Chicago, Major George had only been in Iraq since May 5th.

Photo of Jason George provided by Beth Brenner from Bakersfieldnow.com

Sports ruled young Jason's life and the family's home is crammed with shelves of trophies, both academic and sporting, including one from Jason's win at the Pinewood Derby. In school Jason played tennis, baseball, soccer, and basketball. As a senior at Tehachapi High, "Number 22" kicked the winning field goal in the finals of the school's Desert Inyo League Championships. Jason George was an Eagle Scout; he had a high school internship with NASA at Edwards Air Force Base, and after a year of study at California State University at Bakersfield, these many successes culminated in a West Point appointment by then-U.S. Representative Bill Thomas.

Jason E. George was an undefeated boxer during his time at West Point. After graduating, he served eight years in the service before leaving in 2002 to earn an MBA at the University of Michigan. Before being called back up for duty, Major George was working for a consulting firm in Chicago that specialized in health care, helping hospitals and clinics save money by becoming more efficient. Major George was an Army Reservist assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion out of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Old friends remembered him warmly.

"He was so committed to the service of our country and just excited about it," said Christine Goedhart-Humphrey, who attended California State University, Bakersfield with George.

"He wanted to serve his country," said Willy Duncan, who was in a fraternity with George. "I'm going to remember him as a hero, because I believe that's what he was. I certainly appreciated him going over to Iraq and laying his life on the line for the rest of us so we could have our freedom."

Loving and caring, Jason George made sure both his mother and his grandmother received flowers on Mother's Day. He worried about his ill grandfather, and asked if he could talk to the doctors directly. He never failed to end a phone call with, "I love you, Mom. I love you, Dad." The reporter at Bakersfield.com writes, "It is too early for either Hugh or Candy Mason to be philosophical. They still expect their son to walk through the door. Although they do not want to criticize the military, they are struggling with the idea that a major was on foot patrol. They just do not understand."

Major Jason E. George's parents, Hugh and Candy Mason, hold the West Point graduation photo of their son. Photo courtesy Bakersfield.com and the Mason family.

The magnificent Patriot Guard Riders have Major George on their Watch List, where messages of support and sympathy are being left for the Mason family.

Major Jason E. George will return to the US on Thursday, May 28. Our hearts are with Hugh and Candy Mason, and all who knew and loved this fine young man. Please know that we stand beside you at this terrible time of loss.

Wow.