700! - updated with photo

06/06/09 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Sgt. Jasper K. Obakrairur, 26, of Hilo, Hawaii, died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment...

06/05/09 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome, Ga...died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance...

06/05/09 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale, Ga...died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance...

06/05/09 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, Ga...died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance...

06/05/09 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Spc. Jarrett P. Griemel, 20, of La Porte, Texas, died June 3 at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion...

06/05/09 :
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

Spc. Roberto A. Hernandez I, 21, of Far Rockaway, N.Y., died June 2 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his mounted patrol was attacked with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.

This is not a damned odometer turning another hundred miles. It is a tally of lives lost, lives cut short, individuals - each unique, beloved, and missed.

May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of their countries. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou has begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. AMEN.

h/t to Mimi for this prayer.

--the BB