Be thou at Peace Ma'am

Her mom died when she was just a little girl, just six or seven years old. She wanted to go to West Point and made it happen. She served in Iraq and then served in Afghanistan twice, where she was killed by enemy fire Saturday, June 8, 2013. Maj. Jaimie Oberst Leonard was 39. Those who knew her say she was loyal, dedicated, and a “shining example” to those served with her.

The news came to me from her uncle, my first cousin, Tommy Oberst. My dad and Jaimie's grandmother were sister and brother. So I'm linked to Jaimie by childhood memories of hanging out with her mom and our generation of cousins in the Bronx at my Grandmother's house, and our weekends in the country at the Oberst house in Scarsdale, New York. The Breen sisters, Patsy, (Jaimie's mom) Muffet (Alice), Bobby, Tommy and Laurie.  

My heart breaks for her siblings, her aunts and uncles, her cousins and her incredible life-long West Point family of soldiers and officers. We will all honor her at West Point next week where she will be buried.

I've been watching the news, and from what I've seen, only News 12 Westchester has covered Jaimie's story the attack in treacherous Paktika. There have been short print articles in The Times, The News and a few local newspapers, but our network news shows seem to shy away from the disturbing reality of our country's war in Afghanistan. Interestingly, I've talked with family and friends in the past about the fact that the only TV news show announcing the names of soldiers killed each week is Sunday Morning's “This Week” with George Stephanopoulis.

Yes, every week soldiers are killed in this war. As a society, we continue to be shielded from the news of our best and brightest falling in a war we've been talking about ending for a long time. We only become acutely aware of what's going on when it touches us personally, and then we experience the blow, the terrible shock, the monumental grief and the rage.

Over the last Memorial Day, a debate erupted about the meaning of the holiday. It seems to have morphed and blended a little with Veteran's Day since it has become politically correct to thank our soldiers for their service when we meet them here in the US. I used to think this was a good thing, that every time we can honor a soldier we should. But.... I've changed my mind--I agree that Veteran's Day and Memorial Day are two very different holidays. I will make sure next Memorial Day I honor Maj. Jaimie Leonard and all the officers and soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and keep the meaning of the day close to my heart.

I'll repeat what a friend posted for Jaimie on the FaceBook page West Point Women, “Be thou at Peace Ma'am”.

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"I'm going to go in and do my best." I believe when you do that, people recognize your talent.

– General Ann E. Dunwoody

Four-star general, U.S. Army
(First Woman Four-Star General)