click on this song by Casting Crowns that I just adore!!!!! this IS my lifesong..... 

TODAY IS VETERAN'S DAY, NOV. 12, 2007

I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER MY BROTHER IN LAW, CAPT MARK

T. RESH, WHO WAS KIA JAN. 2007 WHEN HIS APACHE WAS SHOT DOWN IN IRAQ.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK OF THE WAR, OR THE PRESIDENCY, WE MUST SUPPORT

OUR TROOPS, AND PRAY FOR THOSE IN CHARGE.

BELOW IS ONE OF THE MANY ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT MARK.  THIS WAS IN THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE.  MARK GRADUATED FROM PITT.

The Department of Defense yesterday identified one of the two soldiers killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in Najaf, Iraq, as Capt. Mark T. Resh, 28, of

Fogelsville, Lehigh County, near Allentown.

According to an Army spokeswoman at Fort Hood, Texas, Capt. Resh was a pilot aboard a U.S. military helicopter taking part in a fierce, daylong combat with hundreds of insurgents hiding in date palm orchards in southern Iraq.

The insurgents were messianic Shiites who officials said planned to slaughter pilgrims and clerics during Ashoura commemorations in Najaf yesterday.

In Najaf, Deputy Gov. Abdul-Hussein Abtan said that more than 300 militants were killed and 650 captured in the battle, which ended Monday. He said 11 Iraqi troops were killed and 30 wounded.

During the fighting, a U.S. military helicopter based in Baghdad crashed at about 1:30 p.m., killing Capt. Resh and Chief Warrant Officer Cornell C. Chao, 36, of Orange City, Calif. The military did not say whether the helicopter was shot down, but a Washington Post correspondent at the scene saw the helicopter trailing smoke and circling before coming down in a field of sandy dirt.

A Post reporter last night said military officials would not permit the witness to approach the crash site, which was several hundred yards away.

According to the Post, Maj. Beshari al-Ghazali of the Iraqi army said that the helicopter was shot down and that another U.S. helicopter took fire but did not crash. Iraqi officials said the insurgents were using shoulder-fired rockets and anti-aircraft guns.

Capt. Resh and Chief Warrant Officer Chao, who also was a pilot, were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood.

Capt. Resh entered the Army in May 2001. He and Chief Warrant Officer Chao deployed to Iraq in September 2006.

Capt. Resh's awards and decorations include the Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, Global War on Terrorism Service, Army Service Ribbon and Army Aviation Badge.

Jim Kellerman, a scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America, Troop 72, in Fogelsville, last night said Capt. Resh was a member of his troop from 1989 to 1997 and became an Eagle Scout there in 1995, receiving numerous scouting awards and merit badges.

"I remember him as a quiet but enthusiastic leader in the troop," Mr. Kellerman said. "[He] was part of many winning snowbound sleds at the district events, and always a very likable Scout. It is no surprise that he was serving his country just as he supported his community in scouting. We are all very saddened at this news and wish his family all our best."

ALSO, HERE IS A YOUTUBE LINK THAT HAS A NEWS ARTICLE ON IT.  IT FEATURES MARK AND CWO CHAO.