22 Navy SEALS dead in Afghanistan

Afghan could easily be won with the modern technology available, but you have to be ruthless against a religious based opponent.

Fanaticism consists in redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.

turn the country to glass for the ultimate total win.

One of those killed was a native of Santa Barbara, he grew up climbing on the local sandstone. His desire for adventure took him into the Navy.

He finished BUDS and became a SEAL, working on the west coast teams, because he could climb and still do his job. He moved up through the years and finally got the call to try out for DEVGROUP, and completed the year long trail to become a member.

He became a leader of an assault group and one of it's most respected members, doing over his career, well over 20 tours of duty.

Through out that time he remain close to climbing, would train with us often and enjoyed being close to nature and with old friends. He was always kind, always loyal, and always brought many guys on the trip with him, to show them how fun climbing was.

After 9/11 the climbing trip became less frequent, and a week or two, every few years was about it. We had been planning another big trip and I often got phone calls and e mails, form these guys as they spent fearful nights in the mountains of Afghanistan, dreaming about climbing.

He went on to become a fine family man, married a beautiful women and had a few kids, but still lead his boys through the many mission he would lead over seas.

He died, not fighting for oil, or some high in the sky ideals, but trying to rescue a group of pinned down, regular troops; he died trying to save his brothers.

I'm proud to call him my friend, who spent his whole life not in the selfish pursuit of full time climbing, but away from the limelight trying to make the world a better place for us and for all people world wide.

I won't tell you his name, nor would he want me too, but telling his best friend from grammar school last night about his death, ripped another whole in my heart, these men and women our the finest amongst us, and they will always have my highest regard and respect.