I saw Scott’s death notice on my BlackBerry while I stood in line, waiting to use the electronic voting machine to cast my ballot. A more profound reminder of the stakes of this election I cannot imagine.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 918-08
October 31, 2008
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Scott J. Metcalf, 36, of Framingham, Mass., died Oct. 29, in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

The incident is under investigation.

For more information, media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at (270) 798-9966, or go to http://www.campbell.army.mil/eh/eaglehonors.htm.