The last day of 2009, the second full moon in the month—as some call it, a “blue moon” but here, every moon full-sailing cross the clouds carrying a mental list of fallen soldiers is blue for me. And I am sure the shades of grief are deeper still for the families and loved ones facing a New Year that will never be the same.

LCpl Christoper Roney, 23, of England, died in Afghanistan of wounds from a firefight on Dec 21st.

US Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, Ca., died Dec. 25 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device .

US Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, N.Y., died Dec. 26 in , Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Canadian Lt. Andrew Nuttall, 30, of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, was killed by a roadside bomb during a routine foot patrol in the Panjwaii district of southern Afghanistan.

LCpl Tommy Brown, of England, died in Afghanistan when an IED exploded where he was on foot patrol.

US Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino, 45, of Waterbury, Conn., died Dec. 29 in , Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while unloading supplies

The following four Canadian soldiers died Dec 30 in Afghanistan, when their vehicle hit an IED. A Canadian journalist died as well:

* Sgt. George Miok, 28, of Edmonton.
* Cpl. Zachery McCormack, 21, of Edmonton.
* Sgt. Kirk Taylor, 28, of Yarmouth, N.S.
* Pte. Garrett William Chidley, 21, of Langley, B.C.

(Journalist Michelle Lang)

And at least seven CIA agents died in an explosion in Afghanistan when a suicide bomber struck. I am searching for their names, which have not thus far been released. Five were regular CIA agents, including the chief of the agency’s Khost base—a mother of three; two were contractors hired from the former Blackwater business now known as Xe.

Also, a Captain from the small military contingent from Jordan died in Afghanistan, but his name has not been released yet.

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