Dare I say, 'Mission accomplished?'

Monday, April 28: Four U.S. soldiers were killed in Baghdad, 46 this month. The news says insurgents are taking advantage of the limited visibility caused by severe dust storms to lodge their attacks. I don't know where my brother Mike is. I only know from his last e-mail that he's "somewhere in Iraq" on a mission that should have been completed by now, but it's been "slowed down due to severe dust storms."

Wednesday, April 30: Four soldiers were killed by roadside bombs, ending April at 52, the highest monthly death toll since 65 died last September.

When Mike enlisted more than three years ago, we expected him to come home in April. His contract lists his "end of service" date as April 12. But with the swipe of the secretary of defense's pen, he was "stop lossed," which means his active duty status was involuntarily extended.

When I don't hear from Mike for a while I go online and check his bank account. Sometimes I can track where he's been from his debit card purchases made from food court vendors at forward-operating bases. McDonald's here, Subway there. While the charges are relieving, the opposite is true: a week or so with no Big Mac causes worry.

They say no news is actually good news. If something happens, an Army notification officer calls or visits the appointed next of kin right away. I've heard horror stories about this. One father woke up to a 6 a.m. call, "Sir, we're lost; can you give us directions to your house?" Another father lit himself on fire when the detail showed up.

Thursday, May 1: The media is mocking the five-year anniversary of the president's infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech, when on an aircraft carrier off the San Diego coast, he declared "My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended - in the battle of Iraq, the United States and it's allies have prevailed."

Since the speech, 3,908 American troops have been killed, and more than 28,000 injured. One Marine, Sgt. Merlin German, was injured when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb in 2005. He miraculously survived being burned over 95 percent of his body. After 17 months of treatment, and more than 100 surgeries, he went home to establish "Merlin's Miracles," a charity to help burned children. He died on April 11 of complications following another surgery. He was 22.

Friday, May 2: Four Marines killed by a roadside bomb.

Saturday, May 3: Finally, an e-mail from Mike. Subject: "No More Missions. Back at camp. Tired. Turning in vehicle tomorrow. New unit taking over soon."

Dare I say, "Mission accomplished?"

Missy Martin is an 11-year Ahwatukee Foothills resident, mother of three and editor of Bombshells: War Stories and Poems by Women on the Homefront. Her brother, U.S. Army Specialist Michael Dunn, attended Arizona State University and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in accounting and now provides security on convoys in and out of Iraq. He can be contacted at Spec. Mike Dunn 7th Chem - APO AE09366.