Caring For Troops Was Job No. 1: Robert Gates

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who retires at the end of June, talks with a soldier at a forward operating base in Afghanistan. He frequently visited combat zones and personally fought for better armor and faster medical care for the troops. (Jason Reed, Pool / June 19, 2011)

For Robert Gates, Caring For Troops Was Job No. 1 -- L.A. Times

Through two wars and administrations, the outgoing Defense secretary fought for better armor and faster medical care, and he personally signed thousands of letters to families of the fallen.

Reporting from Washington — When Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates leaves the Pentagon every evening, he carries home a sheaf of documents about the latest American soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. After dinner, usually alone, he takes out a pen and writes notes to the families of the fallen.

And most nights, he weeps.

He has signed about 3,400 condolence letters since taking over the Pentagon in late 2006, aides say. "There's probably not a day in the last four years that I haven't wept, and it's mostly when I'm doing those letters," Gates said in an interview.

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My Comment: 3,400 condolence letters and "And most nights, he weeps". .... yup .... it is time to leave.