Major Andrew Olmsted - he is the first 2008 casualty in Iraq.

Here is the blog he maintained, till Feb 2007, which he discontinued after finding out he was in violation of a Department of Defense directive regarding political activities by members of the armed forces on active duty. It has his final post, a very touching one, that he asked a friend to put up in the event of his death while on duty. From it:

What I don't want this to be is a chance for me, or anyone else, to be maudlin. I'm dead. That sucks, at least for me and my family and friends. But all the tears in the world aren't going to bring me back, so I would prefer that people remember the good things about me rather than mourning my loss. (If it turns out a specific number of tears will, in fact, bring me back to life, then by all means, break out the onions.) I had a pretty good life, as I noted above. Sure, all things being equal I would have preferred to have more time, but I have no business complaining with all the good fortune I've enjoyed in my life. So if you're up for that, put on a little 80s music (preferably vintage 1980-1984), grab a Coke and have a drink with me. If you have it, throw 'Freedom Isn't Free' from the Team America soundtrack in; if you can't laugh at that song, I think you need to lighten up a little. I'm dead, but if you're reading this, you're not, so take a moment to enjoy that happy fact.

He also blogged with the Rocky Mountain News since May, 2007.

I was not aware of this man's existence till now (just found via Instapundit); but for a person like me, who does not know anyone at the frontlines in Iraq personally, accounts like these make the WoT real and vivid; and I value the freedoms I enjoy a little bit more in memory of this fine man and professional soldier.