rachel thompson says matthew was reluctant to date at first. because of his plans to serve in the military. she said -- quote -- "he knew he wanted kneeing a really specialized extremely dangerous job. unquote. his first thought was to spare her the pos humus pain. that danger was real. staff sergeant thompson served as a medic with america's elite forces in hazardous places. he was first deployed to iraq and then to afghanistan. the mission he and his unit were on was considered to be -- quote -- "noncombat," advising afghan force on to free their country from attacks by the taliban, islamic terrorists who speak to oppose their oppressive rule. staff sergeant thompson and his unit were pall trolling "outside the wire." they were ex-eskimosed to every danger. they were patrolling on foot, looking for improvised explosive devices left by an enemy that seeks to kill indiscriminately. one of those bombs went off. killing six afghan soldiers, wounding another american soldier and taking the lightest of matthew. a courageous young man defending the