an icepick through the keyhole

Of course he was a soldier, and he knew the risks. But at the end of the day, that does not make the loss of life any less deserving of note than a civilian. In fact, what makes it even more tragic is that it was an accident, not a situation where he knew he was placing himself directly in harm's way. I was trying to make the point that casualties count in human terms and every death, soldier or civilian, belongs to a person with a family. In a just or unjust war, they are still to be mourned and not dismissed.