Army Capt. Kristopher Mitchell bought one in memory of a friend killed in Afghanistan. Navy Lt. j.g. Kelly Weaverling ordered her "hero bracelet" to simply honor a fallen comrade. So did Airman 1st Class Jana Allen-Wugh.
Thousands of Americans are doing the same, from Baghdad to Boise. The stark black bracelets, each poignantly bearing the name of one of the more than 1,300 men and women who've died in Iraq and Afghanistan, are being ordered so fast over a frazzled Texan's Web site (herobracelets.org) that he's had to issue an urgent call for volunteers.
In just three weeks, more than 1,000 bracelets have been shipped, and at least that many more are back-ordered, said Chris Greta, the 46-year-old Austin advertising entrepreneur who dreamed up the idea.
"Since I started doing this, (service people in Iraq) have become very real to me," Greta said. "There are a lot of people out there who really want to do something and really care about these guys."
Each bracelet costs $8.50, including shipping, and Greta has pledged to donate $2 for each one he sells to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which so far has funneled $11 million to families of dead troops.
Greta also offers custom bracelets for $12. Mitchell bought one of those in honor of his Citadel classmate, Capt. Daniel Eggers, who was killed May 29. Weaverling, Allen-Wugh and most folks are simply ordering names at random.
