2/3: Waging War

Waging War in the land of Compassion
In 2003 the army of Bhutan waged a brief and victorious war against Assamese rebels in the south that were waging a separatist war against India.   Everyone I spoke to said that King Jigme Singye Wangchuck himself led the Bhutanese forces into battle, further deepening the love and admiration of the people for their beloved 4th Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King). After the victory, one of the king’s wives built a national victory monument made up of 108 chortens .  I have read in a number of places that this represents the 5 Bhutanese soldiers killed and the 103 Assamese who died in the battle.  Is there a parallel anywhere in our nation where the loss of life of enemy forces is memorialized along with the deaths of Americans?

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