'I'm hurting right now, mom' - For the hawks here and elsewhere

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.app.com/app2001/story/0,21133,765265,00.html

By MICHAEL AMSEL
STAFF WRITER
Spc. Shaun Cunningham always prided himself on his mental toughness. As a chemical operations specialist with an Army field hospital near Baghdad, Cunningham saw the horrific realities of the war, helping retrieve bodies of fallen comrades from the field, shooting several enemy fighters in gunbattles, trying his best not to be shocked at the level of violence he witnessed.

But this was too much to bear.

At his feet were three U.S. soldiers who had been killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed into the Tigris River. One body was nearly decapitated. It was Cunningham's job to clean them up and put them in body bags so they could be shipped back to the United States for proper funerals.

As Cunningham searched their pockets, looking for IDs, he realized he'd met the men; they were flight medics he had helped outfit with protective gear. A knot formed in his throat. Then, he came upon pictures of their children and tears welled in his eyes.

"That's when the war really hit home with him," said his father, Richard Cunningham.

As the war fades from our collective consciousness, families like the Cunninghams of Toms River wait and worry, hoping their sons and daughters will return home safely, and the nightmare will end. Each day, the pain and longing gets more excruciating. snip

In it, Shaun wrote: "Mom, I'm telling you right now that if something should happen to me, know that you and daddy are the best and I love my family a lot. People are getting killed every day, and the look on their faces will stay with me forever. I'm sure that you will hear about this (helicopter) crash before this letter gets to you. Know that we acted honorably and the doctors did everything they could to bring the men back to life. Say a prayer for them and tell the church to also pray. Good soldiers, good men, now with God."


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[Jonte_1979]

1. On Edit

Very sad story.

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. That story is

heartbreaking

[trof]

3. "hoping...the nightmare will end."

It won't.
The nightmares don't end.
Ever.

[hlthe2b]

5. The horror he describes

needs to be put before all Americans. I pray that this young man can eventually lose most of his stark memories of all that he has seen, but I also hope the rest of our populace can experience it sufficiently to "wake up!"

So sad, so tragic, such a horrendous waste.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Ask any vet

about the consequences of being in a combat zone. My neighbor is still suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome from what he saw as a medic in Viet Nam.

[Divernan]

6. "Friday a female soldier in his camp committed suicide by

shooting herself in the stomach" he emailed his parents.
(ON EDIT: read the whole story)
Has anyone seen any news stories about THIS HORROR!?!?

For God's sake, how can the press ignore this! ! ! What is the Department of Defense threatening soldiers and family members with to keep this kind of story under wraps?

[Skittles]

8. yes

news reports said she died of "non-combat related gunshot wound". We speculated it was either suicide or friendly fire.

[Cooley Hurd]

13. Was this the one?

07/09/03 Melissa Valles Sgt. 26 B Company, 64th Forward Support Battalion She died as a result of non-combat injuries. The incident is under investigation. Texas Eagle Pass US

From: http://lunaville.org/warcasualties/Details.aspx

[Ohio Dem]

7. Send this to everyone you know that thought supporting the troops

and supporting the war were equivalent. Ask them to think about it. Ask them if they really believe that warmongering supports troops.

[MoonAndSun]

9. When I read this, I immediately thought of John McCain......

he said this past Friday on CNBC's Capital Report that the Iraq war was a "magnificent victory". I feel ill knowing that there are many that still believe in this war and the way it was conducted by bush* and his henchmen.

[blondeatlast]

12. Former POW who sold out his comrades to get home.

He makes me ill.

[teryang]

14. Sold out his comrades?

Got any support for that story? Never heard that before. I met a few of the nam POWs and worked with and for some. Had access to all the debriefings as well. Never heard that one. I doubt if its true.

[SayitAintSo]

15. I don't believe that's true....

I have looked into to some of those charges and came away believing they were bull**t.

[jody]

16. Sorry, but McCain refused an offer of the North Vietnamese to

release him early because he was an admiral's son. He's a true hero in every sense of the word. What he does as a politician can never erase his deeds as a prisoner and as a Navy officer.

:toast: to McCain, a bona fide war hero

[Rose Siding]

10. Senators in the Armed Services Committee

heaped fawning praise on Franks and Rumsfeld last week. So erroneous. So misplaced. The Senators *thanked* them repeatedly- thanked them for leading the forces, US kids like the one in this story, into a ridiculous military power grab. Thanked them.....

[nostamj]

11. <bushspeak>

oh chill out!

didn't you hear rummy.

there WILL be more deaths. suck it up. and bring 'em on!

</bushspeak>