Marine's life touched many (TISSUE ALERT!)

Arizona Daily Star ^ | 4/26/04 | Carol Ann Alaimo

[SandRat]

In life, Tasha Shephard never met Lance Cpl. Robert Zurheide Jr., the first Tucsonan killed in combat in Iraq.

On Sunday, she stood near the graveside of the 20-year-old Marine, clutching a white chrysanthemum and crying as he was laid to rest.

"He was so young. He didn't even have a chance to live his life yet," said Shephard, 19, an East Side resident whose 19-year-old boyfriend is also a Marine serving in Iraq.

Shephard was one of hundreds of Tucsonans from across the city and across the generations who turned out to say goodbye to Zurheide, whose wife is nine months pregnant with the couple's first child.

[SandRat]

Solemn photo's and the rest of the story at the excerpt site.

[SandRat]

[kezekiel]

May the rest of us only prove worthy of their sacrifice. We must never, ever back down from this fight. That's the last thing these brave souls would ask of us.

[Kathy in Alaska]

RIP Lance Cpl. Robert Zurheide Jr

[Ramius]

Rest, Marine. There are no words that will make sense to that mother-to-be. Our gratitude will sound flat, but thankful we are indeed, for men such as this.

Yes, it is horrible that we must send our best to sometimes die fighting these pathetic parasites that are not worth a thousand of men such as these.

Each of these losses has a story like this. Each of them also drives home the terrible importance of making very sure that this mission succeeds. It is simply so essential that these lives were not spent in vain.

[SAMWolf]

Fallen Soldier Bump.

[bogdanPolska12]

Hell will freeze before that happens. This is a final war, a war which is worst then WWII and it will take long years and a lot of blood, but freedom is not free, we will win this.

We are facing most destructive enemies in a world today - enemies within freedom of this country alone and their buddy’s in other media outlets and etc. An enemy who is bent killing not thousands, but millions. And politicians are just dancing on their grave of policy of appeasement.

In 1937 there was article in NYT condemning Japanese of their war crimes horror. Did you think Japanese really care about it? They didn't, and it took 4 years after that to plunge USA in to war. Till this day, only God knows how many soldiers and other civilians died of their occupation.

Just not long ago, Jordan had live interview with suspected terrorist - their plan, killing more then 80,000 innocent people.

If these guys in those gold palaces of Saudi, and other capitals of Middle East do not understand that they have created a monster, then they will pay a heavy price, and price of total annihilation of their countries and their people.

Any of them thinking, that USA being attack with any kind of WMD will not produce a response that would make Heroshima a joke, are totally insane, and bend on destruction of their own people.

I still believe there are people in middle east of good heart, and good soul, and their kids and families should not be subject to fragment of people finalism and be torture.

But Arabs in Middle East need to pick the laces of the horse, and run over those who want to destroy them. If not, then there is no other solution - and terrifying one it is.

[Ramius]

May the rest of us only prove worthy of their sacrifice. We must never, ever back down from this fight. That's the last thing these brave souls would ask of us.

That's worthy of reading again. Well said.

In the recent example of Pat Tillman... one of the things I've personally taken from his story, is an overwhelming sense of humility. I could only hope to be someday worthy of the sacrifice of such a man. And truly, there are many others with him now.

Some dip on some network called Tillman's loss a "waste" of a great life. I only heard it in passing, but then began to ponder on that phrase. A "waste"? Sure, it sounds like that, at first. But then I compare my own life to his. Who among us has had such courage of conviction? Who among us has accomplished so much in so short a time?

I've lived twice as long as most of these brave men, and haven't accomplished half as much. No, it's MY life that's been wasted. Not theirs.

[bogdanPolska12]

.Now a tribute.

Rest, Marine, rest in peace. Rest in golden arrows of a shadow, rest for be assured your death will be avenge. Rest assured dear friend, we are behind you, and rest assure dear family of this great soldier - Hell will freeze before all of their sacrifices will be forgotten - for surely I won't forget them.

God bless sir and strong honor salute, from me Bogdan and my family.

Rest at peace, God Bless you and your family and others

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Waste. Dying for something you believe in with all of your heart? A waste of life is being a worthless slob of a "journalist" and living in the upper East side. That's human waste if you ask me?

[Ramius]

Roger that.

[Ramius]

God bless you, BogdanPolska, and to your loved ones as well. I've seen many of your posts over many months.

You are not in America, yet you see things with a clarity that I wish more Americans did. You appear to see that this fight is not about mere America. It is about civilization.

The barbarians are at the gate. You join us when many among our own falter. As it was said in a recent movie:

"Hold your ground, hold your ground. Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is NOT THIS DAY. An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is NOT THIS DAY. THIS DAY WE FIGHT! For all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I BID YOU STAND, MEN OF THE WEST!."

[bogdanPolska12]

Or better old one "This talk that Americans don't want to fight is horse shit" What we need is Patton, McCarthy, Eik, Hesley and others.

Guys in media today and I think many of you dear friends do not understand, this is fight till the end. No barbs, no words, just a fight. Straight forward, like tanks of Patton, like Anders and others, no moving back.

General from England empire in Hong Kong did not take warnings seriously, that Japanese are well prepared. Consequences of his action let to destruction of Hong Kong and thousands of Chinese and British soldiers capture and being dead. But one stood that "I shall return"

Arrogance led to capture of Singapore, I usually don't dwell in Pacific War, but one of greatest American heroes came from there, so from Western Front.

I took hundred of thousand of them to die, so today people like Kerry can hold microphone and spill bs that would make any alien generals go bunkers.

My dear grandma told our family one time - "My dear grandkids, before you know fire will be on, and you is your duty to face that fire"

[Terry Mross]

You are right. This is a battle to the finish and to win it, we're going to have to get rough. I just hope we still got it in us.

[bogdanPolska12]

USA does!!! So other coalition countries. No questions ask sir. We have enough to face enemy head on. There are people in America who will fight for it till the end!!! And so will others.

I am worry at bunch of media sissy boys, and their propaganda gimmick. I really am stun by the way media flips stories.

These people never lived in hard time. Everything was giving to them on golden plate, so now they think they are immune to anything. How wrong they are.


Humble
Bogdan

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank God for our heroes and their loved ones!

[DLfromthedesert]

His dad works for the local Bush campaign. They are a great family; it's so sad that we have to give up our best. But then, who else will go?

[radu]

Prayers sent for the family of Lance Cpl. Robert Zurheide Jr.

May he Rest In Peace.

[blackie]

Good Bless our fallen heros and their families.

[windchime]

Bump!