Soldier fathers child two years after dying in Iraq

CNN ^ | March 21, 2007 | Keith Oppenheim

[samantha]

Could not agree more......

[samantha]

Another good point is that he will have a Son to carry on his name, and Genes, Family History. What do you get from an Anonymous Sperm Donor besides a Child with no Daddy, no Paternal anything.

[colorado tanker]

There was a post a while back about an Israeli group banking sperm for soldiers in case they don't return from a deployment. I think most men would like the idea they could become fathers posthumously if they haven't had kids yet.

[rintense]

If that's you're requirement, then you've just maligned half the children in this country who have divorced parents.

[DJ MacWoW]

If that's you're requirement, then you've just maligned half the children in this country who have divorced parents.

Don't be dumb. My parents were divorced when I was 8. I still had a father not a fact sheet. I've traced his family back to 1738 and arriving on the St Andrew. I have pics of Grandparents & Great Grandparents. What's a sperm donors "kid" have? The date the clinic was built?

[rintense]

So are you and exception, or the rule? I am also from a divorced family and I know nothing- not one thing- about my father's history, background, family, etc. And you know what? Because my mom and grandparents loved me, I grew up not missing a father. I was truly blessed to have the love I did.

[DJ MacWoW]

I am also from a divorced family and I know nothing- not one thing- about my father's history, background, family, etc.

And? Now you're the exception to the rule? Do you know his name? Sperm donor babies don't even have that. Most people care where they come from. Adoptees search for their "real" family despite being adopted and loved. With a sperm donor, that will never happen. There is NO connection of any kind.

You had/have the choice of finding out about your fathers family. Sperm bank babies will never be given the chioce.

The child in this story has two families for love and support. It doesn't matter how Dad died or when. Mom can tell the son about him and share who he was. That will NEVER happen for a sperm bank child.

[rintense]

Again, not true. Donors are given the option of whether they want contact/communication with offspring. Do they all choose that? No. But neither do 'real' fathers. I know many who have 'real' fathers who have chosen to not have any contact with their children, as if they don't exist at all. I'm one of them. Tell me... what is more cruel to a child... to know you have a 'real' father who wants nothing to do with you, or a donor who, for whatever reason, made it possible for you to be born? So again, exception or rule?

Every family is different as is every situation. But to judge based on what is ideal is specious at best.

As for my father, yes, I know his name. And that's all I know, and all I want to know. Could I find out more? Sure. But I choose not to.