Letters home haunt W

New York Daily News ^ | 11/29/03 | THOMAS M. DeFRANK and ALISON GENDAR

[kattracks]

President Bush's flight into Baghdad may have been dangerous, but he has told friends the part of the Iraq war he dreads the most is writing letters to the families of slain soldiers. The notes, however, are cherished by the grieving families.

"It was a brief note, probably a form letter, but the President took the time to thank me and remember Brian's sacrifice, and that does make a difference," said Ronald Slavenas of Genoa, Ill., whose son, helicopter pilot 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas, 30, died Nov. 2. "Nothing makes up for the loss, but it is good to know that he is being remembered."

Barbara Bucklew of Fort Carson, Colo., whose husband, Army Sgt. Ernest Bucklew, also died Nov. 2 in Fallujah, received one of the President's letters.

"Laura and I send our heartfelt sympathy," Bucklew said as she read aloud. "Our nation will not forget Ernie's sacrifice and unselfish dedication in our efforts to make the world more peaceful and free."

Bucklew was among the military families who met the President at Fort Carson just before Thanksgiving.

She said Bush's visit to Baghdad was further proof that the commander-in-chief was aware of the sacrifice he was asking from his young troops.

"He was just a politician in my eyes before. Now I know he is a sincere man who told us how sorry he was," Bucklew said. "And that does help."

The President has sent out more than 400 of the letters so far. He will have to write a couple more because two soldiers were killed since his visit, one in Ramadi and a second in Mosul.

Before the war began, former President George Bush warned his son that sending such letters would be the most agonizing duty of his wartime presidency.

Bush has told friends that his dad was all too right, and that he has come to dread the letters.

Some of the families who received the letters saw the President's stealthy trip into Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day as another sign of his compassion.

"He did a wonderful thing," said Vera D'Agostino of Middlebury, Conn., whose grandson, Pfc. Anthony D'Agostino, was among 16 soldiers killed when an Army helicopter was shot down Nov. 2. D'Agostino would have turned 21 last month.

"It was necessary, but it made us cry," said Stewart Torres of Passaic, N.J., whose 24-year-old bother, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, died last month when a rocket-propelled grenade tore apart his Humvee outside of Baghdad.

"We started crying because it was something Richard would have loved, the President there with the troops, honoring them," Torres said.

But Bush's lightning trip to Iraq was just a stunt to Fernando Suarez del Solar, whose son, Jesus, 20, was killed in March.

"Bush goes and looks like he loves the troops with his posturing," said the grieving father, who will be among a dozen anti-war parents to visit Iraq next week.

Jeri Reed, a member of the dovish Military Families Speak Out, also was dismissive of Bush's Thanksgiving jaunt.

"It was obviously a big publicity ploy," said Reed, whose son has been in Iraq since March.

"He's saying that we're going to stay no matter what they do to us. Well, they're not doing anything to him. We don't need him going there, we need to bring the troops back here," she said.

Originally published on November 29, 2003

[Miss Marple]

You were warned. I have reported you to the Admin Moderator. The vivking kitties will soon be appearing.

[Maigrey]

Hmmm. It's interesting that they got Ron Slavenas to comment in the article, when his wife (in an earlier article from a local paper) was slamming the actions of the son and the man who sent him into battle.

(FTR, the wife says that she is a peace activist and didn't approve of her son's actions, and at his funeral, she didn't allow a flag to drape his coffin!)

I wonder how they got quoted for the article.

[DollarBill]

The story behind the story... This was on the Chicago area news when 1st Lt. Slavenas was buried last week. I'm sure his mother had some more "colorful" quotes that the one that was printed in the aforementioned article. She actually said to the Chicago media, that GWB "killed her son". More amazingly, she held a separate funeral, because she did not want one that had any military honors or representation. 1st Lt. Slavenas' father is a veteran and held a military service afterward for his son.

[Lazamataz]

Hasn't anyone here ever heard of "signature machines" that produce a facsimile of signatures, but one that is coded to show it's not original, and thus legally valid ?. It's done by computer nowadays.

No, not by computer: It's called an Autopen machine.

[CholeraJoe]

How many letters like this did that thieving rat b*stard Democrat Lyndon Johnson write during Vietnam? None. He let cab drivers deliver telegrams to the widows and orphans.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Grieving family members of Soldiers killed in the line of duty, on the President's trip to Baghdad:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It was necessary, but it made us cry," said Stewart Torres of Passaic, N.J., whose 24-year-old bother, 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, died last month when a rocket-propelled grenade tore apart his Humvee outside of Baghdad.

"We started crying because it was something Richard would have loved, the President there with the troops, honoring them," Torres said...

But Bush's lightning trip to Iraq was just a stunt to Fernando Suarez del Solar, whose son, Jesus, 20, was killed in March.

"Bush goes and looks like he loves the troops with his posturing," said the grieving father, who will be among a dozen anti-war parents to visit Iraq next week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The President has sent out more than 400 of the letters so far.

 

 

 

        Thank you.                       

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      

[mystery-ak]

1stLtc Brian Salvenas was the Chinook pilot of the 106AVN, my hubby is the 1sgt of that Co. Brian was a great pilot and my hubby thought very highly of him. We attended his prayer service when Mike was home from R&R...

[Elkiejg]

Just want to thank you Mystery-ak and your wonderfully brave husband for service to our country and our freedoms. I see your posts regularly but haven't taken the chance to publically thank you. My son is in the Guard and could be sent over. My prayers for the safety of your husband and all our military.

[RobFromGa]

the difficulty is in knowing what the letter stands for and what the receipt of the letter will mean to the family receiving it, knowing that you cannot make it better only that you can make their sacrifice mean something.

[RobFromGa]

another one bites the dust...

[Miss Marple]

Excellent. I am no mood to put up with that bravo sierra this morning.

[Mrs. P]

Welcome to Free Republic. At least in this reincarnation.

[Valin]

I have a feeling that they were "bitter" people before before they lost their son. This sort of thing brings out the best in some people and the worst in others.

[DCPatriot]

Hey, wait a second, will you?

Do you have any children of your own? If you did, you would most likely not utter such nonsense.

To lose any child, regardless of age, but especially in a military exercise, halfway around the world, for a bunch of foreigners that have a completely set of values and standards....geesh. I'd be really upset too.

God bless President Bush and keep him safe.

[ohioWfan]

This is a specific request that we can add to our prayers for the President.........for his writing letters to the families of those who have fallen because of HIS orders.

What a heavy burden that must be for one so filled with love for his troops.

[January24th]

"Either it's a form letter, or someone "took the time", but that someone is unlikely to be the president in flesh and blood. "

Well, that's as likely as any scenario posted by someone who is venturing a guess, but stating it in an authoritative tone to make it seem a matter of fact. However, since we have only the information noted in the article to go on, we would have to compare all statements made in order to see if your position holds any water on its own. Here's two quotes that stand with some "dissonance" to your assertions:

Before the war began, former President George Bush warned his son that sending such letters would be the most agonizing duty of his wartime presidency.

Bush has told friends that his dad was all too right, and that he has come to dread the letters.

So now, more questions to be asked: Why would GHWB speak of an agonizing duty that he never had to perform, seeing it was all done, according to your guess, by machines or aides? Was he grandstanding to his son? Was he lying? We can't and don't know. Why would GWB agree with the statement, if he had no personal connection with the letters? To agree with your position we would have to assume both statements cited above were disingenous lies. Bringing in other known factors, we know that GHWB was downed in the war, and felt sure he would die in the waters of the Pacific. Maybe, just maybe, he had (and has) true empathy and emotion for the fallen---(even though he's a busy politician, yada, yada, yada.) And maybe, as a beloved son who cares for his father, and has heard the brave tale many times, W has some vicarious empathy and true appreciation for our troops and their sacrifice.

Nah...your assumptions are just way too easy and convenient. I, for one, think the issue merits further investigation before I get out a broad brush of quasi-authoritative pap and just dismiss it out of hand.

[cars for sale]

can you read ? Dubya said on tv printed in the Washington Times,that Dubya hand writes all letters

[Free Vulcan]

If it had been Beezulbubba, and he had unilaterally invaded Vietnam for no apparent reason, these people would have supported it to their last breath. They don't hate the war, just Bush.