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

[VOA]

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

I hate to admit it, but I didn't really pay attention to that "Pray For President Bush"
thread that seemed to appear often.

This sounds like an item for which Dubya could use some prayer-assistance...

[jim35]

I hate to hear the parents of slain soldiers sounding so bitter and unpatriotic, as if their sons died for nothing. I wonder if their sons would have approved of such sentiments? I think it's unlikely. It dishonors the dead. Maybe they can't help feeling that way, since the loss of a child is so horrendous, but it seems so wrong.

[kayak]

The Pray for President Bush thread is posted daily. Here is the most recent one.

Pray for President Bush - Day 1163

[redrock]

"This sounds like an item for which Dubya could use some prayer-assistance..."

Once again, and as usual, I find myself in agreement with you.

redrock

[VOA]

thanks for the link, kayak

[kayak]

"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."

Changing one heart and mind at a time ....

[Outraged]

Maybe they can't help feeling that way, since the loss of a child is so horrendous, but it seems so wrong.

It is impossible to dismiss the grieving of a family, but in this instance this group that is organizing is a simple outgrowth of the anti-American communist machine cloaked in the disguise of feel good sentiment...These people hate America as much as the world's Islamofascists, communists, socialists and God-less neardowells.

Just like the 70s anti-war miscreants, they are either "usefull idiots" or intentionally malevolent.

[kayak]

I certainly don't know this for sure but I suspect that this President, like his father before him, personally sees these letters and probably signs them. I have no illusions that they actually sit down at a computer and type them out. But why would the father tell his son how painful a task it is if he has absolutely nothing to do with it and never even sees the letters?

[Mo1]

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.

Huh?? .. What's this??

The Liberals keep telling us that President Bush is ignoring the families .. they wouldn't lie to us, whould they?? /s >

[Outraged]

Are you joking or just a lib lurker trying to stir up dissent?

[VOA]

Do you want the President to get carpal tunnel syndrome from signing stuff day and night?

Gosh, I hadn't even thought about Dubya getting even a hand-cramp.

I was only thinking of the mental challenge of being the guy with ultimate responsibility
(as the CIC who sent these lost souls into the fray).

[VOA]

I hate to hear the parents of slain soldiers sounding so bitter and unpatriotic,
as if their sons died for nothing.

Burying your child is not the natural plan of things.
Just about anything goes when working through that valley of despair...for a couple of
months to a year or so, I'd guess.

[RobFromGa]

I would imagine it is a personalized letter in a standard form, personnally read and personally signed by the President. And I would imagine it is very difficult.

[Miss Marple]

I don't fault the parents, who are dealing with grief. I DO fault the organizations who prey upon that grief and manipulate the parents into political positions while they are in despair.

[Bombard]

Only a few of these families fall for these scum and what they try to do. Most are good American families who look on military service as more than just a job or a way to earn college money. Believe it or not most of the men and women in the military have family tradictions of miilitary service.