Fear for 2 More as Daughter Dies in Iraq

New York Times ^ | 4-12-04

[SJackson]

EW BERLIN, Wis., April 12 (AP) — With three daughters serving with the National Guard in Iraq, Jack and Lori Witmer had a Web site with photos from Baghdad, notes to home and messages of encouragement.

A recent entry said: "Keep praying! They're almost home!"

But a notice on the site dated Sunday had grim news: "We regret to inform you that Michelle Witmer was killed in action April 9th."

Ms. Witmer, 20, a private in the 32nd Military Police Company, died when her Humvee was attacked in Baghdad. Her family is hoping her sisters will not return to Iraq after this week's funeral. The military has said the decision is up to the soldiers.

"I can't live another year like I've lived this one," John Witmer said. "The sacrifice that this family's made can never be understood by someone who hasn't gone through it."

The sisters, Charity, Michelle's twin, and Rachel, 24, arrived home on Monday, two days before Michelle's funeral, and indicated they would consider their options, Mr. Witmer said. "In the end, it is going to be my girls' decision."

[teletech]

but employed more than 1500 mostly high payed Americans with special computer skills - didn't go to India for cheaper computer specialists. We didn't look for a better life, we had it already, but we liked the Land and it's people!

Oh come on. You came for the people. Give me a break! You came to make MONEY! You came to escape the high tax burden in Germany! You aren't worth any more of my time. Don't post to me again!

[dennisw]

I feel your anger at such dopes. I know a leftist who moved here from Sweden, married an American, runs down whatever GWBush does abroad.

He admits he's here for the money and because he hated the high taxes in Sweden. He's self employed.

[teletech]

I feel your anger at such dopes. I know a leftist who moved here from Sweden, married an American, runs down whatever GWBush does abroad.

He admits he's here for the money and because he hated the high taxes in Sweden. He's self employed.

Ever notice how many people at the grocery store DON'T speak English? Native born Americans will someday be in the minority.

[GoLightly]

I looked, couldn't find & you were probably right. The taste of my own foot is fine, thankyouverymuch.

The rules I found assume a draft & it pertains to the rules about whether or not someone can make a claim of being exempt from getting drafted. Also, it is applicable only in peacetime. It also assumed the service member was a male. It was about the last son to carry on a family name, but then the language got fuzzy, so parts of it looked like it applies to anyone with a lost sibling or parent. The additional part about 4 siblings, one dies & the 3 surviving becoming exempt seems to almost contridict previous statements about the policy. I got my info off of a couple of Red Cross sites. I could find nothing in any site put out by our government or armed forces.

I wish I could have found something more current, like how the policy has been addressed in dealing with a volunteer armed service. Does it take into consideration modern force ratios? If the Senator only addressed this one family's situation, without addressing the policy for all of our people, I think it would be a mistake. The PR cost of not changing the policy would be worse for the military, than the loss of the small percentage of people in the forces who would be affected by it.

It is duly noted that neither of the Senators of this family were the one named as interested in pressing a case for them. Kohl & Feigold will be getting letters from me, not that I think it will do any good.

[Blood of Tyrants]

My heart felt condolences to the family. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Bush has lacked the courage to reverse clintoon's social experimentation and pandering to the lesbians and fudgepackers.

[Texas2step]

I'm suffering about all these young people and all the civilians dying and I still don't know for what!!!!!!

They are fighting in Iraq so that we don't have to fight them here. If you don't believe that, you are naive. Our fight in Iraq IS part of the war on terror. It's a real war and real war requires sacrifice.

If we allowed Saddam to remain in power, I promise you we would have been hit by terrorist who trained in Iraq and who were financed by Iraq. Some say we already have been.

If we don't help bring democracy to Iraq, Iraq would become the de facto stomping grounds for Al Queda. Do you really want them to bring the fight to our soil? Talk about civilians and women and children dying here would become more than just talk.

[Rubber_Duckie_27]

What a disgusting comment.

My younger brother (and only sibling) has many possibilities for higher education. He very easily could have chosen to go to college or technical school. We were raised in a fairly well-to-do community. He is going into the Coast Guard in a few months. Poverty or boredom were not what drove him to join the military, it's the sense of patriotism and duty that (thank heavens) our parents instilled in us. He truly WANTS to serve his country, and save lives.

I have a number of friends who are young veterans - all of them had opportunities in life besides the military. It is an erroneous assumption to think that most or even the majority of today's troops are serving because they're poor or stupid. Many Freepers have loved ones serving now, and it's pathetic that you insult them like this.

[Amerigomag]

They joined the Wisconsin National Guard to go to Iraq?

Exactly. Anywhere their commander choose to send them.

That's what you do in the military. You serve the pleasure of your country.

[BossLady]

Thanks for the Zing!

May God hold this family close and give them strength to carry on.....

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Sisters Rachel (from left), 24, Charity, 19, mother, Lori,

and Charity's twin Michelle Witmer share a hug

 ~*  Spc. Michelle M. Witmer  *~

 

Army National Guard’s 32^nd Military Police Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

~ killed in the line of duty, April 9, Baghdad, Iraq. ~

 

All give some. Some give all.

~  ~

 

"I have a daughter serving. May God take this brave woman into his arms and protect her and may he watch and protect her sisters. Her parents are grieving, please do not be harsh on them, it is their initial reaction to a media that is searching for these stories. My daughter will be going to Iraq mid May and doesn't fear death, God is with her, she's told me, she fears what terrorists may do to our country more so than dying for her country .... These women should be revered and honored as the soldiers they are. God speed to this family, may He guide and protect them in their time of grief." ~ Indy Pendance 32

 

 

Bless you, Indy Pendance. Joining you in prayer for the Witmer family,

their friends and loved ones, and for all of our troops and allies serving in harm's way.

 

  Defense Officials Identify Casualties ~ April 12, 2004 

[SAMWolf]

Spc. Michelle M. Witmer

[HamiltonJay]

1 child dies and its a national story????? This is clearly manipulation by the press.

I am sadden to hear of this families loss, but I am even sadder to see this Father allow himself and his families grief to be used in such a manner.

[Bon mots]

The best solution is to keep women out of combat roles. Combat roles involve killing the enemy. They are just not the place for women.

I agree.
They should not have equal rights either.
No more of this "equal pay" nonsense, and women police officers and firefighters either. They simply cannot do the job. They shouldn't be expected to.

Just because you can watch woman cops beating the snot out of the bad guys in crappo Hollywood films like "Charlie's Angels" and such, does not mean any of that nonsense would work for a single second in the real world.

I've trained martial arts with many women, black belts all. None of them would stand a chance against a strong man with an attitude.

Put down the guns girls, you can put your eye out.

[sandbar]

>The three daughters are in Iraq because they wanted to be >in Iraq. I've got to believe that their parents had some >input into the decision to join the military.

Having three daughters myself, I would hate to see any of them in combat in a war zone. I would also respect thier decision to join the military, even if it were one weekend a month. They understood the possiblity of going to war. I've seen too many stories with the parents saying "they just wanted college money", or something to that effect. When did the military become a welfare for college program?

[Happy2BMe]

Well, these are beautiful girls.

If I were their father, I'm not sure if I would be encouraging them to remain in the military.

Just my 2 cents.

[rogueleader]

I don't have a problem with women police officers or women doing other tough jobs.

Beating up a street punk is a far cry from dealing with massive blood spatter, bits of your buddy's brain covering your face, machine gun fire, entrails everywhere, black corpses smoking, facing up to the fact that you are about to be killed, blood oil and fire in the air, excruciatingly loud bomb blasts all around you wreaking havoc and destruction, getting your limbs blown off, dying a miserable death, suffering interminable freezing temperatures or burning hot temperatures, and generally going through the razor-lined hell pits of Gehenna barefoot. Then there is the gang raping that the enemy enjoys so much.

War is no place for a woman.

The whole reason we fight wars is to resist against marauders and protect children and the gentler sex, fragile as she is, from the rampages of barbarians. Women are the guarantors of civilization. Women have the very important job of maintaining and improving the culture. Regardless of whether a woman gives birth, tends a child, volunteers, keeps people in touch, writes, or is a homemaker, a corporate CEO, an intellectual, or a corprate litigator, she is still doing critical work. Women are the lynch pin of the family and of the culture, and thus of our country and our civilization. Women are less expendable than men. A woman blown to bits in combat is much worse than a man blown to bits in combat. Don't give me the old "Anything you can do, I can do better" line. That may be true or not true, but the point isn't what you can do, the point is that you should not have to do it.

Please, just let us do our job.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"We regret to inform you that Michelle Witmer was killed in action April 9th."

[jaykay]

They joined the Wisconsin National Guard to go to Iraq?

Exactly. Anywhere their commander choose to send them.
That's what you do in the military. You serve the pleasure of your country.

In that case, the Michigan National Guard, with it's recruitment ads and brochures showing Guardsmen fighting forest fires, sandbagging against flooding, providing disaster releif after tornados and other disasters, would be sued for false advertising if they were a private corporation.

Hopefully they do it differently in Wisconsin and these ladies saw brochures and ads showing wartime combat.

[Amerigomag]

When did the military become a welfare for college program?

I have two sons. When it came time we sat down. I talked, they listened.

I explained that the role of a uniformed combatant is to kill or be killed. I also explained that if they were not prepared to kill men, women and children to save their lives or the life of their fellow uniformed combatants they had no business in the military.

Both went on to college. The irony is that the oldest was instrumental in the design and production of a perimeter defense system that has saved far more lives in Afghanistan and Iraq than had he and his brother become grunts.

[DollyCali]

Thank you for this thread.. it was on the Dose the night of Michelle's death & on ATRW as an article. This news deserved it's own thread and I appreciate you doing it.

It is a hard issue re: women in the service. Part of me thinks it should be just men, but I do understand there are many women who have more ability, strength, endurance than many men... although I know that is not the norm. As a women PE major, believe me there were woman in my classes that you would think were men.. and men in many of my lib arts classes that I could overpower. (not that I tried, but saw the obvious)

I don't like any of our kids to die.. men or women. I don't like war. But that is not the world we are in - nor the country we pledge allegiance to. I am proud of our president, our military & the fine men and women who are now serving.

Each generation seems to have it's conflict. Some with more honor then others. Some with more pain than others. We will prevail in the Mideast. Wish the politicians would just permit the military to handle it.

sorry for long ranty response.. these events, times emote much from our souls...

God bless those who serve & our leaders with courage to protect freedom.