Posted on 04/12/2004 8:23:03 PM PDT by 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."
No one LURED Thomas Hamill to Iraq. He CHOSE to go because it was good pay. Yes, the pay was a good incentive to take on what he KNEW was dangerous work. All his family and friends have acknowledged that he knew the risks, and was willing to take them.
As for covering everyone with health insurance, and thinking that Mrs. Hamill would be better off with a totally paid for by the government health plan, think again. With the government in charge of health care decisions even more than they are now, it's likely that Mrs. Hamill may not have had the CHANCE to have the expensive heart surgery! It would depend on whether some bean counter in the government thought she was 'worthy' enough to get the operation.
Instead of taking the single payer route, the government should loosen the requirements on health insurance and allow companies to let folks make their own health care purchases, and just have insurance for truly large costs such as treatment for catastrophic illnesses. If we didn't have to pay so much in taxes, and have our employers 'pay for' our health insurance instead of giving that money to their employess, those employees could probably pay out of pocket, cash on the barrelhead for their yearly typical doctor fees. Think about it, with a typical professional salary, about $4,000 to $5,000 a year is what the company 'pays' for an employee's health insurance. The typical family of four probably would pay less than $2,000 to their doctors if every member of the family had at least one physical exam and two sick visits each year! And there would still be plenty of money to purchase a catastrophic health insurance plan! The best thing woudl be that a family could then take that money and shop for health care that makes sense for THEM rather than trying to fit into someone else's mold of what is the best for them.
Reform is needed, but not in the way YOU'RE thinking! Single payer health care would choke out any innovation, and the world would be a much sicker place for it.
OK, but 99.99% of them are. Europeans don't understand that of course, but perhaps if we had to live in worn out old countries with no future, we might not be as patriotic either.
I can understand european angst, I mean after all, when you can't even bother to produce enough children to replace yourselves, and have to import Islamic terrorists to provide for your social programs......well.....that just about says it all, doesn't it?
He almost earned expert.........he got Sharpshooter. I think he scored 35.
He often asks "What do your FR buddies think about that?".....or says "Be sure to tell your FR buddies about this."
Thank you for your kind thoughts. We are proud of our young soldier.
If they're here for some other reason, then it's their own damn fault. I have zero sympathy for the 'I just signed up for the college money' crowd. If you make a deal with the Devil, don't cry foul when he comes to collect his due.
This isn't a difficult concept to grasp, here. If you don't want to fight fires, don't be a fireman. No one made these people sign up. There's plenty of low paying, menial labor jobs out there that are perfectly safe. Why be a PV2 in a combat zone when you could flip burgers right down the block? Give Dairy Queen a call, and leave the fighting for people who mean it.
In all fairness, I've not seen many people at all that 'didn't know what they were getting into'. If you're able to inprocess, train, and work as a soldier without it dawning on you that you could be killed in this line of work until the day you show up in combat, you obviously aren't smart enough to survive by your wits alone, in any line of work. I know a few who aren't happy about being here, but readily admit they have no one to blame but themselves.
While you are enjoying the hospitality of America, rest assured that American soldiers (including my daughter), are happily protecting your ex-land. They do it because they are Americans; Because people like you CAN'T -- or WON'T.
You ignored my first response to you. Let me state again once more that I was insulted by your use of my post to make it appear that I am in favor of your anti-war views. My sons did not join the military due to poverty. They joined out of patriotism and a desire to protect our freedom. Lady, I'm not a wimp. I have raised warriors. Quit, maudlin, and defeat are not options in our household. I don't like socialist, I don't like communist and I don't like to be used as a platform for your socialist agenda.
Did she graduate Basic at the end of Jan. at FLW?? If so they were there together!!:)
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