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Touching Photograph (100th Texas soldier to die in Iraq is buried)
Houston Chronicle ^ | Steve Ueckert

Posted on 11/19/2004 3:41:45 PM PST by Tarpaulin

Marine Cpl. Justin Killingsworth hangs the dog tags of Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay on his son, Walker Slay, during funeral services today at the Houston National Cemetery. Russell Slay was the 100th Texan killed while serving in Iraq. Behind the boy is his ex-wife Christine Slay and his mother, Donna Slay.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fallen; thelastfullmeasure
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This is on the Houston Chronicle's front page this evening. There does not appear to be a followup article.

It's a touching image and story nonetheless.

God Bless.

1 posted on 11/19/2004 3:41:46 PM PST by Tarpaulin
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To: Tarpaulin

God Bless Marine Cpl. Justin Killingsworth for the strength and committment he shows to his fallen comrade and his family. To The family and young son of Staff Sgt. Slay.. Thank you for the sacrifice we can never repay the debt we owe you.

2 posted on 11/19/2004 3:46:28 PM PST by Americanwolf (Freedom... Protected by the brave so the meek and lazy don't have to get off the sofa.)
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To: Tarpaulin

That little guy has a haircut that I'm sure makes his daddy proud.

My prayers are with him...


3 posted on 11/19/2004 3:48:32 PM PST by Gerasimov (John Kerry just got his SECOND dishonorable discharge.)
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To: Tarpaulin

God Bless This Marine that guards the Streets of Heaven. May little Walker grow up to make his DAD proud.


4 posted on 11/19/2004 3:50:12 PM PST by JOE43270 (JOE43270 America voted and said we are One Nation Under God with Liberty and Justice for All.)
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To: Americanwolf

Well put. Thank you for saying what we all feel.


5 posted on 11/19/2004 3:50:34 PM PST by Endeavor
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To: Tarpaulin

God bless. A future Marine. Semper Fi.


6 posted on 11/19/2004 3:52:05 PM PST by Ptarmigan (Proud rabbit hater and killer)
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To: Tarpaulin

Anyone notice that the Marine giving the little boy his Dad's dog tags is also injured? (Look at his arm.) He was probably with his Dad when he died. *Sob*

Gawd. Seriously. We need to get serious, kick more @ss and bring our boys home NOW. No more of this "house to house" fighting. Warn the civilians to get out of the way, start carpet bombing and be done with it!


7 posted on 11/19/2004 3:52:07 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Americanwolf

Family mourns loss of Marine
by David Taylor / Lake Houston Sentinel
Crosby soldier killed in Iraq

The family and friends of Staff Sgt. Russell Slay are mourning his death. The 28-year-old father of two was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq where the U. S. military is conducting a major offensive. Slay's ex-wife and children are Crosby residents.

Slay's father, Roy Slay, who now lives in Willis, could hardly speak about his son, overcome with grief.

"We were contacted on Wednesday, Nov. 10, by the Marine Corps that he had been killed," he said.
Roy Slay said they didn't know the details of how he was killed, but that Slay's unit wouldn't rotate back home for another five months. He thought then they might hear from some of his friends what had happened.

"It doesn't really matter how he was killed," the father said, "the outcome is still the same. I love him and I'll miss him. He died for his country and in my eyes he's a hero."

Slay was a member of the 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp LeJeune, NC.
He had been living in North Carolina where he was stationed for the last three years, was divorced, and had two children, Kinlee, 9, and Walker Ray, 5.
Slay was born in 1975 and lived on Coolgreen off Maxey Road until 1983 when he moved with his family to Huffman. He attended school in Huffman ISD for several years and transferred to Humble ISD for his final years in high school.

He rode bulls in FFA, played football, baseball, was in the band and loved to sing.

"He called me one day and he told me what he wanted to do with his life," said his mom, Donna Slay. "He told me I wasn't going to like it, and I didn't at the time."
She said Slay's best friend from Huffman had joined the Marines and her son followed suit.

He was stationed at Camp Pendleton for eight years and transferred to Camp LeJeune prior to the invasion of Iraq.
His unit received orders to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom at the beginning of the war.

"They were the first ones in and the first ones home," his mother said. "I was a basket case with worry, but I got to talk to him several times."

His mother related how reporters from the national news channel, CNN, would loan their phones to servicemen so they could call home.

"I could hear mortar fire in the background as I talked to him," she said.

Slay finished his first tour of duty as the military moved into Baghdad.

"It was the most exciting day of my life when he came home," Donna said.

The excitement was short-lived. Slay was home for less than a year when he received orders to return to Iraq.

"I don't think he wanted to worry me and I got a call out of the blue on Sept. 29 and he told me not to watch the news and not to worry."

It was the last time she would hear from her son until the heart-wrenching call no mother wants to receive.

"I received a phone call and someone was crying on the other end of the phone." She thought it was her daughter at first, then realized it was her daughter-in-law calling.
"She told me that there were two Marines in uniform outside walking up to her front porch. We knew the inevitable."

A Texas motorcycle magazine is devoting a full page to Slay's memory. The family loves riding motorcycles, including Slay's stepfather, Cochise.
The family has been flooded with phone calls and visits from the community.

"Everyone has been really nice and helpful," she said.


8 posted on 11/19/2004 3:52:14 PM PST by WestTexasWend
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To: Tarpaulin

God bless him and his family.


9 posted on 11/19/2004 3:52:37 PM PST by myvoice
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To: Tarpaulin

How very sad. Its time we get out of Iraq.


10 posted on 11/19/2004 3:54:02 PM PST by Dante3
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To: Tarpaulin

God bless this Marine and his family.

And, God bless all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free and safe here at home.


11 posted on 11/19/2004 3:54:49 PM PST by WestCoastGal (Jr "I don't think the take will be any more but the give will be a lot less. That's how I will race")
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To: Tarpaulin
Go easy, Marine. An 82d hearty OOORAH to you and yours.

All gave some. Some gave all.


12 posted on 11/19/2004 3:55:40 PM PST by rdb3 (LoRdZ of the Gen-X Republican Rebellion -- rdb3 "HiP-hOp FReeper")
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To: Tarpaulin
Very touching. Prayers for all

Rest In Peace
Marine Staff Sgt. Russell L. Slay

13 posted on 11/19/2004 3:55:54 PM PST by deadhead (God Bless Our Troops and Veterans Bush/Cheney '04)
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To: Tarpaulin

This mans sacrifice on behalf of our nation may very well have guaranteed that his son will not have to fight a much worse war in the future because we did not stop the evil ones today.


14 posted on 11/19/2004 3:56:39 PM PST by Names Ash Housewares
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To: Tarpaulin

15 posted on 11/19/2004 3:57:09 PM PST by RaceBannon (Arab Media pulled out of Fallujah; Could we get the MSM to pull out of America??)
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To: Dante3
How very sad. Its time we get out of Iraq.

It is sad for this loss, as it is for all others. But are we finished with the job in Iraq?

This thread is a FReeper tribute to this fine Marine. Don't politicize it.


16 posted on 11/19/2004 3:57:10 PM PST by rdb3 (LoRdZ of the Gen-X Republican Rebellion -- rdb3 "HiP-hOp FReeper")
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To: Dante3

"How very sad. Its time we get out of Iraq."

What!?


17 posted on 11/19/2004 3:57:15 PM PST by Tarpaulin (Look it up.)
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To: Tarpaulin

To bad there was not a touching photo for the 99th.


18 posted on 11/19/2004 3:57:31 PM PST by steelwheels
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To: Dante3

Why so we can throw away this soliders efforts in vain?


19 posted on 11/19/2004 3:58:37 PM PST by Tempest (Click on my name for a long list of press contacts)
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To: deadhead

20 posted on 11/19/2004 3:59:24 PM PST by MattGarrett
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