Posted on 03/03/2005 10:25:18 AM PST by SmithL
An Army soldier with Cocke County ties has died in Iraq, a loss that leaves his mother bitterly critical of the U.S.-led operation.
"He was there two weeks and three days I feel like his life was wasted," Patricia Brady said Wednesday of Pfc. Daniel Anderson, who died Sunday. "A lot of people say he's a hero, but to me his life was wasted along with many others."
Brady, who lives in the Hartford community, said she and her son had spoken at length about his decision first to join the Army and then to serve in Iraq.
"I am very much a pacifist," she said. "Danny knew this, but it was his decision."
Anderson was so fond of life as a soldier he returned to his high school in Texas to speak to students about a military career, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
Anderson, who had visited his family in Cocke County and North Carolina several times over the past several years, was killed in a shootout at a Baghdad checkpoint.
Brady said a casualty assistance officer said her son was manning the checkpoint when a car with five occupants tried to speed through.
Gunfire erupted and Anderson was killed.
The 29-year-old Texas native was a member of the 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, Ga. according to the Caller-Times.
More than 1,500 U.S. service personnel have died since the conflict began almost two years ago.
Anderson leaves behind a wife, a 6-year-old stepson and a 6-month-old son, Noah.
"She isn't taking it very well," Brady said of her daughter-in-law. "I've only talked to her once, but I know it's been very difficult for her."
Brady said her son's body is in transit from the Middle East and that the funeral will take place in his native Corpus Christi.
For Brady, the funeral will be one final reminder of her view of war.
"We've been fighting war for how many thousands of years for peace and look where we are," she said. "We have to learn how to get along."
This brave soldier died helping to protect me, my family, the country, and the civilized world from the forces of evil. His mother has nothing to contribute but noise. Which life is wasted?
In time maybe we can get her to understand.
Statements like this come from grief. They do a lot more harm than good. i wish that the grieving families would remain silent to the press, instead of coming out with this.
God bless this fellow Texan and soldier. I will remember him.
With all due respect to the mother.
I know she is going through a very difficult time.
But hopefully in time she will come to realize that her son did not die in vain. And that God decided to take him and he is in a better place.
May he rest in peace.
Freedom is not free!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
A Mother's grief can never be deminished, and I cannot blame her for her feelings, but her Son knew the consequences and chose his path in life. He did not waste his life and he did not die in vein. God Bless the Mother and her loved ones.
"I am very much a pacifist," she said. "Danny knew this, but it was his decision." I think her statement sums it up. It was his decision. I am very sorry for her loss and I am even more sad that she isn't proud of what his sacrifice meant.
Home of the free, because of the brave.
All deaths in war are personal tragedies to the families involved.
The question is why is the media playing up the personal trajedy and not the nobility of those who serve?
http://anysoldier.com/index.cfm
This can't be posted too many times. Let a soldier or Marine know that s/he is in your thoughts.
'All gave some, some gave all.'
MSM scum preying upon a distraught mother and working the "shame on America" angle.
This guy was and is a hero! - with Honor, Integrity, Courage and Loyalty to this country. As are ALL American soldiers; past, present and future!
God Bless him.
"And look where we are?" Com'on, Mom. How about if we hadn't fought the Nazis or Tojo and the Japanese Empire. Then where would we be? Your son did his part as a good American. He fought to protect me and my family and I am grateful to him for his sacrifice.
God bless him and you, too.
Daniel, may the Lord be watching over your soul. May eternal reward be yours for what you did for others.
He was a soldier, and he knew the risks, he didn't waste his life.
Her son's life was not a waste, nor was his death. He is a hero.
It is unfair to get a parents' opinion this soon after the sacrifice of their child, I say wait a year or two, then talk to her.
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