Family loses son in Iraq, then house to fire

Daily Hearald - Suburban Chicago ^ | 01/03/2006 | Marni Pyke

[KeyLargo]

Daily Herald

Family loses son in Iraq, then house to fire

By Marni Pyke Daily Herald Staff Writer Posted Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Vietnam War veteran Jesse Alcozer isn’t used to asking for help.

But a series of traumas — the death of his son in Iraq, protests by a hate group at the funeral and a fire that left the Alcozer family homeless — proved too much to endure.

“We just need a little bit of help,” said Alcozer, his voice breaking during a news conference Monday afternoon.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is organizing a fundraising effort to assist the Elmhurst family. The Alcozers’ rental house went up in flames Dec. 27 when a candle burning in a shrine for U.S. Army Pfc. Christopher Alcozer set his picture on fire.

The only spot of good news was that firefighters rescued medals belonging to Christopher and the flag that had draped his coffin.

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, left, helps launch a fundraiser for the Alcozers family in front of their burned out home. Jesse Alcozer, holds on to the flag given to the family after his son, Christopher, died in Iraq. The flag was one of the few things rescued from the fire. “It’s a part of my son. It means a lot,” Alcozer said.

The family is temporarily staying at a hotel, but money is tight.

Alcozer, who is disabled as a result of being wounded seven times in Vietnam, lost his job some months ago, and his veterans benefits were cut 20 percent just before Christopher’s death Nov. 19.

The Community Bank of Elmhurst has set up a fund to help the Alcozers, who didn’t have renter’s insurance, get back on their feet.

Quinn appealed for donations, saying even a dollar is important.

“When something bad happens to one of us, the entire Illinois community comes together,” Quinn said.

Firefighters estimated the damage to the 1880s frame house on North Michigan Avenue in eastern Elmhurst at $100,000.

Members of the Alcozer family, including two young grandchildren, were relaxing and watching a movie together around 9 p.m. Dec. 27 when the fire struck.

“The next thing we knew, the fire alarm went off,” said Judy Alcozer, Jesse’s wife.

She tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire spread too rapidly.

“I prayed that we all got out alive,” Jesse Alcozer said.

While watching the destruction, the couple told emergency workers about the flag and medals. Firefighters Eric Burmeister and Kevin Cwirla, who is a retired National Guard staff sergeant, hurried to salvage them.

“His son gave the ultimate sacrifice, and we hoped we could alleviate the pain,” Cwirla said.

“The good Lord has a way of doing things,” Alcozer said.

The family is steeped in military history. Jesse’s father and grandfather served, and he has two sons enlisted.

Christopher grew up hoping to follow in his dad’s footsteps.

“My son always believed in America,” Jesse said.

Christopher attended Willowbrook High School in Villa park, where he was on the wrestling team and played in the orchestra.

He died at age 21 during a skirmish in the town of Mosul, Iraq, while his unit was looking for suspected terrorists holed up in a house, Jesse said.

Christopher was fatally shot while covering other soldiers as they removed the wounded.

“He couldn’t walk away. He stood his ground. He wanted to make sure his Army friends got out alive,” Alcozer said. “At the last minute he was killed.”

Adding to the family’s grief were protesters who demonstrated outside the funeral with signs saying, “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.”

The group has targeted military burials, contending that the deaths of soldiers are divine retribution for society’s toleration of homosexuals.

The experience was unbelievably hurtful, Alcozer said.

“Can’t people just stay away?” he said. “For someone to come and protest … it’s just too painful.”

Quinn, who got to know the family after Christopher’s death, is spearheading legislation to keep protesters away from mourners at funerals.

The family’s plight drew the sympathy of Yorkville retirees Walter and Kathe Evers.

Although on a limited income, the two showed up to donate to the fund.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Walter Evers said.

Sentiments like that are worth as much as the money, Alcozer said.

“I’m a little happier because the community cares.”

dailyherald.com

[mlc9852]

That's exactly why I would think the IRS would be interested...

[HairOfTheDog]

Good grief, they are bearing an awful big burden.

Very very sad.

[Miss Behave]

So very sad for this family.

"A fund has been set up for the Alcozer family. Donations can be sent to:

Jesse Alcozer Family Fund Community Bank of Elmhurst 330 Butterfield Rd. Elmhurst, IL 60126"

Thanks for getting the word out, KeyLargo.

Bump, bump, bump.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Txsleuth]

bttt

[Minus_The_Bear]

BTTT

[blackie]

Prayers for the Alcozer family.

[madison10]

wish that the whole lot of them could be tossed into jail.

You're being nice. I wish they'd be tossed somewhere alot hotter. IMO, protesting at funerals, especially of those killed in the line of duty, is wicked.

[pganini]

http://www.godhatesfags.com/

That's their website. Apparently they ahve made people angry. One guy threw a pipe bomb at the house in 1996, so he's now saying God is punishing America and using IEDs against our soldiers. He's a wacked up baffoon.

[afnamvet]

"The Rev. Fred Phelps and crew, out of Kansas. They're idiots. I wish that the whole lot of them could be tossed into jail Hell."

I fixed it for you.

[Stonewall Jackson]

I'm not much of a paintball player, but that sounds like fun.

[LaineyDee]

I'm not much of a paintball player, but that sounds like fun

Me either... but I thought that was a deliciously evil way to harmlessly get one's point across. :)

[Jo Nuvark]

[...What they reported was correct...]

Makes me ill. Of course they would report this Phelps
wacko, and completely ignore the other funeral protesters.
I'm depressed.

[PatriotGirl827]

Thanks for this information. Donation on the way.

[BIGLOOK]

On board.

[soccermom]

Actually, sadly, the reporter is right. I've seen footage of these clowns at soldiers' funerals.

[Idisarthur]

"If someone protesting outside a soldier's funeral were murdered, and I was on the jury, I would, under no circumstances, vote to convict. "

How old are you? I do wish you would say 18 or so.

You don't understand how this country works do you?

I guess there is no justice with people like you on juries.

I'm sure it is merely that you can't control your emotions with this subject. That will come with age and when you get over being an idealist.

[furquhart]

I'm in my 20's.

I'm merely stating a fact. If some moron outside a funeral celebrating the death of a solider was killed by a distraught relative or some other patriot, I would never vote to convict, regardless of what was argued as a defense.

Jury Nullification, after a fashion.

My basic position is that someone doing something along those lines deserves to die.

[Idisarthur]

Sure, jury nullification has been practiced... but I guarantee that you will not feel the same in 20 years.

Hey, but then again... there are fundamentalists in their 40's across the world...... so you just might retain your same thought and ideals from your 20's.

I have your feelings, however I would only act on them in the situation of war... or civil war in this case...

In that arena ... you kill or be killed... And there is no game playing.

Some stand up comedy.....The guys says..

Do you remember when you were 13 ... you thought you knew everything.... and to you - your parents were plain stupid...

Then you turned 20... and you think to yourself ... When I was thirteen, boy was I a dumb a$$.

Then you turn thirty... and again you think and ask... how did I survive my 20's?

Boy, back then, was a dumb a$$.

Time goes by and then in your mid-thirties you think you have life figured out... How about sex? You even think you know all there is to know about sex...

You turn 40 and again, you think "what a dumb a$$".