Posted on 06/28/2006 3:05:32 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
BROWNSVILLE — The remains of Texas soldier captured and brutalized in Iraq were buried Wednesday following a funeral mass attended by hundreds of veterans, local residents, and area dignitaries and officiated by a Catholic bishop and a dozen area priests.
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and a Prisoner of War medal.
Menchaca, 23, was one of three soldiers to die after a June 16 insurgent attack at the checkpoint they were guarding. He and another soldier, Pfc. Thomas Tucker of Madras, Ore., went missing for three days before their mutilated and booby-trapped bodies were recovered. The third soldier, Spc. David J. Babineau, of Springfield, Mass., died in the attack.
Diocese of Brownsville Bishop Raymundo Pena spoke during the bilingual mass of Menchaca’s valor and sacrifice. Some of Menchaca’s relatives crossed the border to be with his family. His mother, Maria Vasquez, was born in Mexico and his family now lives largely in Brownsville.
"News reports about the circumstances of Kris’ death in Iraq could lead us to an unholy rage and anger, but that would only dishonor Kristian’s very name and Kristian himself," Pena said. "We must, as he did, reach for the ideal: to work for peace and an end to conflict wherever we may find it."
Local residents carrying U.S. flags lined the route of the funeral procession, and workers emerged from area businesses, some in fast food uniforms or nursing scrubs, to join them.
Menchaca has been described as a quiet young man who was newly married and devoted to the Army. He hoped his military experience would qualify him for a career with the U.S. Border Patrol.
Border Patrol agents joined police and uniformed veterans lined up at the cemetery as a Fort Campbell honor guard carried the flag-covered coffin to the grave.
Border Patrol Chief Lynne Underdown, who attended the ceremony, issued a written statement.
"Although we are brought here today by a profoundly sorrowful event, we are also here to pay homage to his memory, his patriotism and his commitment to protect our country and preserve our way of life," she said.
Christina Menchaca, Menchaca’s 18-year-old wife, shook with sobs during the gun salute and the trumpets playing taps. Vasquez cried uncontrollably on the soldier of Menchaca’s older brother, Julio.
"My little boy," she said. "He was only 23."
Together they pressed their faces to the coffin and cried.
Ram Chavez, a commander of the Hispanic veterans group American GI Forum, drove down from Corpus Christi with his veterans’ band to play music at the funeral.
He said he was glad to see that military were honored — unlike when he returned wounded from Vietnam.
"We know how it was at that time," he said. "We want to make sure we honor young men and women coming back today as it wasn’t a big deal when we came back," he said.
Rachel Ayala, a school district official who has been acting as spokeswoman to the family, said the family would never forget the outpouring of community support.
"I just want to reassure this nation that Kristian may have died in hatred, but his spirit will always live on in love," she said.
Menchaca was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky.
I wonder if those kooks from that unholy "church" were on hand to try to disrupt this brave soldier's funeral and heighten the pain of his family? Guess not, as those kooks probably didn't want to end up in the hospital.
My heart goes out to the families of both of the soldiers who were tortured and mutilated. Just hearing about what happened to them was horrifying and enraging - and I never even met either of them. I cannot imagine the pain that their families have had to bear, but I hope that they will derive some solace from knowing that these guys died trying to protect all of us.
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca's funeral.
This is the true Islam. This is the true savage Islam that delights in inflicting such atrocities
B U M P
Righteous anger goes back to the Iliad.
I have to believe that these two soldiers werre dead before the terrorist got to them.
I just have to.
God Bless Pfc. Menchaca and his family.
RIP, hero.
I wonder if those kooks from that unholy "church" were on hand to try to disrupt this brave soldier's funeral and heighten the pain of his family? Guess not, as those kooks probably didn't want to end up in the hospital.
I don't think Freddie and his gang of loonies wants to set foot in the great state of Texas. Not sure they ever have.
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