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Posted on 09/24/2006 3:28:12 PM PDT by neverdem
LT. EMILY J. T. PEREZ, 23, a West Point graduate who outran many men, directed a gospel choir and read the Bible every day, was at the head of a weekly convoy as it rolled down roads pocked with bombs and bullets near Najaf. As platoon leader, she insisted on leading her troops from the front.
Two weeks ago, one of those bombs tripped her up, detonating near her Humvee in Kifl, south of Baghdad. She died Sept. 12, the 64th woman from the United States military to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Eight died in Vietnam.
Despite longstanding predictions that America would shudder to see its women coming home in coffins, Lieutenant Perez’s death, and those of the other women, the majority of whom died from hostile fire (the 65th died in a Baghdad car bombing a day later), have stirred no less — and no more — reaction at home than the nearly 2,900 male dead. The same can be said of the hundreds of wounded women.
There is no shortage of guesses as to why: Americans are no longer especially shocked by the idea of a woman’s violent death. Most don’t know how many women have fallen, or under what circumstances. Photographs of body bags and coffins are rarely seen. And nobody wants to kick up a fuss and risk insulting grieving families.
“The public doesn’t seem concerned they are dying,” said Charles Moskos, a military sociologist at Northwestern University who has closely studied national service. “They would rather have someone else's daughter die than their son.”
What’s more, no one in the strained military is eager to engage in a debate about women and the risks they are taking in Iraq because, quite simply, the women are sorely needed in this modern-day insurgent conflict. As...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
God bless and keep her in eternal peace. God bless and comfort her family.
Thank God for this hero!
Thank You God for all the fine men and women who serve/have served/and will serve our country.
Please Lord, give the peace that passes all our understanding to the family and friends of injured and deceased soldiers.
Your will be done.
In Jesus' Holy name I pray this humble prayer.
Amen.
You make that sound like it's a badge of honor.
"You make that sound like it's a badge of honor."
Well, I don't mean to. Actually I should have simply said mothers. I don't like the idea that our combat troops - or near combat personnel, any of them, are women with young children.
Thanks for your response, it made my day and thanks so much for your dedication and service to this basically ungrateful nation.
Of course, we organized and supported our son's Company during their deployment in Baqubah, Iraq (where al-Zarqawi swallowed a rocket), it was 12 months of almost daily combat. Then my wife picked up a Field Medic Company (690th) and they are due back very shortly.
We never, ever hear about their brave acts and deeds, ever. There must be thousands of stories out there, I intend to let every media idiot I cross paths with hear what I think about that.
They hear nothing but doom and gloom and come back to a country that is about 50% brain-dead, a real downer. I've heard this from wounded soldiers we've visited and yet, everytime, they're willing to go again and finish the job.
I am speechless and so thankful for these fine soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen, may God bless and protect each and every one, bring them home soon in VICTORY--and health.
That's a lovely tribute. :)
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