SSGT. FRANK WUTERICH, OUR SON, OUR HERO

Rosemarie & David Wuterich | Feb. 19, 2007 | Rosemarie & David Wuterich

[Semper Fi Mom]

Our son is Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich the squad leader at Haditha. Most of you know the circumstances of Haditha, the ambush, the IED explosion, the loss of a comrade, the ensuing firefight, the aftermath of the engagement and then the media frenzy condemning our son and his squad. We would now like you to know a little bit about our son.

As a young boy in elementary and middle school, Frank always wanted to be challenged to do his best and accomplish as much as possible. He had been in the gifted and talented program, the Target program, the Odyssey program, the College Science program, played the trumpet in the school band, participated in baseball and soccer. High school was no different, except that there were numerous other activities, Drama Club, drum major, jazz band, tennis, soccer, wrestling, to name a few.

Frank had been considering a military career for a couple of years. He enlisted in the Marine Corps under the Delayed Entry Program on July 1, 1997, just a few months before he began his senior year in high school. Although he had planned to play in the Marine Corps band, things didn't work out and he enlisted in the infantry. We were always amazed at how he was able to juggle the Maine Corps, school, sports, a part-time job and a social life but he did so with determination.

A few days after high school graduation Frank was sent off to basic training at Parris Island, S.C. How proudly we stood and watched as he graduated from boot camp. Our son had accomplished his goals. He had become a dedicated, well-discipined Marine, a man. All he could be. He is now stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA.

Haditha was Frank's first combat tour of duty. He wasn't afraid to go although he would certainly miss his family. He was anxious, willing and ready to serve his country, confident that he and his fellow Marines had the best training possible and were well prepared. He wrote to us as often as he could, always telling us "not to worry." "We are all doing our jobs extremely well here and making it extremely hard for the insurgents to operate." We prayed every day, every night, every minute he was in Iraq, that he and his fellow Marines would come home safely.

On November 12, 2005, Haditha happened. Word came that he was okay but had lost one of his fellow Marines, two were injured, the rest were safe. In January 2006 he was recommended for the "Navy Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device" by his platoon leader Lt. William T. Kallop for his leadership at Haditha. This recommendation has since fallen through the cracks and the medal has not been awarded.

Frank returned to the states in April 2006. He and his family were planning on relocating closer to the east coast when he was discharged in June 2006. He hoped to pursue a career in music production. That never happened! In May of 2006 the allegations began. We were deluged with media at our doorstep and phone calls from every news source in the U.S. and beyond. We continue to be called upon whenever any new headlines emerge. We know our son is innocent, we know he has done nothing wrong, we know he was following the "Rules of Engagement." He is a Marine who was doing the job he was trained to do. To Time magazine, John Murtha and Alan Colmes we say: "How dare you? How dare you condemn our Marines for doing their job? There have been NO Article 32 hearings, NO convictions, NO confessions! Yet you deem it necessary to tarnish their reputations without any facts." The misinformation, the "leaks", the media "sensationalism" makes our blood boil and our hearts break.

There isn't a day that goes by that we don't shed tears. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't say prayers. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of Frank and his squad. To those of you who have expressed your support for Frank and his felllow Marines via mail, phone calls, the internet, etc., we can only say that we will be eternally grateful! You make it a little easier to get through each day.

We have continuously talked to various news media, been on local and national television defending our son. Dave and our daughter-in-law have appeared on Hannity & Colmes. Our family and friends will continue to support our son. We hope and pray that you will too. We truly believe in his innocence.

Through all of this adversity Frank has maintained his innocence with dignity and held his head up high. He is a great Marine, a loving son, father, husband and brother. He is kind, has great character, and loves his country. He is OUR SON, OUR HERO!

"Through tears of sadness hopefully there wil be tears of joy"!

Rosemarie & David Wuterich, Meriden, CT www.frankwuterich.com

[RedRover]

Finally found the interview Semper Fi Mom referenced in her post.

David Wuterich and Frank's wife, Marisol, were on Hannity & Cadaver on June 20, 2006. There's a link to a transcript at the link:

EXCLUSIVE! FAMILY OF MARINE NAMED IN ALLEGED HADITHA KILLINGS SPEAKS OUT

[Girlene]

Thanks for posting the interview RedRover.

Keep the faith Semper Fi Mom, and keep up the great work you are doing to defend your son.

[RedRover]

Good to see you, Girl!

[jazusamo]

Glad you found that interview and posted it, Red. It shows the mindset of the Cadaver type media from the very beginning.

[Just A Nobody]

To Time magazine, John Murtha and Alan Colmes we say: "How dare you?

A phrase many of us frequently utter.

He is kind, has great character, and loves his country.

He IS a Marine! My heart breaks for you, Frank and all of our heroes that are being subjected to this atrocity.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Please know that you have many friends and supporters across America!

[God Bless Freedom]

Bump!!

Thanks for post

God Bless Freedom

[USMCPOP]

Rosemarie & David,

Welcome aboard FreeRepublic. Please know that Frank and the other Marines are in my thoughts. If there is anything I can, please don't hesitate to ask.

My son patrolled that same area... He was assigned to the 1/23 Marines who were there before the 3/1 and 3/25.

[Lando Lincoln]

You are indeed among friends. May God bless you all.

There is a great deal of talk about loyalty from the bottom to the top.
Loyalty from the top down is even more necessary and much less prevalent.
George S. Patton, Jr.

[RedRover]

HOLY COW
ANNOUNCEMENT PING!

Frank Wuterich's lawyers
have given the go-ahead to announce
that CBS 60 Minutes has taped
an interview with Frank!

We believe it will be aired this Sunday evening! CBS has not confirmed this yet however (their website is still advertising last week's show).

This is unexpected, to say the least.

It will be the first time that Frank has spoken out since charges were announced on December 21st. (Someone here will correct me if I'm wrong, but I also believe it'll be Frank's first on-camera interview.)

Click on the picture link below for Frank's website. Webmaster Rick is keeping tabs and will have the news up as soon as it's announced about a definite broadcast date.

This is major stuff, obviously. When CBS confirms the air date, I will post a separate thread. In the meantime, I wanted all you guys to be in the know.

[fatima]

Tell him to be careful.I don't trust them.Prayers and a bump.

[dynachrome]

"CBS 60 Minutes has taped"
Gotta watch what happens in the editing room. I pray it is not a hit piece.

[RedRover]

((((fatima))))!!!

I know you've been praying and I thank you so much!

Hard to believe that a Marine has so much to hear from his own countrymen. Fortunately, Frank won't do anything without his lawyer in the room. And his lawyer is one smart cookie.

[fatima]

I want all the questions ahead of time and to review any video they will be using-We pray everyday-that means many:)

[alarm rider]

God bless you and your family. A big USAF salute to you and yours.

Regards,
AR

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the info, Red. This can only be good for Frank and the others being his lawyers are sanctioning it.

[RedRover]

Bump that, jaz. I'm as suspicious of the media as any sane person, but I trust Neal Puckett and Mark Zaid. (Maybe they'll update us on their lawsuit against Murtha.)

[verbosevet]

Awesome Red..

Now maybe we can hear what REALLY happened

[Stashiu]

Please allow me to thank your entire family for their service to this country.

For some of us, our homecomings are painful because of the damage inflicted by our own countrymen. This will be a trial by fire for you all, but you will become stronger because of it.

Trust that those of us who have been under enemy fire, know precisely the decisions your son had to make. That is the nature of war. We stand beside him 100%.

[RedRover]

Maybe God Bless Freedom can shed some light on the interview ground rules when he drops by.

[Marine_Uncle]

Strange the communist broadcasting system would even consider giving him any air time. I hope he watches his back with care.