Father's letter arrives after deaths in Kuwait

ktvb ^

[chance33_98]

Father's letter arrives after deaths in Kuwait 03/29/2003

Associated Press

BOISE - Gregory Stone of Boise made sure his sons knew he loved them, and a letter to that effect arrived two days after his death in Kuwait.

Stone was the first Idaho resident to die in the war with Iraq and one of the first confirmed American losses after grenades were tossed into command tents of the 101st Airborne in Kuwait last Sunday.

The letter arrived Thursday.

Stone's family members are now waiting for his body to be returned from Kuwait. He'll be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia in mid-April. A memorial service is planned next Saturday at Boise's First United Methodist Church.

His ex-wife, Tonya, says Stone talked with his sons Alex and Joshua before he left, assuring them he would do everything possible to stay safe. Alex has started what he calls his "special drawer" to collect things that remind him of his father.

[EverOnward]

Each man and woman over there serving our country is such a vital part of their family's lives.

They are the ones we depend on to help us get through life from day to day. They are the doers that make problem-solvng fun. Guess I'm thinking of my son now in uniform and how important he is to us and how much we depend on him for so many things. What a loss it would be for him to be taken.

What a loss it is to these families. They sacrifice their loved one and I wonder how can I let them know my admiration and love for them. My heart breaks.

[cgk]

assuring them he would do everything possible to stay safe

How utterly tragic and such a loss for these two boys. I wonder if they know, or will ever know the truth of how their father died? That he was murdered in his sleep by a "fellow" soldier? I don't know if I'd be able to tell my children that if I was in his ex-wife's shoes. It now remains for her to assure them that their father, an Air Force Major, was a hero, died a hero, and that unfortunately, there are BAD APPLES in this country.

Praying for this family to find some peace. And for Akbar to receive justice.

[steplock]

Associated Press ?? again

What really irritates me is AP use of this tragedy to promote their anti-American war effort.

tack another jab into lowering American morale from AP

[Rodney King]

And why again is Akbar still alive?

[RightOnGOP]

Because the Time magazine embedded reporter was present at the time..........

[Mr Rogers]

My Dad was killed in Vietnam at 49. HIs last letter arrived about 3 days after we received word of his death. He had just received orders for Hawaii, and wrote about how we whould have the time to do things together there. Reading it was one of the bitterest experiences in my life.

[chance33_98]

Very sobering and sad. I hope the lord has given him a good rest and happiness. So many have given so much for us in this country, I only hope we live up to our side of the deal and do what we can at home to keep America free.