Posted on 02/19/2007 1:57:58 PM PST by 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
There are millions of us who really belive that.
Try not to let the agenda driven adolescents in the main stream media beat you down.
Thanks to you and your son for his service.
Your son and his unit are heroes. We thank God for people like them.
Welcome Semper Fi Mom. You are among friends here at Free Republic. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
I hope you are right. Here's hoping the system works.
As I have always said,
God Bless our troops
God Bless our President
God Bless America.
I will now add the following:
God Bless our military families
Welcome Semper Fi Mom. My prayers are with you and your family. God Bless!
to; Rosemarie & David Wuterich, Meriden, CT
Prayers for your Son and you.
His country loves him back.
Welcome to Free Republic....you are among friends here....prayers for your family.
Prayers for Frank and your entire family. Thank you for posting and welcome to Free Republic!
God bless.
God bless your family and may justice prevail.
Marine Corps Bump
We are here praying for you and your son Mom.
I think us Freepers ought to put our money where our mouth is and send 20.00 to this fund.
Is there a weblink to contribute?
This has been going on for the families of the Pendleton 8 and now Haditha.
The truth needs to be told, these men are being sacrificed.
The story below is from another Mother of one of the Marines from the Pendleton 8.
It has contact numbers for the local newspapers from California where most of the extensive print news comes from.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694314/posts
FREEPER EXCLUSIVE: COMMENTS FROM MARINE MOTHER OF PENDLETON 8
The link above is to a story by the LA Times, which does not allow us to post their stuff. In the article, it claims that two of the accused Marines of the Pendleton 8, Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III and Cpl. Trent D. Thomas, admitted to killing the Iraqi man in question as an act of murder, not combat.
The LA Times or the Marine Corps representative who was quoted, Capt. Nicholas L. Gannon, has deliberately misquoted the statements of these men.
The Comments below are those of Cpl Marshall Magincalda's mother, one of the Pendleton 8, with an appeal to ALL: Write the LA Times and inform them of this apparent deliberate misquote and how it taints a potential jury pool, and slanders our troops in time of war.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The Mother's comments are below, verbatim
HI GUYS: TAKE A LOOK AT THIS....WE NEED YOUR HELP IN DAMAGE CONTROL..........PLEASE CONTACT THE PAPER EDITOR, AND THE REPORTER AND DEMAND A RETRACTION. EVEN WITHIN THE ARTICLE THE STATEMENTS ARE NOT ACCURATE. THIS IS PER MR. LOW. OUR ATTORNEY. IT LOOKS SO BAD WITH MARSHALL JR'S PICTURE RIGHT UNDER THAT HEADLING. JUST TO SELL A DAMNED PAPER??? SAD, SO SAD! THANK YOU VERY MUCH KEEP THE FAITH, HOLD ON TO THE HOPE, AND WITH PRIDE.....
Contact numbers of the LA Times and addresses
Readers' Representative
If you have questions or concerns about The Times' journalistic standards and practices, or you believe we have made an error, you may contact:
Los Angeles Times Readers' Representative Office
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Fax: (213) 237-3535
Postal mail: 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
Newspaper delivery hotline: (800) 252-9141
Local news is handled by the Metro desks of the following editions:
Los Angeles Edition (Metro)
Deadline: No later than one day before an event.
News hotline: (213) 237-7001, ask for City desk.
Fax: (213) 237-4712.
E-mail: metrodesk@latimes.com
Orange County Edition
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News hotline: (714) 966-7715.
Fax: (714) 966-7711.
E-mail: ocdesk@latimes.com
Valley Edition Deadline: One day before an event.
Main number: (818) 772-3200, ask for respective desk.
Fax: (818) 772-3385; (818) 772-3338.
E-mail: valley@latimes.com
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News hotline: (805) 653-7547, ask for City desk.
Fax: (805) 653-7548; (805) 653-7576.
E-mail: ventura@latimes.com
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