Free Republic

Dorothy Oxendine presides over American Gold Star Mothers Inc., a national organization of women whose sons and daughters have died in military service to the nation. (Photo by Mark Abraham) AMERICAN IDENTITY With the Iraq War, a New Generation of Gold Star Mothers BY DELIA M. RIOS More stories by Delia M. Rios WASHINGTON -- As Dorothy Oxendine knows, the most dreaded words a parent can hear are "We regret to inform you ..." She lost her only son, Pfc. Willie F. Oxendine III, to a land mine in Vietnam on May 30, 1968. His death at age 21...

FILE PHOTO -- An HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter like the one seen here crashed in Afghanistan on March 23, killing all six airmen on board. The aircraft was on a mission to carry civilians to medical care when it crashed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis) Original story Six airmen die in helicopter crash by Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service 03/24/03 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- An Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crashed near Ghazni, Afghanistan, on March 23, killing all aboard, said Combined Joint Task Force 180 officials at Bagram Air Base. Six airmen...