Free Republic

WINSLOW — Two days before a fateful helicopter mission in Kuwait, Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin mailed a letter to his mother, Nancy Cham- berlain. "I want to thank you for everything over the years," Aubin wrote. "You always tried your best to put us first at your expense. I wish it had worked out that I was closer to your grandkids." "Hopefully," he continued, "I will be home soon." Those parting words pierced through mourners at St. John the Baptist Church on Saturday, as the Rev. Paul Plante read the letter during a memorial service for the fallen Marine pilot....

Names of the four US Marines who died in yesterday's helicopter crash: Maj. Jay Thomas Aubin, 36, of Waterville, Maine Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, 30, of Bloomington, Ill. Cpl. Brian Matthew Kennedy, 25, of Houston, Texas Staff Sgt. Kendall Damon Watersbey, 29, of Baltimore, Md. The Pentagon has just released the names of two more US Marines who were killed in Iraq. I'll post as soon as I find that.

Marine captain promoted posthumously A Winslow family is mourning Jay Aubin, one of two Marines with Maine ties who died in Thursday's helicopter crash in Kuwait. Aubin, a captain, had been slated for promotion, and President George W. Bush posthumously awarded him the rank of major. His mother says she talked to Aubin for the last time six weeks ago, just before he was deployed. He said, "Mom, I want you to think and I want you to remember what I told you before, if something happens, I died doing what I love." A full military service will be...