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...

<p>GALLATIN — Patrick Nixon was supposed to come home from Iraq a hero in his family's eyes.</p> <p>Instead, the Marine corporal came home a hero, not only to his mourning family and fellow Tennesseans, but to the nation, those who eulogized the serviceman said yesterday at his funeral.</p>

GALLATIN, Tenn. (BP)--Marine Cpl. Patrick Nixon was honored for his heroism during a military funeral service April 15 in Gallatin, Tenn. Nixon, 21, died when his unit was ambushed March 23 while trying to secure a bridge near Nasiriyah. Referencing John 15:13, which says, "Greater love has no man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends," Michael Blankenship, pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Gallatin, recounted Nixon's heroic last stand. "On a battlefield in Iraq, near a bridge, Patrick was there with his unit, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines. He was there...

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.

Missing since March 23, Patrick is the nephew of my very good friend who teaches in an Episcopal college in BAngkok. Corporal Patrick Nixon is very proud to be a United States Marine. Detials: Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon Age: 21 Hometown: St. Louis, Mo. Unit: 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Circumstances: Missing after operations on March 23 in the vicinity of the outskirts of An Nasiriyah, Iraq