Just a moment...of Silence

[Felix The Assassin]

Just take a moment out of your fast paced life and spend just a moment, in silence.

I'm not trolling, looking for comfort, or searching for replies.

Unclear and contridicting article here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1065662.htm

I knew both soldiers in the 2nd attack that took place Saturday @ 0545hrs local.
I left the 2BCT 1ID, last year just after and just before the stop move was opened and closed. Now I sit here, from where I train soldiers, wondering what we can do to prevent more of these from transpiring.

Felix

[Ladyzekke]

I'm so sorry Felix Has to be hard for you, I hate all of this, too many good people going down

[Marikai]

Oh darn man.. thats bad news indeed . Trust australian media to publish that kind of stuff even though we didn't lose any australians. :/

I cant say the George Bush is doing things wrongly, nor can i say hes stuffing things up.... its just unfortunante that hes going to take so much flak from this kind of stuff...

[Bungleau]

You have my sympathies, Felix. It's not an easy road, and sometimes, it's harder than others.

Peace.

[Timber Loftis]

I posted on this in CE. I do note my sadness over the loss of any and every soldier, especially those known to you, Felix.

I have a good life-long friend over there right now humpin it as part of the Guard, and I have the best hopes for him, as well as his wife and 2 boys. He's a helluva soldier who had affluent parents that treated him like s**t and gave him no support. Without any sort of family assistance, he used the guard as a tool to make something of himself -- and he went from a private on enlistment through the ranks, went to school on the side, finished OCS, and is a newly-minted 1st Louis right now. I think of him often and remember that there are a great many like him over there with their own families at home.

[Harkoliar]

(gives a small prayer of silence)

[LordKathen]

My thoughts are yours right now Felix. Sorry bro.

[Bozos of Bones]

Ah man. I feel sorry for them. You have my condolences, for what it's worth, Felix.

[Night Stalker]

*gets a partner*

*plays Echo Taps*

[Felix The Assassin]

From the WP off of the Secure Server.
You cannot use the link. But this is it if you can go "Green".
https://www.us.army.mil/portal/jhtml...316266756.html

This article talks about the soldier, SPC Jason Ford. I'm sure there will be an article about CPT Kurth later on. They were both Bco "Bushmaster". The loss to the Bushmaster's must be devastating as SPC Ford was just a great kid with an appreciation for the world. CPT Kurth was the Company Commander.

Washington Post
March 16, 2004
Pg. B1

Armed With Hope, Soldier Dies

Md. Man Saw Army as Way to New Life

By Hamil R. Harris, Washington Post Staff Writer

Joseph Ford, a retired D.C. police officer, smiled yesterday as he recalled the night several years ago when his son and another boy were riding in the back seat of his patrol car in Northeast Washington, getting a close-up look at police work. Ford got an emergency call and started rushing to the scene.

"They were riding with me," said Ford, 57, of Temple Hills. "I had the siren and lights flashing. They were swaying and trying to hold on in the back seat."

His son, Jason C. Ford, was on patrol again Saturday, this time as a 21-year-old Army infantryman in Iraq. He and Capt. John F. Kurth, 31, of Wisconsin were killed by a roadside bomb in Tikrit, the home town of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

"His demeanor, his bravery -- he took his love into a bad situation to help someone," Ford said of his son, who was the 21st U.S. service member from the Washington area to be killed in Iraq, some in combat, others in accidents. Eleven of the dead were from Virginia, eight from Maryland and two from the District.

Ford said his son, who was not married, enlisted in the Army two years ago because he saw military service as a ticket to a better life.

Jason Ford was raised in Prince George's County and the District. As a teenager, he dropped out of Bladensburg High School but then joined the Job Corps, earned a high school equivalency diploma and got his life back on track.

Ford said his son was interested in becoming a computer technician and saw the military as his best hope.

"Being a serviceman who served in Vietnam, I have no regrets on what my son chose to do," said Ford, who was in the Marine Corps for four years.

"It hurts deeply to realize that he lost his life, but he lost his life in an honorable way, serving his country. I am very proud of that. I am very proud of his courage and not questioning why he was there," Ford said.

Ford and his wife, Irene, Jason's stepmother, said they learned of his death Saturday evening. The news came in a telephone call from Jason's mother, Florence Newell of the District, shortly before Army officials showed up at the Fords' home.

"His mother called and said, 'Jason is gone,' " Irene Ford said, adding, "I tried to call as many family members as possible and told them, 'Come over here.' "

She voiced anger over the U.S. military involvement in Iraq. "Why are our children dying?" she said. "What is the reason for this young boy to lose his life? . . . It's like their lives don't make a difference."

Jason was the youngest of Joseph Ford's six children. Jason's sister Thleia Hamrick said her brother "had a free spirit" and showed concern for others.

The Defense Department said he was in Bravo Company of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. He had been stationed in Germany before deploying to Kuwait and then Iraq.

His father said he received a call Sunday morning from an Army sergeant who was close to his son.

"He called and said, 'I am going to bring Jason home,' " Ford recalled. "He said, 'I am going to do it even if I have to pay my own way.' He said, 'I will let no stranger bring him home. I will bring my brother home.' "

Irene Ford fought back tears as she reflected on the sergeant's call.

"He said one time when he was depressed, Jason came by at 1:15 in the morning and talked with him all night. He said not one person didn't like Jason. They all liked him."

Joseph Ford said his son will be eulogized at Paramount Baptist Church in Northeast Washington after his body is flown back to the United States.

He said that despite his loss, he went to church Sunday morning and sang with the choir.

"My strong faith is in the Lord, and God doesn't make mistakes," Ford said.

"God knew him as one of his soldiers, and therefore he is watching over him."

Staff writer Avis Thomas-Lester contributed to this report.


Return With Honor.
Felix