Fallujah Offensive Takes Toll on Texas GIs

[othermeans]

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Gary Qualls worried a lot after his son went off to war, so he went hunting last week to get his mind off it. When he got home, a letter from Louis was waiting. The young Marine wrote about the Fallujah offensive: "I fear it's a fight for my life. Dad, I need your prayers and advice more than ever." About an hour later, there was a knock on the door.

Louis Qualls, of Temple, was killed on Nov. 16 — the latest of 12 soldiers and Marines from Texas killed in combat this month, 10 in the province that includes Fallujah. It was an unusually high toll for one state, even in this deadly month of warfare

(snip)

Shortly before he was killed on Nov. 9, Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay wrote a letter to his family. In it the 28-year-old Humble resident, anticipating death, said his goodbyes to his young children.

He told his 9-year-old daughter Kinlee that he'll miss her, but that she'll always be his little girl and he'll always watch out for her. To 5-year-old Walker, he offered advice that he hoped would put the boy on a less risky career path.

"Be studious, stay in school and stay away from the military," he wrote. "I mean it."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20041126/ap_on_re_us/texas_fallujah

[Old and In the Way]

1. Just heartbreaking..............

and so fucking unnecessary.

[eleonora]

2. Yet another senseless death in a senseless war

Another broken family :(

[Erika]

3. For Bush's War

See at www.icasualties.com. The war that produced the highest profits in record for his buds and donators.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. Sounds like he was a caring father

"Be studious, stay in school and stay away from the military," he wrote. "I mean it."

Good advice all the way around.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Moderator]

6. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1024265