Daughter's Death in Iraq Hits Davenport Family "Pretty Hard"

[Hissyspit]

Source: Des Moines Register

Daughter's death in Iraq hits Davenport family "pretty hard"
The 2005 Davenport High grad becomes second Iowa soldier to die in Baghdad in last five days

By NIGEL DUARA
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Katie Soenksen told her father she was going out on a mission Tuesday night. He didn’t worry. It seemed to be part of her daily routine.

- snip -

Early Wednesday morning, Ronald Soenksen still hadn’t heard from his daughter after a late-night shift at furniture manufacturer HNI Corp. in Muscatine. He didn’t worry. She didn’t always make it to the computer. Wednesday afternoon, the Army visited Soenksen’s home. His daughter, Katie, was dead.

The upbeat 19-year-old former center fielder was killed by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad on Wednesday, said her father, Ronald Soenksen. Soenksen told his wife, who told Katie Soenksen’s brother and sister. “They’re taking it pretty hard,” Ronald Soenksen said. “We’re all together as a family.”

- snip -

She was to return from service in June.

- snip -

She was particularly proud of the day a Baghdad school reopened for the first time since the war began.

MORE

Read more: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/NEWS/70503049/1001/NEWS03

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This is the Katie that frogcycle refers to in the thread "Bye Katie": http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x818897

Note to Mods: This article was posted less than 12 hours ago on the Register's website.

[cassiepriam]

1. Remember that shrub and laura suffer more than anyone else.

[Eurobabe]

2. Just awful

:cry:

[maddezmom]

3. Pentagon: Female Fort Hood MP dies in Iraq

Pentagon: Female Fort Hood MP dies in Iraq

UNDATED The Pentagon has identified a soldier killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Baghdad this week as a Fort Hood military policewoman.

Nineteen-year-old Private 1st Class Katie M. Soenksen of Davenport, Iowa, died Wednesday after the bomb detonated near her vehicle.

She was assigned to the 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade from Fort Hood.

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6469268

:(

[progressoid]

4. 19 - - Jesus.

[evilkumquat]

5. Her Father Still Supports the War

I cannot tell if I am more amazed or saddened by that.

On one hand, I imagine his sorrow would be worse if he accepted the fact that she died pointlessly.

On the other hand, the guy is still parroting the official neocon line about how those who do not support the war should be "hung".

This sounds awful, but deep down, I am sure many of us feel it is better for one of Bush's thirty-percenters to get nailed by this than a family that actually supports our military by wanting them the hell out of there.

Like I said, that is a pretty lousy sentiment of mine, but you know what? When one considers how many chickenhawks who support this war have no son or daughter fighting in it, that those who so strongly support this thing seem to never be in a position to actually personally suffer from it.

It makes it just a hair harder to sympathize with the few who support this war when they suffer a loss because, without their support, it would not have happened in the first place.

Evil Kumquat

[grace0418]

6. Her father probably feels he *has* to support the war. Otherwise he has to face the fact that she

died for absolutely no good reason. As disgusting as I find the politics of any Bush supporter, I can feel nothing but sympathy at the death of his daughter. I guess that's the difference between me and a Bushbot. I actually care what happens to the troops, regardless of whether I know them personally.

RIP Katie.

[Javaman]

8. What a truly horrible position moron* has put many of these parents...

On one hand you have the nuts that still support the war but don't have anyone they know serving, but then there are the others who still support moron* and the war and have someone in Iraq.

That someone gets killed and suddenly, that parent who supports the war, that delusional support of moron*, quite suddenly has all the shine of torn away in an instant.

They try to rationalize the loss by holding firm to a lie. Their version of reality.

It's this reality that takes the form of, "it's important to support our nation in the time of war even though it was based on lies and I have lost a child because of it"

I worry about the post traumatic stress syndrome that many of our vets and returning soldiers are dealing with as a result of this horrible war, but no one talks about the complete and utter disillusionment that many adults who have lost kids, brothers, sisters and parents are experiencing regarding their loss and the blind alley of lies moron* has led them down and how they went willingly along with it.

there is so much more fallout from this war that we have yet to experience.

[grace0418]

10. "there is so much more fallout from this war that we have yet to experience"

So true. So horrible, and so true. If and when these motherfuckers go on trial for war crimes, the families who have lost children/siblings/spouses/parents are going to really have to face the reality of it all.

[acmavm]

13. Exactly

[Bigmack]

9. Just because he lost a daughter ....

doesn't mean he's not a dumbshit.

Just because the daughter died in service doesn't mean she wasn't a fool for putting her life on the line for nothing. (Of course, 19 year-olds are fools.)

The family sounds like they bought the whole line that this country sold them.

Dad is pissed at me - wants me hung - but I only feel sorry for him. And sorry for this country for sending little girls to die for nothing.

This country has no soul.

[LibDemAlways]

11. A soldier from my area was killed in Iraq in February and

the local paper's story was all about how the young man couldn't wait after high school to go "kill those responsible for 9/11." How sad that no one is setting these kids straight about the real reasons for this war - oil and neocon imperialist dreams - and that the parents are buying into the lies and providing the cannon fodder.

[superconnected]

16. Honestly, I think it ought to be the 30 percenters giving up their kids

than the people who don't support the war.

I also think only gun supporters kids should be getting shot by random gun carriers that go nuts/or have an accident. Why should non gun famlies have to suffer their children to the people who carry and support guns.

But alas, we can't fix that one. Wish we could.

[raccoon]

7. What a stupid heading for a news article. How else would it hit the family?

WHere do media orgs find these genius (NOT) "journalists?"

[Tesha]

12. Dad says we should all be taken out and hung

You missed the "money quote" from the article. here 'tis:

The loss of his daughter hasn’t changed Ronald Soenksen’s
thoughts on the war. He said he has supported it and will
continue to do so.

“There’s people that want to pull (the troops) all out,”
Soenksen said. “Those people should be taken out and hung.
It’s a slap in the face to every American.”

Tesha

[grace0418]

14. Angry words from an angry man. I still can't feel anything but sorry for him.

Look at what he's lost, and probably deep down inside he *knows* he lost his daughter for NOTHING. For BushCo's glory and monetary gain. That would make me want to lash out too. Too bad he's lashing out at the only people who actually cared whether his daughter lived or died. Hopefully he won't act on it. Then my feelings will change.

[High Plains]

15. I can. He's an ass. Asses like him cheerled for this war.

Fuck him.

[superconnected]

17. He really should enlist.

Sad his daughter died. But really if people have to die, he's exactly the type of parent it should be diverted to since he's all for it.

Live by the gun, die by the gun.

[psychopomp]

18. There is a father who did just so after the loss of his son

He was interviewed and his story told on his return was one of a changed man. He realized it was wrong for him to enlist on a blood vendetta and learned that Iraqis are just ordinary people.

[KamaAina]

19. I thought Iowa had good public education

Those people should be taken out and hung.

It's "hanged", genius. Is he smarter than a fifth grader? I think not! :dunce:

P.S. Even though he's a stupid FReeper, I still feel sorry about his daughter's senseless slaughter. :cry:

[Arugula Latte]

21. The slap in the face to every American is these deaths -- FOR CORPORATE PROFIT

Your daughter died for Halliburton, Mr. Soenksen.

I hope it was worth it to you.

[BeHereNow]

20. 19? Her life had not yet even begun...Meanwhile Babs and Jenna

BRING THEM HOME NOW.
BHN