From homecoming to funeral (small town CA story brings war home)

[pinto]

Family mourns son killed days before he was to leave Iraq
Cynthia Neff
The Tribune

ATASCADERO - Sgt. Mike Mitchell's family was ready to celebrate. Only one week remained before the 25-year-old Army tank mechanic was slated to leave his Baghdad post for the safety of his base in Germany, where he was preparing to get married this summer.

The elation turned to tragedy Sunday, when Mitchell was killed in combat. His unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire in a Baghdad neighborhood, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Eight men were killed in the attack.

"When I heard the news (Monday) that GIs were killed in Sadr City from the 1st Armored Division, I knew," Cathy Baker, Mitchell's mom, said at her Atascadero home.

Army officials from Southern California came to Atascadero on Monday to tell Bill Mitchell that his son died.

the local paper ran a pic of his dad at a recent anti-war rally, carrying a sign that read "Bring My Son Home Now". The article runs the sub-headline "I should have written 'Bring my son home alive'".
Incredibly sad...

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/8383966.htm

[rfkrocks]

1. Sad

Rest in Peace Sgt Mitchell

[Amerpie]

2. Pain

In my activism, I've met the parents of two service members killed in Iraq (Jesus Suarez and Darius Jenkins). Their parents are brave souls and take a lot of harassment from right wing flag wavers who have nothing on the line in this war.

My own father was wounded in Vietnam and my son is on active duty. For some of us, war isn't an intellectual issue, but a very real and very personal one.

[brook]

3. Terribly sad story...

that's been repeated too often throughout the nation since "Mission Accomplished".

I live in this area of hard-nosed Repugs. Sgt. Michell's death seems
to have given some of them pause for thought. I noticed today that people who would brook no criticism of * were finally calling this 'war' a travesty and a blunder. It's tragic that this is what it takes for them to see the truth.

[liberalhistorian]

4. Yeah, and especially tragic that

it never seems to be THEIR kids or relatives on the line, that is always takes the loss of someone else's kids to open up their eyes!

[this_side_up]

6. I'm guessing the

real reason they (and tv talkers) appear to be waking up
is that they have kids who have 1, 5 or 10 more years
to go before they are eligible for the draft.

I think they are also understanding that there will be
NO excuses for Rep kids not to go enjoy war.

[pinto]

5. RIP

[markses]

7. Short Time Safety Moe

Goddamn motherfuck.