Woman Dies After Son Killed in Iraq

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041005/ap_on_re_us/soldier_s_mother_dies&cid=519&ncid=1480


TUCSON, Ariz. - A 45-year-old woman collapsed and died days after learning her son had been killed in Iraq (news - web sites), and just hours after seeing his body. Results of an autopsy were not immediately released, but friends of Karen Unruh-Wahrer said she couldn't stop crying over losing her 25-year-old son, Army Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, who was killed by enemy fire near Baghdad on Sept. 25.

"Her grief was so intense — it seemed it could have harmed her, could have caused a heart attack. Her husband described it as a broken heart," said Cheryl Hamilton, manager of respiratory care services at University Medical Center, where Unruh-Wahrer worked as a respiratory therapist.


Unruh, a combat engineer, had been in Iraq less than a month when he was shot during an attack on his unit.


Several days after learning of his death, his mother had gone to the hospital complaining of chest pains, Hamilton said. She was feeling better the next day but saw her son's body Saturday morning and collapsed that night in her kitchen.

[wryter2000]

1. That poor family

Imagine how the father must feel -- losing his son and his wife so close together.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. OMG. The worst possible thing.

:(

[tinanator]

71. not really

living with it is worse. Its the survivors who suffer. Children, parents, spouses, family members, friends. It cant be adequately described, if it could, there wouldnt be anyone stupid enough to support war. How many should die to spread the grief far enough to stop this madness?
One is too many.

[shadu]

42. The pain must be unbearable

They were both way too young to be dying.

[proud patriot]

2. :-(

:cry:

[Carla in Ca]

65. I want your opinion

Just how blunt (no cuss words) can a person be that emails the WH? I've got to say something or I'm going to burst. Please advise.
Thanks

[Ilsa]

3. These poor families.

The grief is so intense. Her "child" had been a part of her life for over half her life.

Damn you Bush!

[bushisanidiot]

4. My God. I cannot imagine what that poor woman went through.

I hope that dipshit AWOL squatter bucks up and makes an apology to the american people. He is responsible for destroying many more american lives than the terrorists did on 9/11.

[ladjf]

14. We have got to get that criminal out of the White House!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. jesus!.....just when i didn't think it possible to loathe * more :(((

[deutsey]

6. So tragic

As a parent, I hope to God I'll never live to see the lifeless body of any of my children.

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. This is so damned infuriating.

This poor woman. God only knows the horrible pain she was feeling at losing her son.

Those bastards killed her the same as if they'd held a gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

At least she's at peace now. RIP Karen.
FSC

[Sperk]

8. Thank you, President Fuckhead

Send your girls over, asshole.

[Carla in Ca]

79. Yeah, thanks a lot!

[LibDemAlways]

10. Is the chimp going to

call that family and "share a few laughs" like he claimed to with another grieving family during the debate? Perhaps he can tell them he knows how hard it is because he watches the war on tv. Sick, sick bastard.

[leftchick]

11. Read The last Paragragh.....

:cry:

<Robert Unruh will be buried Friday at the Southern Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery. His mother's body will accompany her son's in the procession to the cemetery.>


I hate "pResident* DEATH"....

[Old and In the Way]

12. She died of a broken heart.

I really hope this story amplifies in the corporate media.....I'm sure that is the only way our Fearless Leader will be informed about another incredibly sad detail of this tragedy that he has wrought on our nation.

[Clinton Crusader]

13. simply awful...god!

:kick:

[TacticalPeek]

15. Every day I hate Bush more.

EVERY FN DAY!

[neomonkey]

16. And for what?

In times of greater glory, greater causes, the loss of our young men's live would carry some nobility. Chasing a second-rate dictator around the world under the pretense of ridding the world of terrorism and WMD's is a waste of our brave and talented youth.

Anger is a fitting response. But beyond the anger, there is a deep yearning for answers. Why, President Bush, are you doing this? Do you really believe in your cause? What do you feel when you hear about stories like this? Do you ever doubt the cause? I sure do, I am beyond doubting, I resent the pall of death and destruction you've pulled down upon us. You tell us the world is safer. Prove it. You have a lot of proving to do but hopefully we kick your pitiful stupid sorry ass out of office and let an adult take over.

[w4rma]

24. Why? Because he can and because he is a psychopath. (nt)

[ilovenicepeople]

32. If America is a safer place

I personally challenge mR. Bush to walk a city block(any city) in the states by himself without security guards.

[Pastiche423]

46. A great sign for the October 17 march!

Thousands of signs challenging whistle ass to walk just one block w/o security anywhere in America.

[jobycom]

17. As tragic as this is, I can't help but wonder

exactly how many grieving mothers we've done this to in Iraq.

Our press, our politicians, our citizens all act as though we are the only lives that matter. "All are created equal, and are endowed with certain inalienable rights. Among these are LIFE..." Notice the Declaration doesn't say these rights apply only to Americans. There is nothing more unAmerican, more anti-American, than unprovoked slaughter.

[leftchick]

21. I agree.....

There are thousands of broken hearts and lives torn apart because of the US in Iraq...

[jobycom]

22. Wow

Some picture.

Americans should be forced to view such pain, just as our own soldiers forced German villagers to march through the concentration camps at the end of WW II, to make them see what had been done in their names. Ah, if only we had an honest media.

[Dhalgren]

23. You are right.

For every one grieving parent in the US there are dozens, scores, maybe hundreds in Iraq. I grieve with all of them. If he were not in Iraq this young soldier would not have been killed, he was sent there, true, but he was where he didn't belong. The Iraqis killed over the past year and half were where they belonged, in their own country, and where killed for no reason. This whole business is tragedy, cubed...

[snowFLAKE]

31. Iraqi's - come on Get Real!

Who can think of the Iraqis at a time like this - after Mr. O'Oreilly told me that they're all just a bunch of ungrateful low-lifes who don't properly appreciate all we've done for them. They deserve No Sympathy AT ALL!! :grr:

:freak:

[Zhade]

68. Too bad O'Lielly doesn't have the stones to visit Iraq.

Oh, wait - maybe he knows that his propagandic lying ass would be swiftly killed.

[Free2BMe]

18. God, this president should be impeached!

[Sequoia]

19. I could just scream with rage

over this. How many others have died that we haven't heard about. People at work think I'm funny because I'm so "vocal" about the devils in the White House. F them and when they're marched off to the concentration camp I'll say "told you so!" Wake up Morons! Your nation is being raped.

[Mari333]

20. This is exactly what happens when you love someone so much

you cannot bear the stress of losing them. When my husband was killed a month ago, I ended up in ER with chest pains ..the stress of someone who you love with all your heart, dying so horribly, is too much for any human being to bear. The older you are, the less the body can cope with this kind of stress.
Yes, she died of a broken heart..yes, she died losing her baby. Not one mother or father should have lost a child in this lie of a war.
Not one.

[progressivebydesign]

36. Hello Mari, I was just thinking about you...

I hope the days are somehow getting easier for you... though I know it will never be the same. I send my thoughts to you and your family once again... and hope your stepson is home for good.

[mahina]

37. God bless you Mari,

please take care.
<<<<BIG ALOHA>>>>>

[calimary]

40. I'm sitting here, crying my eyes out now and I haven't had any

personal losses like this, or like you have, Mari.

HOW LONG, Oh Lord??!?!??! WHEN will we be delivered? HOW MANY MORE WILL DIE? HOW MANY MORE MOTHERS WILL SOB...AND WORSE?

Anybody call CNN to push for coverage of this? I've called twice now, already. 1 (404) 827 - 0234, then press 8 to bypass the long introductory message.

[ChickMagic]

53. I'm glad you're back Mari

We love you and hope you are doing as well as can be expected. :hug:

[coreystone]

66. Right now I am trying to smile, because it good to hear your voice...

but, there is so much sadness, grief, and loss that so many lives have had to endure. Peace to you Mari!

[mtnester]

70. Mari, you were in my thoughts strongly on this thread

I hope you are managing...because I know that is probably the best you can do now....I lost my mom suddenly and tragically early in the summer, so believe me, I know exactly (or close to it) where you are right now...I do think about you and your son frequently and send my prayers of comfort your way all the time.

[Nightjock]

25. My wife just called me from work crying

because she read this story. I did not even know how to console her.
Just to reassure her that this is blood on bush's hands when he see's the Almighty--and that he will be out of power very soon.

[mindfulNJ]

26. omg

I'm dumfounded. There is a special place in Hell for the neocon bastards responsible for this unspeakable tragedy. How do you think the freeptards will spin THIS one?:mad:

[MADem]

27. Anyone living in ARIZONA

...should call the local TV stations and ask if they are going to cover the funeral, and this story. It has everything--a message, an unusual, and tragic, twist, and it is very current.

I hope that grieving father/husband gives permission to the media to cover this. Pictures are worth a thousand words.

[fob]

28. I hope the rest of the family, especially the husband/father get some

counseling.

Too sad.

[VegasWolf]

29. While bush sleeps on 600 thread count sheets - it's hard to worry

their beautiful minds about the little people!

New Information Shows Bush Indecisive, Paranoid, Delusional

[calimary]

30. Oh, God...

I'm welling up with tears at this very moment.

More than she could bear. As a mom, I could see this happening to me if I lost MY son... I can fully understand the utter desolation. Frankly, if that happened to my son, I'd probably WANT to be dead, too.

SUCH wreckage.

THANKS A HEAP, george.

"GREAT" job.

Yet another family destroyed.

Yet another in a continuing series.

You sure know how to work a Reverse Midas Touch, don'tcha, ASSHOLE!

I hope it drags you straight down to the lowest levels of Hell. And I hope you don't have to wait til you die for that to start happening.

[luaneryder]

33. It's hard to know what to do with my rage

I honestly don't know why I didn;t die when I was told my son was killed. This woman suffered a broken heart. Now a husband and father must live with double tragedy, double, grief, double sorrow for the remainder of his days. I feel more rage against that murderer in our WH than I ever felt against the man who killed my son. The blood on the hands of ALL members of this administration will never come clean. Mindless, soul-less subhumans, each and every one.

[calimary]

41. CALL CNN. 1 [phone]. That's the viewer comment line.

Then press 8 to bypass the recorded message. URGE them to cover this.

Then, call your reps: 1 (800) 839 - 5276 - it's TOLL FREE to Capitol Hill. Even if Congress is not in session, their offices are, and their staffers are on duty. You can call ANYBODY'S office for free this way. Make a stink. Don't sit there in silence. Turn your anger and outrage and grief for this woman and her son into something positive. Do just a TINY BIT MORE to help GET bUSH OUT!!!!

[Chovexani]

34. Ye Gods

When will the madness end?

That poor woman. May she know peace. :cry:

[n2mark]

35. Maybe

Shrub can put his love on the family. Just when is he going to be held accountable.

Maybe DU needs to take an ad in a newspaper with signatures to ask for Shrub's Iraq accoountability.

This is so sad, wasn't it last month where two fathers of our soldier's committed suicide after hearing the death of their sons?

[spooked]

38. More info. & Pictures

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/index.php?page=local&story_id=092804a1_unruh


"We're at war," Unruh-Wahrer said. "War takes soldiers, and soldiers come from families."

Unruh-Wahrer said she learned Robert Unruh will posthumously be awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service.

Robert Unruh's great-grandfather served in World War II, his grandfather fought in Korea and Wahrer saw action in Vietnam. The stories he told his son about combat did not deter Robert from enlisting.

"We talked a little about Vietnam and I told him war wasn't pretty, but he still wanted to serve his country," he said.

PICTURES:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/story_images/092804a1_unruh-1

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/story_images/092804a1_unruh-2

[PassingFair]

45. 9/11 pushed fallen GI to enlist:

but he dies in Iraq. If there is a god, he is either a cruel entity, or he's laughing his * off at us.

[psychopomp]

48. How terribly sad

for this family.

[BeHereNow]

62. Unspeakably tragic.

WHEN are the American people going to wake up?
WHEN are the mothers of these young people going to say NO,
you can't have my child to fight your illegal and senseless wars?
What is it going to take begore the people in this country
realize what is being done in their name, on their dime and
with the blood of our children?
BHN

[catmandu57]

39. Everyone responsible for things like this

needs to be tried and convicted, but sentenced to care for all the invalids they have made. Clean the bedpans, dress the wounds, tend the graves, anything to be reminded daily of the emotional wreckage they have brought about.

[calimary]

43. Hear, hear!

You forgot one thing - PAY ALL - repeat - ALL OF THAT INVALID'S BILLS - FOR LIFE.

[spooked]

44. Read what his mom said last week

Unruh was fourth-generation soldier
Benjie Sanders / Arizona Daily Star

http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/dailystar/41105.php

The baby pictures Karen Unruh-Wahrer stared at could have come from almost any living room wall in Tucson.

There was one of her son as an apple-cheeked toddler, beaming as she cradled him in her arms. It was taken two decades before he grew up to be a soldier, killed in action in Iraq last week.

"I like this picture because it shows the love between a mother and a son," she said Tuesday, her eyes misting as she pointed to other snapshots of birthdays and holidays past.


His sister holding his picture

[progressivebydesign]

49. I don't think we should politicize her death.. nor his.

After reading her words about her son's death, I understand what she means.. 'it's not about politics, it's about honor'. Her son died honorably, (in what we think is a dishonorable war). He died doing what he felt compelled to do, protect freedom. He and his family believed in the war, if it meant that freedom would be brought to the Iraqi people. I don't agree with them. I don't personally think that any loved one should die for Bush's unjust war, BUT.. I respect their right to see it differently.

That is what freedom and democracy are all about. The freedom to disagree, the freedom to believe what you want to believe. The mother's death is beyond tragic, and so painful to even comprehend. But the family's belief system tells them that the son did not die in vain, and I cannot fault them for that.. Nor do I have any desire to politicize or sensationalize that families enormous grief. We can work to stop the death of other loved ones by working to get John Kerry in office, so he can fix George Bush's mess. We only have a few weeks left.. and that is where I'll put my energies.

My sympathies to the family.

[JI7]

52. it's like what Kerry said

there IS a difference between the war and the warrior in that the warrior goes out and does their duty as they are ordered to do. because of what they do they are always honorable and should be honored.

but that is a lot of difference from the actual policy of the war which the civilians at the top are responsible for. and THEY are the ones who should be criticized, blamed for or anything else that concerns those policies.

[progressivebydesign]

55. Absolutely. Kerry said it much more eloquently than I...

But I feel the same. We have no right to attack those who feel they are doing honorable work, then we become what we all despise.. the thought police. We just have to work to end this dishonorable war.

[Zhade]

69. Tragically, the truth is he DID die in vain.

Not wanting to politicize his death is honorable, but pretending it's okay for people to just believe the war is just is wrong. The war is wrong.

This son, and his mother, died for no reason.

[progressivebydesign]

77. I hear what you're saying.. but they have to believe that it was just..

For many military families, they do not question why they are there, they feel they are serving their country, at the behest of the CIC. Who's to say they died in vain, if their family believes it was for a noble cause? Perhaps that's the only way some military families can handle the death that comes with any war.

The war is wrong. Absolutely. He died for a noble cause, because he BELIEVED it was so, though the intelligence tells us otherwise.

[Zhade]

78. They can believe it's a noble cause all they want. It's not.

That's the tragedy behind his, and every Iraq War-related death.

[JI7]

51. you can just see the grief in the sister's face, and now she has lost

a brother and a mother. just reading about the poor mom looking over the baby pics of him makes me cry. i am 25 just like he was. that poor mother.

[rumguy]

54. truly tragic

[xxqqqzme]

47. nothing good 2 read about.

Taking 2 the streets, sometimes, just isn't enough.

Don't forget 2 rate the story - currently 4.63.

[Minstrel Boy]

50. Nearly 2,500 years ago,

in The Trojan Women, Euripedes gave these words to a grieving mother, whose son was killed in battle. And nothing has changed since, except for the worse.

"O hands, how sweet the likeness ye retain of his father, and yet ye lie limp in your sockets before me! Dear mouth, so often full of words of pride, death hath closed thee, and thou hast not kept the promise thou didst make, when nestling in my robe, "Ah, mother mine, many a lock of my hair will I cut off for thee, and to thy tomb will lead my troops of friends, taking a fond farewell of thee." But now 'tis not thy hand that buries me, but I, on whom is come old age with loss of home and children, am burying thee, a tender child untimely slain. Ah me! those kisses numberless, the nurture that I gave to thee, those sleepless nights - they all are lost!"

"The name of my country will pass into obscurity; all is scattered far and wide, and hapless Troy has ceased to be."

[Bo]

58. Very Nice Minstrel Boy

I had not read that passage in over 20 years

[WillyT]

72. That Was Great... Never Seen It Before, But Kept Forever Now...

Thanks...

[burrowowl]

76. Greek tragedies (and comedies)

always say it all. One of my favorites is Antigonie.
Greek tragedies should be required reading in American High Schools, like in France, probably the rest of Europe, and mine, but it was a Catholic School ....
The humanities .... and good old Eurip, Sopho and Aesch did a good job of analyzing the human Bean or featherless bi-ped.
As the song says: When will we ever learn?

[WillyT]

56. FUCK !!!

*(&^(*^%*&%#$&$^#^%#!@%#!@&%$#@^$#!@^$!^%#!@#$^!$$^%!$^#!^$#!^$#!@$^$

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:
:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

[Bo]

57. Someone must stop the insanity

Iraq is lost

[TheDonkey]

59. :-( so incredibly sad. (nt)

[MisterP]

60. the Führer Chimp managed to kill two people this time: I hope he's

proud of himself

[Bluebear]

61. Bush: "Ha ha, looks like I hit the Perfecta"

[0007]

63. Oh man! This grabs my heart.

R.I.P.

Please bring the troops home.

[Darth_Kitten]

64. How horrible....

Her last moments being so sorrowful. I don't know what to say. :(

[Zhade]

67. Very sad. I imagine this happens to Iraqi mothers, too.

NT!

[AlFrankenFan]

73. i saw that on cnn just now after watching f 9/11 on dvd..

i couldn't help but start crying...these kind of thing remind how horrible this war is.

[Bluebear]

74. Freeper F9/11 woman: "It's all STAGED!"

[CHICKEN CAPITOL USA]

75. Bush:send your kids/ Congress send your kids/or GET OUT!!

As long as it's not your family member it's ok.
If our Kumandur in Cheef avoids Vietnam what kind of "message" is that sending??
War is not " A SPORT"--people die--
Starting a War of choice is the ultimate evil, especially if you can't bare to risk your own life or the lives of your own family.

[Swamp Rat]

80. .

:cry:

[Tight_rope]

81. This just breaks my heart.....May Bush* rot in hell for all he's done!