Nathan Given (for Th1onein)

[TomInTib]

DICKINSON — Nathan Given joined the Army hoping to find his niche in life. Four months of serving in Iraq convinced the Dickinson resident that, when he returned home, he would become a cop.

Given, 21, was killed Wednesday when his patrol convoy was ambushed outside of Baghdad.

“He was just awesome. He was a good, good boy,” said his father, Scott Given. “He loved what he was doing. He thought he was doing a good job. He would tell me, ‘Dad, these people love us over here.’”

Given, a soldier with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, is the fifth Galveston County resident to be killed in the Iraq war.

His father said Nathan was on patrol Wednesday morning when an improvised explosive device went off and gunshots rang out.

Given and his sergeant were killed.

The incident came less than two hours after Nathan had made a surprise call home about 9:30 a.m. Baghdad time. That was 12:30 a.m. back home in Dickinson.

There is a good bit more about a great kid whose life was needlessly wasted in George W Bush's War:

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou061231_tnt_soliderdies.63774380.html

[democrank]

1. So sad.

Rest in peace, Nathan.

[Eurobabe]

2. Yes, I read this earlier when someone had the gall to suggest

that Th1onein was "fabricating" her grief. So sorry for you and your entire family, and most especially for your nephew, he wasn't much younger than my daughter. So terribly sad. :hug: -48 family

[TomInTib]

6. What?

You must be kidding.

If true, those who expressed that sort of bullshit can just go f*&k themselves and they have absolutely no business here.
Or even on the planet, as far as I am concerned.

Jesus, have we truly devolved to those depths?

I am ashamed for them/us all.

[Eurobabe]

12. Some guy on her original post suggested that because

he couldn't find Nathan's name on the IraqCasualty roster, that she was making this story up. A few humbling posts later, the person apologized. for his doubting her.

Yeah, DUers routinely come online and post threads that a family member has died, to drum up sympathy.

[Robbien]

13. That is true

Two fairly new posters even directly challenged the honesty of Th1onein. The posting history of those two new posters are very suspect.

[Shakespeare]

21. While I would NEVER NEVER NEVER suspect Th1onein of that, there was a DUer....

...in the past who did precisely that (a high-posting, "popular" DUer). A lot of people felt burned when they found out he'd been lying through his teeth, and that may be why there was some initial skepticism on Th1onein's thread. I hope Th1onein understands why the question was (unfortunately) asked, and that it caused her no additional pain.

[Robbien]

23. Of course it caused her pain

My nephew is also in Iraq and I feel strongly for what Th1onein is going through right now. If anyone said one slightly negative thing in relation to the passing of my nephew I would be hurt. Very hurt.

Th1onein needs our wholehearted support. If a DUer cannot give it to her, then they should just stay out of the thread. Period.

[Shakespeare]

24. Sigh. I wasn't suggesting she shouldn't be hurt.

I merely hoped she could filter out why the question was asked, and explained (to others) what happened here in the past that might have caused some to ask the question.

My statement that I hope it didn't cause her more pain was mostly rhetorical, and written with compassion. Kindly don't suggest that she doesn't have my support.

[Contrary1]

26. I never doubted Th1onein for a second...

Having said that, one must realize there are folks out there that will say things
that are not true, for only reasons they can know.

I belong to an online Breast Cancer forum. We have actually had members join who
pretended they had cancer. :shrug:

[Th1onein]

32. I don't understand and I think it is awful to do something like that.

Sometimes, you ought to just keep your mouth shut (not you), even when you have those kinds of suspicions. The truth WILL out.

I have no reason to lie about something so serious. Before someone levels those types of accusations; in this context, especially, they need to do a little homework. To do otherwise is indecent. A simple search would tell you that Nathan's death had been reported in the local newspaper.

I didn't come here and tell you about my nephew to somehow bask in your empathy, or your sympathy, although I appreciate the sentiments embodied by both. I came here because I knew that you would understand my anger for this administration that has lied us into this war.

What is WRONG with people that would attack someone who had lost a soldier in this war, just because that family is Democratic? That's not patriotism. It's not human, even.

[Shakespeare]

38. Please note that I am not the one who questioned anything.

You have my full sympathy. I was simply trying to explain why others might have questioned, but I shan't do THAT again.

[Th1onein]

43. Shakespeare, I know that you were not the one!

I know exactly who they were, and if the one, who says that he is a member of the Patriot Guard, really is a member of that group, I'm not sure he will be a member much longer. The Patriot Guard, God bless them, simply don't behave in that way.

And neither do you. I KNOW that. :)

[Shakespeare]

44. hugs, hugs and more hugs to you for understanding me

I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't know the posters who posted in your thread; it simply triggered the memory of the whole Paddy/CubanLiberal mess, and how hurt so many DUers were. It wasn't a reflection on you AT ALL.

:hug:

[Gormy Cuss]

39. No, you're giving the posters too much credit.

The one who started the questioning signed on Dec. 25 and never did apology to Th1onein, just kept defending his/her assertion that it was right to question her because Given's name wasn't on the internet sites. It was callous.

[H2O Man]

40. Good call. n/t

[bobbolink]

17. It's truly amazing the amount of hate that is allowed here.

I'm very sorry that was said to her, but it's not surprising.

Many of us have received similar.

We're just supposed to have a "thick skin".

:cry:

[H2O Man]

20. I agree.

I can't believe that anyone familiar with the process involved would not realize that it would take some time before they could find the victim's name.

[Beaverhausen]

3. So sad - and for what?

Hope this proves to all those saying Th1onein's story wasn't true. Shame on you.

[Bjornsdotter]

4. I just don't have the words

...to express my anger, sorrow and sympathy.

I am so very, very sorry.

:hug:

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Sending profound sympathy to our DU friend and all the family.

This brings back memories of the Viet Nam years, with the terrible conflict between honoring good, lost young soldiers in the home town even while protesting the war. The1onein, may you find peace in your heart some day.

[knitter4democracy]

7. Oh, my, I am so sorry for their whole family.

What a terrible end to a terrible year.

[DemReadingDU]

8. So terribly sad

sending my deepest sympathy for their family.

[shireen]

9. two hours before he died, Nathan had talked to his dad ...

"He sounded great,” his father recalled. “He told me about his day, wanted me to send him a charger for his iPod, send him more socks and something to cover his face because he would get cold. You know, the general stuff.”


The general stuff of living ... he needed more socks, a charger for his iPod ... those everyday things of life we take for granted. And suddenly it all ends. Imagine that happening to someone you love, can you do that Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Rumsfeld, Ms. Rice? If you are capable of any feeling, any compassion, any imagination, this war would never have happened.

Our country is being run by a bunch of heartless greedy freaks. They are war criminals and must be held accountable for Nathan's death, and the deaths of our troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

[TahitiNut]

10. (GMTA) I was just reading the article. We are ALL diminished by his death.

:cry:

[pitohui]

11. what a damn shame

it almost sounds as if he knew he was going into a situation from which he could not return

[Beaverhausen]

14. kick for the naysayers

[partylessinOhio]

15. I'm so sorry, Given family.

FU George * for killing so many who are more deserving of life than you are!

[Nikki Stone1]

16. This is extremely sad.

Thank you for the article

[qanda]

18. I'm so sorry for your family Th1onein

This has to be an awful time. I hope you can feel the many arms of support and love surrounding you. :hug:

[TomInTib]

19. kick

[walldude]

22. K&R I have a few of these myself:

[tandot]

30. I am so sorry for your loss.

No family should go through this.

This is so horrifying.

My thoughts are with all the soldiers and their families.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

25. Rest in peace, Nathan Given.

[Libby2]

27. What a nice write up.

Thank you for posting the link.

Givens family, you have my deepest sympathies.
Such a waste....such a fucking waste.

[TomInTib]

28. kicking... for Nathan (and Th1onein)

[tandot]

29. At a loss of words

just K & R

Incredibly sad...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

31. God Bless Him For His Service, Courage And Sacrifice. And For What It's Worth,

I'm glad he loved what he was doing and felt such love from the Iraqi's he was trying to help. Though his death is so tragic, it is always soothing a bit to know he died doing something he believed in so much and that he loved so much. May God bless his soul and my deepest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends.

[Th1onein]

34. He was a great kid.

Just a big sweet kid. I wish he had had time to grow up and have his own children. He WOULD have been a wonderful father.

[TomInTib]

36. I am so glad and so sad that I found this, The1onein

This just stole a little bit of my soul.

I am so sorry.

[DemReadingDU]

37. so young, they are all so young

too young to die

I am so saddend for you, for all the families who have lost their loved ones.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

42. Tears, prayers, & a candle lit for Nathan. "A big sweet kid"

You take care of yourself, & thank you for sharing this. You sound like a brave woman. Hugs to you.

[Monkeyman]

33. Brother May St Peter know a soldier reported for duty

[NanceGreggs]

35. And bring him to the place ...

... where war is banished, and peace prevails.

[Monkeyman]

41. To The Republicans who site claimed this lady was a liar.

You site is now being watched by Veterans 24/7 you had no right to say what you did. This women lost part of her family. You have made a lot of Veterans as your enemy. We will report you to the Authorities if you do not stop your attacks on our family members.

[TomInTib]

45. When I read about that...

I went absolutely homicidal for a while.

[Beaverhausen]

46. Kick for Tuesday

and for the naysayers

[johnnie]

47. Self delete

Sorry, it wasn't a bad thing that I posted, just thought better of it.

[wicket]

48. Hugs for all

:hug: