Local Paper Covers Non-Combat Death of Female Soldier -- and Family's Antiwar Views

[babylonsister]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003641223

Local Paper Covers Non-Combat Death of Female Soldier -- and Family's Antiwar Views

By E&P Staff

Published: September 15, 2007 8:40 PM ET

NEW YORK As we have often noted in the past, to gauge the true cost of the Iraq war on Americans and their families one needs to consult local newspapers. They go well beyond the simple death toll of 2700 or 3700 or whatever it might be to show the impact of the thousands of wounded, those who died in non-combat situations or through suicide, and the views of their loved ones.

Another sad example appeared late this week in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, in an article by Fred Ortega.

Here is an excerpt, concerning Marisol Heredia.

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snip//

"We were very proud of her," said Dominguez, speaking from the family's modest apartment on Penn Mar Avenue. "She was an excellent child, and was very good to everyone."

He said the family tried to talk Heredia out of joining the Army after high school, but she was determined. The teen enlisted in July 2005, just six months after graduating.

"The last time I took her to the airport, I told her not to let her guard down, that there would be people out to get her," said Dominguez, a textile worker whose family has lived in El Monte for 20 years and who only speaks Spanish. "But she told me, "Don't worry, Dad. I am well prepared."

Even before his stepdaughter's death, Dominguez said he was against the war, and he disagreed with the assessment of military commanders in Washington this week that troop levels in Iraq must remain in place until at least next summer.

"I just don't think it is just," he said. "It needs to end. (The troops) all need to come home."

Hanna, who called the war "stupid," said she was also dismayed when Heredia told her of her plans to enlist.

"She really looked up to her sister, and wanted to follow in (Claudia's) footsteps," said Hanna, who taught both girls French at Mountain View. "Claudia tried to talk her out of the military, but she was very determined."

[DaveJ]

1. As a father of stepdaughters myself, I will say this....

Unfortunately in today's world most teenagers who are determined and go against the wishes of their older and wiser parents usually are taken advantage of, sucked dry, used and abused, not by their peers but by corporate interests. There are very few, if any, routes they can take in life now that will make 'winning' very likely.

[babylonsister]

2. Lack of finances play a major part for a lot of people. I was shown the

door in my youth, but the military never entered into my thought processes. I waitressed!