f*ck, f*ck, f*ck old acquaintance's son died in Afghanistan on Monday

[fed-up]

I met this now 22 YO when he was probably about 6 years old. I knew his mom casually because 15 years ago we were both area representatives to the State Child Family Day Care Council or whatever it was called.

I didn't really know him, but just the thought that he is a mere 2 1/2 years older than my son and that they had once played together really, really makes this war personal. This senseless bloodshed HAS GOT TO STOP

To make matters worse another local friend's son is with the 82nd AIrborne in Afghanistan and almost daily I read icasualties to make sure he is not listed. I don't know why Bobby's name/death are not yet showing on there http://icasualties.org/oef/Afghanistan.aspx.

No matter what the outcome of this election is I hope there is rioting in the streets if these illegal fucking occupations are not ended IMMEDIATELY.

To hell with any copyright laws, he was a person that leaves behind bereaved family and friends.
RIP Bobby

http://uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=25976

Local soldier dies in Afghanistan

Published: March 5, 2008


By REBECCA HOWES

The Union Democrat

The parents of U.S. Army Sgt. Bobby Rapp of Sonora learned late Monday night that their son had been killed while deployed in Afghanistan.

Rapp, 22, part of the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army, was killed on March 3 at approximately 4:15 p.m. local time when a suicide bomber drove a car wired with explosives into the gates of an Afghan government building he was guarding in the Sabari District of Afghanistan.

"The only reason there is two soldiers at the door is to tell you your soldier has died," said Jennifer Rapp, Bobby Rapp's mother and a nurse at Sonora Regional Medical Center.

She arrived home from work around 8 p.m. on Monday to find two soldiers and her husband waiting for her. "I knew right away."

In four weeks, Rapp's 15-month deployment would have been up. He had plans of going to college at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to major in kinesiology. He wanted to become a physical therapist after graduation but his main goal was to have a family.

In four weeks, Rapp's 15-month deployment would have been up. He had plans of going to college at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to major in kinesiology. He wanted to become a physical therapist after graduation but his main goal was to have a family.

It's those hopes and dreams that will never be realized which make Rapp's death particularly hard for all of those who knew him, and those who never got the chance.

Army Lt. Colonel Dirk Levy, a 25-year veteran, was one of the two soldiers responsible for delivering the news of Rapp's death.

Levy remembers staring at the young soldier's picture on the wall in his family home.

"This one was the worst for me. You know you are going to tragically change the lives of people forever," Levy said. "He was a good looking kid. He was the poster boy for the Army."

Not only did Rapp look the part of the American soldier, he truly believed he was making a difference in the world.

In an August interview in The Union Democrat, he spoke about the war and the war which few people saw.

"There is the war we are actually fighting. And there is the humanitarian war," he said. "We are fighting by building schools, passing out food and clothing and bringing supplies."

He also explained how the lack of fighting in the region where he was stationed allowed him to witness and participate in the humanitarian effort which, he said, most people don't know exists.

On Jan. 16, 2007, a year after arriving in Afghanistan, Rapp, though he said he felt relatively safe in Afghanistan, wrote a letter to his parents on binder paper expressing his wishes in the event of his death.

He begins the letter stating how hard it is for him to write it. He goes on to say that he loves his parents and his brother, Patrick.

He makes a few requests. One of them: a full-military funeral with the song "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin playing in the background.

He was an avid skier who loved going to Dodge Ridge along side, as well as competing on the slopes with, his brother. He expressed his hope to have a run named in his memory.

He requested his funeral service to be open to everyone and wrote, "Let the world know I died doing what I love and dying for my country is the greatest honor I could ever receive."

Rapp's remains will arrive in the United States on Saturday and a funeral service is being planned for next week. He will be buried in Sonora, at his request, and a 21-gun salute will honor his military service.

"He was thoughtful. He never missed a time to send his mother flowers for her birthday no matter where he was in the world," said Ted Rapp, Bobby Rapp's father. "He was happy go lucky. I miss him."

Longtime friend Jena Anderson grew up with Rapp. The two were only six months apart in age and an early bond formed between them.

"They were raised together. They were soul mates," Jennifer Rapp said of her son and Anderson's friendship.

"I talked to him on My Space. He said we could go out and do something when he got back," said Brett Patton, who attended Sonora Elementary and Sonora High School with Rapp. "It sucks that we can't."

Rapp's mother said she wants everyone to remember his big heart and his big smile.

"He cared. He could tell people he loved them. He wanted this to be a better world," she said. "He loved Sonora."

Jennifer remembers every time her son would come home on leave from the Army and how the town would embrace him.

"There was always a free hamburger waiting for Bobby at Banny's," Jennifer said, beginning to cry. "Barber Bob in the Sonora Inn always had a free haircut for him. I want to thank Sonora for helping me raise him. We can be proud we raise kids like this here."

The final words of Bobby Rapp's letter were meant not only for his parents and brother, but for the entire town.

"Remember I didn't die in vain and be happy for me. Tell the community of Sonora how much I loved them. I just wanted to do my part and help people. I love you all so much."

[lonestarnot]

1. Tough to take when it hits home plate hugh?

[fed-up]

2. it's been tough the whole f*cking 6 years of this insanity-BRING THEM HOME NOW! nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. This war has been personal for me from the beginning

by the way as I read this... I am seating at a cafe, and drinking coffee across from me and relaxing is a young naval officer.

Given the nature of this damn war, it could easily be the kid seating in khakis over at the other corner.

RIP Troop and we will continue to work to get your buddies home

As to the rioting... unfortunately until it is personal for MOST americans, don't hold your breath

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. It's so fucked up.

Grieving is the norm, anymore. :cry:

on edit, K & R. :kick:

[DesertRat]

5. That's just horrible

"He had plans of going to college at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, to major in kinesiology. He wanted to become a physical therapist after graduation but his main goal was to have a family." :cry:

Rest in peace, Bobby.

[MadMaddie]

6. Damn, Damn, Damn....another bright light gone dark too young.

Why are our soldiars guarding the Afghan government building in the Sabari District of Afghanistan? Why aren't Afghani soldiars guarding their own buildings? Our military is fodder for this poorly managed and undermanned war in Afghanastan.

RIP

[fed-up]

7. here is the story they did on military families at Xmas (interviewed his mom)

http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/results.cfm?story_no=25319

Holidays a mix for military families

Published: December 24, 2007


By ALISHA WYMAN

The Union Democrat

U.S. Army Sgt. Bobby Rapp, serving in Afghanistan, will open his presents and stocking Christmas Day during free moments as he mans the border near Pakistan.

Patrick Brinkle, 21, of Angels Camp, however, was able to fly home from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., to spend the holiday with his wife and to see his baby daughter for the first time.

Many families will celebrate Christmas thousands of miles away from a relative in the military — a difficult separation.

Others will get a rare chance to reunite with their loved ones.

Such is the nature of military service.

Jennifer and Ted Rapp, of Sonora, made sure their son would have a taste of the holidays from afar with the package they sent him.

When Jennifer talked to him about a week-and-a-half ago, Rapp told her he was waiting to open everything on Christmas.

"You know how special it is to them — so they'll have something on Christmas Day," she said.

Rapp, 22, in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army, has been in Afghanistan since last January and isn't scheduled to return home until April.

"It's not the fact that he's not here," Jennifer said. "It's the fact that he's in a place that's not safe."

Both Jennifer and Ted Rapp have opted to work on Christmas Day, and instead had Christmas with family last Tuesday.

Still, they wish their son could be home.

"We'll be thinking about him," Ted said.

Brinkle, in the S26 Military Police Battalion, just finished up his advanced individual training, which is job training required for the Army.

He has been gone for seven months, and missed the birth of his daughter, Riley Mairi.

Reuniting with his wife, Rose Johnson, and laying eyes on his daughter for the first time were special moments.

"It was exciting," he said. "Definitely a new experience."

Coming home

For many coming home from assignments in the states, the holidays are a break from a strict routine that includes an early rise, physical training and coursework.

There is no down time in the Army, said Pvt. Casey McMullen, 18, a 92G food specialist based at Fort Lee, Va.

"Here, you do whatever you want," said the Arnold resident.

"It's quiet here," added Pvt. Zak Anderson, 17, who is visiting his Big Hill home while on leave from Fort Benning, Ga. "I like the quiet."

Some of the habits ingrained in the soldiers stick during the short breaks.

"I still get up at 4 a.m. every morning," said Pvt. Jaycee Lewis, an engineer visiting family in Sonora before continuing on to permanent duty at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Most said seeing family and friends is the highlight of leave.

Though Arnold native Ramsey Bowman, 18, a motor transport operator based in Fort Bliss, Texas, has been gone for only four months, his parents were excited to see him.

"They're throwing me a surprise party that I'm not supposed to know about," he said.

Still, they aren't alone even when they are away, said Pvt. Ethan Henderson, 18, who is a heavy-equipment operator at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

"When in the military, you kind of develop a family with your friends, so it's kind of like going from one side of the family to the other," he said.

Most are uncertain where they will be next Christmas.

Those who have already been abroad know that time off for the holidays isn't guaranteed.

Spc. Brandon Holmes, 24, spent last Christmas ducking mortars at a small outpost near Baghdad.

His brother, Sgt. Sean Holmes, 22, was on a security convoy driving to Mosul, Iraq.

This Christmas, however, both got to go home to see their mom in Murphys and their grandparents in Sonora, where they both lived following high school. Then, they headed to Hollister, where they were raised, to spend Christmas.

"We have a lot of people to see," Brandon said.

In Iraq, where they have both spent 15 months, they often live off candy bars, beef jerky and chips sent in care packages.

It's good to be back eating home-cooked meals and deciding their own schedules, they said.

"That's the best part — getting back to normal again," Brandon said.

"There's no such thing as a normal schedule over there," Sean added.


Away from home

For those who don't make it home, their families do their best to try to send Christmas to them.

Christmas 2002 was the last one Leah Nicolini of Chinese Camp spent with son Christopher Kiel, 28, who is a U.S. Army specialist (promotional) stationed in near Baghdad.

"He's my only son, my only child, so not having him here is really hard," she said.

Kiel's wife, Brandi, stepson Jacob Lopez, and 18-month-old daughter, Haley Ann Marie Kiel, are planning to come from their home in Oklahoma for Christmas.

Since Kiel can't be there, Nicolini sent him a two-and-a-half-foot 49er snowman stocking, adorned with bells and pockets. Inside the pockets, Nicolini stuffed calling cards, gum, lip balm, beef jerky and other goods.

Nicolini's husband and Kiel's stepfather, Greg, fastened a couple of his pins from when he was a sergeant at the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office in the ‘70s, on the snowman's shoulder.

They also sent him some games for his computer and a Web cam, so that they can talk face to face over the Internet until he comes home, possibly for a leave in April.

Nicolini may not get to see him because he will likely be going back to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, but his tour is supposed to end in October.

"I just count my blessings and know that he's going to come home safe and sound," Nicolini said.

Pat Mariscal of Jamestown will spend the third Christmas in a row without her son, U.S. Army Sgt. Edward Mariscal, 44.

Mariscal first enlisted in the military at age 19 and served for eight years. He returned home and worked with his father at Chicken Ranch Bingo.

But he re-enlisted a couple years ago and was assigned to Iraq in August.

"There's not a day that doesn't go by that I don't think about him," Pat said. "There's no safe place over there."

The family mailed him a package around Thanksgiving that recently arrived. Last week, Pat baked cookies to send to him.

"I'm sure he's homesick too, during the holidays," she said.

[mt-mom]

8. newpaper article of his visit home in August 2008

God Speed Bobby
Love and Thoughts and Prayers to Jennifer, Ted and Patric

Here is the article from the union democrat when bobby was home in august.
<=http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/results.cfm?story_no=24259>

[fed-up]

10. thanks-I think you meant Aug 2007

and welcome to DU

sorry that it is under such sad circumstances

p.s. You have up to one hour to edit a post :)

[liberal4truth]

9. I am very sorry to hear of this news. I hope we can end this war soon and get the troops home.