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February 02, 2005
The price paid for freedom
Last week, when television networks broke the story of a helicopter crash with Marines on board, each family of a Marine in Iraq held their breath, mentally evaluating where their child or husband or sibling was located, what the odds were that they might be on that chopper, trying not to think of what might be on the other side of a knock at their door. For 31 families of Marines on that helicopter, that terrible calculus was proved. Their loved one will not be coming home.
Darrell Ankarlo, whose son LCpl Adam Ankarlo serves with 1/3 Marines, has posted his son's account to his website. The following is an excerpt:
As most Americans know by now, we lost 31 of our boys last Tuesday when the CH-53 Sea Stallion they were flying in went down in an Iraqi field about 200 miles west of Baghdad. When the incident first crossed my news wire I was only seconds from going on the air. It took my breath away and I prayed a quiet prayer for all of the families but, to be honest, I never even considered that Adam, a Lance Corporal in the Corp, would be in that part of the country. Days earlier he told me his team would be moving out but even he was uncertain where they would land. |
The full story is heart-stopping - do visit his website and read the full story. Sheila Smith, wife of a deployed soldier in Afghanistan, shared her reaction to Darrell's account.
I was at Kaneohe Marine Corp Base yesterday with my son. We had gone there to look at cars and stop by the commissary to pick up a couple of things for dinner with a friend. As I entered the gate I noticed the Marines in their formal attire and then my heart sank. I looked to my left and there was the statue of the Marines as they were raising the United States Flag and gathered around this statue were families, friends and loved ones of the 27 Marines who were killed in this helicopter crash. I can only tell you that my heart stopped and all the trivial things of this world didn't seem to matter. What mattered was that someone had lost a husband, father, son, brother or best friend. I too felt a strange sense of guilt like this man's son felt. I know our guilt was different but I thought Lord I have lived my life why these young men? How can I be so blessed that my husband has seen combat and death but will be coming home to me? Lord what does it all mean? I pulled over on the side of the road and I looked at each face of those standing there, I looked at the flag as it blew in the wind and I realized the price that these young men and the numerous others had paid for the freedom we experience. As I say that flag blow freely in the wind I cried and I ached at the price that had been paid for it and I remembered what my husband said "It's what we do Shelia, it's what we do". I ask my self at that very moment what do we do? What do we do with the freedom that these lives have afforded us? I never want to forget that moment. I never want to forget the price that has been paid for our flag to fly across this great country. |
May God bless and comfort all the 1/3 Marines - Darrell's son, Liam's brother, each and every one. I will attend the memorial service for Cpl James Moore - one of those 30 Marines - from Roseburg, OR tomorrow afternoon. If anyone would like to e-mail condolences, I'll include them in a sympathy card for the family.
Posted by Deb at February 2, 2005 03:57 PM
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Comments
Deb,
If you can get an address I would like to send a donation a card.
Mary Helen
Posted by: Mary Helen Bartch at February 2, 2005 09:44 PM
I preach to you, then, my countrymen, that our country calls not for the life of ease but for the life of strenuous endeavor. The century looms before us big with the fate of many nations. If we stand idly by, if we seek merely swollen, slothful ease and ignoble peace, if we shrink from the hard contests where men must win at hazard of their lives and at the risk of all they hold dear, then the bolder and stronger peoples will pass us by, and will win for themselves the domination of the world. Let us therefore bodly face the life of strife, resolute to do our duty well and manfully; resolute to uphold righteousness by deed and by word; resolute to be both honest and brave, to serve high ideals, yet to use practical methods. Above all, let us shrink from no strife, moral or physical, within or without the nation, provided we are certain that the strife is justified, for it is only through strife, through hard and dangerous endeavor, that we shall ultimately win the goal of true national greatness.
--Theodore Roosevelt
I read this today and thought about the Marines.
My condolences to the families of the fallen,
MATTSON
Posted by: Mattson at February 3, 2005 02:39 AM
To the family of Cpl James Moore,
Our sincere condolences on the loss of your Marine son. There are no words or deeds that can ease the pain you must feel. I have no idea the pain or suffering you are going through now. I am a mom with a son in Iraq. I can only say your pain is felt everywhere there among the troops and here at home. In our minds we all know it could happen to us. In our hearts we pray it never happens. My son called to say one of his Marine friends had lost a brother in the same accident, LCPL Brian Hopper. It was a very emotional day for all of them, that 31 brave, courageous, and honorable comrades had died, and yet they were together and not alone as a Marine always stands by his comrade. Just let me say that those around the world will never forget your son's works of honor. He will wear a Badge of Courage and Honor with all of us for the rest of our lives. I regret you will not be able to share his future dreams and successes, but your memories will keep him alive in your heart and we will never forget those who died to save others and those who died to protect us. God Bless you all and may he help you get through each day, one day at a time. A very PROUD Marine mom but a very scared Marine parent. May James and his comrades rest in peace and watch over us from above. All our love and best wishes to you and your family. Sandy
Posted by: Sandy A at February 3, 2005 07:31 PM
My wife Cindi and I send our deepest sympothies to our fallen brothers of the helicopter crash. We were greatly affected by this as our son is with 1/3 bravo co. The minutes would drag by as we waited for word of our son. When we found out he was ok Cindi wrote the following letter that expresses all we feel
January 30, 2005
Dear 1rst Squad, 1rst Plt, 1/3 Bravo Co.
Today you made a difference in history! On this day proud fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who love you are praying for you and your safe return. Your place in history is marked by your strength, determination and devotion to be the best Marine on God's earth.
As a mother of 4 sons, I know a little about the male ego. During this past year you've grown closer together as comrades. You know things about each other that no one else on this earth knows, not even their mothers. Because of the extraordinary makeup of a male ~ there are times you can not stand being in the same space with each other and yet in a split second, because you are a Marine you would lay your life down for one another without one moment of hesitation.
Day in and day out you were given orders to liberate the Iraqi people. You watched your comrades being killed and wounded. If doubt of what you were doing ever crossed your mind, the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment rolled in like the waves on the ocean.
Our family safe at home, watched the television as hundreds of enthusiastic, determined Iraqi's voted. Iraqi men, women and children were dancing in the street, smiling, singing and holding up their hands displaying the peace sign. This peace sign was NOT from the 60's! The purple ink stained index finger would represent that no matter what the Iraqi people would vote with their hearts for a democratic free Iraq.
The terrorists (I don't like calling them insurgents) who killed hundreds of men, women and children could not stop thousands from voting. Many Iraqi's united in their grief, were determined to vote in the memory of their loved ones. One woman was quoted, "I would of crawled across Iraq to vote today." Many walked over 20 miles to a polling place. I wish that were true in the United States, yet we still live in the greatest country on this earth.
You made this possible, yes you and your brothers. Do not ever forget this day.
Your buddies, who gave their life's to stand by fellow Marines, while never wavering, never looking back, and stood unyielding in the middle of battle, those are the faces you will never forget. Tell your children and grandchildren of the brave men you served with. Tell them how you and your buddies brought freedom to this new nation and it's people. The next generation will need to appreciate that freedom come with a price tag it is never free! When your children see the tears fall from your eyes, as I did with my father's, they will understand the sacrifice you paid on this day and for whom you paid if for.
Your nation is so very proud of you. I am proud of you. Thank you does not seem adequate. My life will never be the same. My daily prayers and thoughts of you coming home safely to your parents will always have a corner of my heart. You and your family will forever be welcome in our home. We are part of the marine family, but more then that; you walked miles and miles beside our son in war torn Fallujah. You slept on hard cold dirt floors, shared MRE's and stories with the man our son now has become while serving beside you in battle. Yet most of all, you watched each other's backs while fighting the adversaries. Thank you, I am indebted to you for lifetime.
If the new Iraqi forces have only half the bravery, some of the skills and determination you have shown, then they will have a strong national defense to rely on.
The great American sacrifice, I believe, is you have seen and experienced things we as Americans at home will never know or can ever imagine. Please remember, that the terrorists, naysayers and freedom dream stealers did their best to stop this day. They did not.
History was made this day; you are part of the birth of a new nation. We are proud of you.
God bless, protect and keep you safe.
Semper Fidelis
Cindi Phelps
Proud Marine Mom
Steve and Cindi Phelps
fishin2day@earthlink.net
Posted by: Steve Phelps at February 4, 2005 09:10 AM
CPL James Moore Family. Keep your heads up. remember james is for ever in your hearts. to all James Friends with the 1/3 James will forever watch over you.
Posted by: vanessa at May 18, 2005 08:43 AM