Soldier dies in Iraq on his birthday

[zulchzulu]

http://www.nbc4.com/news/3736769/detail.html

Snip:
The Pentagon announced Wednesday that a Marine from the District of Columbia has died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Officials said Maj. Kevin M. Shea, 38, of the District died on his birthday, Sept. 14, during combat in Al Anbar Province.

For parents Bill and Eileen Shea, and Kevin's brother, Tom, there is no consolation for the loss of their eldest son. However, his family wants to share his life with others so his young children will always know him.

"It's just important to realize that he left behind two kids, a beautiful wife, and two great parents and it can't be in vain. You want to reflect on who he was. He was a teacher, he was a rugby coach. He affected a ton of people," Tom Shea told News4's Eun Yang.

[Career Prole]

1. I want so badly for bush to have to do the 24 months active duty he owes

for walking away from TANG.
Sure, Vietnam's over but there's a reasonable facsimile available.
Give that shithead a helmet and a rifle and send him off to shit his pants.

[KamaAina]

2. Aw, c'mon. You wouldn't really do that, would you?

Think of everyone else unlucky enough to be assigned to Whistle-Ass*' unit. His inevitable fsckup would put their lives in danger.

[Demonaut]

4. you forgot that "god" is his wingman...........................

stories of fathers dying leaving young children hit me harder than young men dying which still hits hard

[Career Prole]

6. Well, since I'm dreaming anyway I'm also remembering an old show

starring Chuck Connors called "Branded". He played a cavalry officer busted for cowardice and the show started out with him getting his epaulets and brass buttons cut off andhis sword busted in two.
So in my dream it'd be Private Shrub crappin' his drawers. :)

[MnFats]

16. Holy Sh••! Î remember that show!

great theme song:
"What can you do when you're branded,
Can you live with a lie?"

[ThomCat]

8. I'm sure there's a current Champaign Unit somewhere

Let's assign him to that unit and send them all over to Iraq.

[smirkymonkey]

3. Too sad for words....

:cry:

I'd like to see the Chimp strapped to the outside of a tank in the middle of Fallujah and let the Iraqi's have at him. No fate is too awful for this scum-sucking pig dog (W).

[Journeyman]

5. He's a very old man. . .

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. He was a teacher, he was a rugby coach

and he is dead.

[gratuitous]

9. "It can't be in vain," said the brother

With all due respect, Mr. Shea, I'd have to say that that would be up to us, your brother's survivors. Because his death was for no good reason, no good cause, and really for nothing more than the enrichment of some of this corrupt administration's benefactors.

I submit that the only possible way we have of giving some meaning to Maj. Shea's death is to work toward a world where his death is no longer an attractive choice for anyone who comes after. If we were to spend just a hundredth on peace as we do right now on war, militarism wouldn't stand a chance.

[Devil Dog Dem]

10. I hate to sound like a jerk, but he wasn't a Soldier. He was a Marine.

A Soldier is a description of our proud brothers and sisters in the Army.
Someone who serves in the Marine Corps is a Marine.

It matters a great deal to Marines.

Semper Fi,

DDD

[zulchzulu]

11. You are correct

My bad. I was so pissed about the story that I just typed "soldier". Apologies.

[Devil Dog Dem]

15. No need to apologize. Common mistake, but a pet peeve for Marines.

You can use Troop as a generic term, if you like.

Semper Fi

[zulchzulu]

17. As long as we know they are all the same in sadness

Whether a soldier or a marine, it is certainly tragic what is happening these days.

Thanks for the specific knowledge. It reminds me of me helping some man take the American flag out of the driving rain, So many people figure they can plant or display an American flag and just leave it there to...well....you know.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Damn he was out of Pendleton too

[progressivebydesign]

12. Another heartbreak..

No political commentary from me. This is just immensely sad, because I know of the significance birthdays have for the families of the military overseas... the war must end.

[Crunchy Frog]

13. Kevin Shea was the brother

of a guy who posts on the Clark blog, where I lurk from time to time.

Here is his post concerning his brothers death:

(#128) (Rated 5.00/4)
by Anonymous on 09/15/2004 02:13:42 AM EST
Rate this: - 1 2 3 4 5 + | Reply

I found out today that my brother, Major Kevin M. Shea, was killed
in Iraq. Please keep up the work and get that fool out of the white
house.

damanforclark

The family definitely wants Bush out, and some people are paying their respects by making a donation to http://www.wespac2004.com/#home today in his honor.

[zulchzulu]

18. Marine . . . not . . . soldier

My bad.

Marine



Soldier

[NoMoreChimp]

19. Shrub gave him a great birthday present

how many more will the chimp kill?