Details of Marine's death told

[UpInArms]

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/9628782p-10513353c.html

A grieving father from Modesto learned the details Friday of his son's death in Iraq, and found out that another Modestan retrieved the Marine corporal's body amid a "huge firefight."

Capt. Andrew J. McNulty said Michael D. Anderson Jr.'s death Tuesday in Fallujah came "during clearing operations."

<snip>

Anderson Jr. chose to leave his FAST unit in May, opting for a transfer to the West Coast. The Marine Corps sent him to Camp Pendleton, which put him in line for duty in Iraq. He shipped out Sept. 11.

"At first, he was all gung-ho, like everybody is," his father said. "He called after the first firefight he was in and said it was the greatest day of his life."

But his attitude changed quickly. He told his family that he was having nightmares and could not get the smell of flesh and blood out of his head.

...more...

[quaoar]

1. Is Fallujah worth a single dead Marine?

No, it isn't.

What is the vital national interest at stake in Fallujah? Democracy? What a fucking joke that is. The sovereign integrity of Iraq as a nation? Another joke. Iraq is Yugoslavia waiting to happen.

[leftchick]

2. they are all "gung-ho" at first!

until they find out WAR is no fucking video game! RIP... :(

[UpInArms]

3. what's up with that "gung-ho" crap

leftchick?

Maybe I have a brain synopsis missing, but why in the world would someone be "gung-ho" about killing people?

I guess the video game culture didn't prepare these kids for the "smells".

:shakesheadsadly:

[annabanana]

4. *New Marketing Opportunity*

"Aroma-Games" Now you can SMELL the action!

[leftchick]

5. my first hand experience from my nephew...

fresh out of Marine bootcamp last spring. I saw him at a family reunion and was horrified at his statements. Now this young man, 18 years old, is very intelligent and sweet inspite of his rather disfuntional family. He was recruited relentlessly his senior year in high school and since he did not have a whole lot of options he signed up. (With my idiot sister's blessings!) I was shocked to hear this once nice kid say he could not wait to go to Iraq to kill Iraqi 'terrorists'! He was going on and on about how to kill a person and weapons and... :puke: I wanted to shake him back to his senses but instead left him as quickly as I could so my two young boys could not hear anymore of that shit! I guess this is how they want their marines to be! Ironic since they are now in a setting to 'bring peace' to Iraq.

[UpInArms]

7. with the inability of the Guard to meet its "enrollment" numbers

being reported, I watched the infomercial on A(lways)B(roadcasting)C(rap) newtwork last night - they were expressing delight about all the "benefits" that could be gleaned from signing up.

They did fail to talk about what happens if you are injured or killed though.

[TexanDem]

8. add brainwashing our youth to "their" war crimes!

Boy, am I slow. I've kept wondering why the young soldiers are so -- so -- Republican in their thinking when they've had to pay and endure so much! Light bulb!!! It's so simple! The poor kids have been brainwashed as part of their inept training! Put that with the horrors they're forced to experience over there -- damn, poor kids. Thank God mine are past recruitment age.
(is brainwashing a war crime? It should be!)

[UpInArms]

9. Welcome to DU TexanDem!

:hi:

Glad to have you here!

[leftchick]

10. absolutely!

my nephew was completely, totally brainwashed into that repuke line of 'fighting terrists there so we won't have to here"! I suppose the Military has to do this to get them to become killing machines for Oil! So fucking sad...

Big Welcome to DU TexanDem! :)

[marew]

11. military brainwashing

My son went into the marines right after high school in 88 at age 17. Did not see action in Desert Storm but was shot at guarding the embassy in Liberia during a revolution there. He's never been quite the same, now a pro-war, fascinated with guns, once a marine, always a marine, conservative. He did finish college but has gone downhill big time: alcohol, drugs, failed marriage and other relationships, bankruptcy. Of course, I don't and can't blame the military for his problems. His dad, my ex, is a pro-Bush mess also. (What did I ever see in that man?) My dad was career army (WWII and Korea) and a wonderful person. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't remember the WWII vets spouting all that kill, kill, kill rhetoric.
When will today's military personnel realize that Bush and Rumsfeld see them as merely expendable statistics? That is why there has been little concern as to whether our military is properly armed or not. I don't believe for a second Bushco gives a damn about any military death. We know how poorly the injured are treated when they return. Their lives and the lives of the families will never be the same, not to mention the innocent Iraqi people. All because the Bush ego wanted to be a wartime president and to hell with everything and everyone else. Bush is a monster. The rest of the world sees it. Why the hell can't 51% of America see it?

[Bigmack]

12. He's a "Boot"...

... They all talk like that. It's part of the indoctrination/brainwashing/training.

All that shit will change... on the smart ones, anyhow.

If he gets into the shit, he'll discover how much fun it ISN'T, and get a whole lot smarter.

If he gets into the shit, he'll probably remember with embarrassment how stupid he sounded.

If he gets into the shit, he'll get some souvenirs to help him remember his time in the Corps... nightmares and PTSD.

[TomClash]

14. Holyburton was recruiting my nephew as he got off the ariplane

trying to persuade him to go back

[Solly Mack]

6. "everybody " is gung-ho my ass

nice myth

I saw nothing but tears and fears from soldiers at deployment ceremonies.

false bravado isn't gung-ho....it's a defense mechanism for many...it's putting the happy face on for the family while you're dying inside.

no shame in being afraid

Oh, there are some who are indeed gung-ho....until the reality sets in. Just not "everyone"

[Cocoa]

13. they took down the "Battle for Fallujah" banners

on all the cable channels.

But I'm reading some stories that make it seem like that battle isn't over yet...